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At the beginning of 2014, most were expecting the Blues to build on their semi-final loss to Sydney in 2013.
They made it into the finals in eighth place due to Essendon’s ASADA doping sanctions. However Mick Malthouse’s second year as Carlton coach proved to be much more difficult than his first and it remains to be seen how long the Blues will persevere with the grand final-winning former Collingwood mentor.
To an outsider, it seemed obvious that Malthouse was introduced to the club as a saviour, an attempt at a last ditch premiership before the retirement of their ageing stars. Unfortunately this did not eventuate and the Blues are now in the hangover.
The side are still left with mature and reliable players Marc Murphy, Andrew Carrazzo, Bryce Gibbs, Kade Simpson and Chris Judd, who are more than capable of guiding their team northward.
Carlton appear to have enough talent on their list to compete for a finals position. They have a solid defensive foundation, laid by Michael Jamison and Sam Rowe, and the potential of Chris Yarren and Levi Casboult.
If Lachy Henderson was able to play as a permanent forward, Carlton would appear to be sound across the board, having enough talent hold their own.
Unfortunately the hangover of Carlton’s last ditch flag attempt mean that this soundness is not enough to make it. Carlton’s second and third tier players are just not good enough, and what’s more, a lot of them are ageing.
In 2014 Dennis Armfield, Robbie Warnock and Dale Thomas were not at the level required for Carlton and are all on the wrong side of 27.
This year Carlton are left with two options, 1) to try to keep on adding experience for a quick accent, or 2) to re-build completely to try and create their next premiership team from the bottom.
Where the Blues finish in 2015 greatly depends on this. Already, Carlton have suggested that they will choose the latter, with the addition of Kristian Jaksch (GWS), Mark Whiley (GWS) and Liam Jones (Western Bulldogs) in the last trade period to try and kick start the re-build.
Assuming that Carlton continues down this path, one can see no better guidance than that offered by Mick Malthouse. Although this should ensure the long-term future of the club, 2015 unfortunately looks as if it will be a long one.
Carlton fans will need to have faith that their club has success around the corner and that they are on the road to a new era.
Prediction: fifteenth
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