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In recent times we Carlton supporters have been subjected to a barrage of negative analysis, from people claiming the list is “cooked” and our under-23 players consists solely of “Patrick Cripps and GWS rejects” to claims that Essendon without their banned 12 will still beat the Blues’ best side.
In response I thought I would take it upon myself to find some potential positives, and encourage our supporters to ponder “what if”.
To do this I have broken the list down into five groups, and identified two players from each group that I think could significantly contribute to the Blues outperforming expectations – by that, I mean maybe getting out of the bottom four, before people start thinking I am talking finals.
Number ones
Carlton now has four number one draft picks on their list and while we can expect Marc Murphy to uphold his high standards and Jacob Weitering is just in his first year (and will be discussed at a later point) it is Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer who have the capabilities to have the biggest impact on the Blues’ season.
Gibbs enjoyed a stellar 2014 season but a horror 2015 as Mick Malthouse’s ordinary game plan – he seemed to be told just to win the clearance and bomb in forward – suspension and injury all played their part in making him largely ineffective.
Reports are that he is having an excellent pre-season posting numerous personal bests and if he can recapture that 2014 form a midfield trio of Murphy, Gibbs and Cripps will pose some serious questions to opposition sides.
Kreuzer has had a horror run with injuries but looks set to complete his first ever full pre-season in the AFL and his late season form from 2015 showed he still has the potential to become an elite AFL ruckman. If he does reach those heights we have long expected, it adds another dimension to the Blues’ side.
Trade recruits
While a lot has been made of the Blues grabbing four GWS players in one hit – most former first rounders – I think it will be Sam Kerridge and Daniel Gorringe who can have the biggest impact from this group.
Kerridge is a hard-working, hard-running midfielder who will never be an elite player but if he can simply become a good solid midfielder who gets his 20-25 possessions every week and works his butt off for the team it adds that midfield depth and work ethic the Blues have sorely missed, and makes life a lot easier for the Murphy, Gibbs and Cripps.
Daniel Gorringe is a former No.10 draft pick and All-Australian under-18 ruckman who was among the Suns’ best runners while standing above 200cm. The Blues appear to be trying to establish him across half forward and if he can finally achieve his potential – and he wouldn’t be the first big man to take a while – he could be that key forward the Blues so desperately need to help out Casboult.
Draftees
The Blues grabbed five very good players in this year’s draft and while I am excited about the longterm possibilities of Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow and interested to see how Jack Silvagni comes on it will be Jacob Weitering and David Cunningham which will have the biggest impact in 2016.
Weitering has had so much written about him I hardly need to rehash it here, but I expect him to be a solid third tall defender in 2016.
Cunningham on the other hand will have slipped under a lot of people’s radar but has been really impressing in the Blues’ match simulations with his ability to win the ball at the contest and use his speed and agility break away from it and find space.
If he can manage to make the transition to AFL level he will compliment the more established mids perfectly and give the Blues’ midfield the speed it has been missing.
Under 23s
This area is the most exciting area of the Blues list comprising almost 50 per cent (22 of 46 players), and includes the likes of Sam Docherty and Dylan Buckley who have established themselves in 2015. In 2016 I am looking for break out performances from Nick Graham and Blaine Boekhorst.
Graham will be one of the most relieved players in the league that the sub vest has gone for good and he showed in his final few games of 2015 – before a foot injury ended his season – that he belongs at AFL level, with 24 possessions against the Suns and 26 and five tackles against the Bulldogs.
Like Kerridge I don’t expect him to be a match-winner but his ability to accumulate possession, lay tackles and find the goals adds a lot of depth to the Blues’ midfield.
Boekhorst managed 11 games in 2015 – again a victim of the sub rule – and has been much maligned by those outside the club as a waste of a first round pick but the more he played at AFL level the better he got and there were a number of small moments in games for him that showed his true potential – a really nice hanger, a set shot from outside 50 that split the middle, and a centering pass to Cripps that won the Melbourne game are stand outs for me.
After his first full pre-season Boekhorst is noticeably bigger and with greater endurance – in his best two games against Hawthorn and Collingwood he got most of his possessions in the first half before fading – should be able to become that dynamic line-breaker the Blues need.
Rookies
There are two rookies that really standout to me, both Irish, both named Ciaran.
Ciaran Byrne played just one game – as the sub – last year before hamstring injuries ended his season but his nine possessions against Essendon in Round 3 from just 28 per cent gametime at close to 100 per cent efficiency was incredibly exciting – if can stay fit, he could be the quick classy half-forward that makes the Blues’ forward line dangerous.
Ciaran Sheehan missed all of 2015 with injury but his four games in 2014 showed plenty of promise with plenty of dash off half-back – if he can emualte Zach Tuohy’s 2015 season it might release the likes of Docherty or Buckley to be deployed in a more attacking fashion.
So those are my top 10 players to be optimistic about Carlton fans, I would love to hear yours.
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