- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Brendon Bolton honeymoon at Carlton is over and another serious list shake-up is in order.
Bolton is still the man to lead the Blues into the future, as the recent win over Melbourne serving as a reminder, but the shock four-game winning streak earlier in the season is now a distant memory.
Just as the flavour of a new gelato store on Lygon Street dies off after a couple of months, the Blues’ mid-season, nine-game losing streak, has revealed their list still needs a serious redevelopment.
A total of 17 players from Carlton’s team last year aren’t on the 2016 list. A mix of retirements, trades and de-listings have meant that just under 37 percent of last year’s list weren’t retained.
With the Blues still off the mark to contend for the top-eight, it wouldn’t be a shock to see a similar turnaround of players this offseason.
They rank 10th for average age and 12th for average games played, so Carlton will be looking to get a younger list profile for the future. To do so, big statements will need to be made surrounding the club’s senior statesmen.
The squad will automatically get younger thanks to the retirements of Andrew Walker and Michael Jamison.
It’s highly unlikely the club will move on Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Sam Rowe and Kade Simpson, so those should be the necessary veterans the Blues will keep for 2017.
After that set of players, though, things get murky.
Dennis Armfield (29) and Zach Tuohy (26) have both had serviceable seasons, but won’t be around for Carlton’s next finals run. Both players have skill sets that can make an impact for finals-bound sides.
Armfield provides forward pressure, while Tuohy’s run off the half-back line is adequate, so the Blues should garner a solid return if they choose to trade the duo.
Big headaches surround what to do with Matthew Kreuzer though. The towering ruckman was bound to move to Collingwood last year, before he failed a medical.
He seems to have overcome those injury concerns, missing just one game this season. It’s been his inconsistent form, however, that forces Carlton to decide on his future.
Kreuzer is averaging 20.7 hitouts, his second-worse rate since 2011, furthermore, his 11-disposal average is his lowest output since his rookie season, while his marks average is a career-worst.
Entering his late-20s, the Blues would be wise to move on from Kreuzer, creating space for Andrew Phillips and Daniel Gorringe to develop. Finding a trade partner that is sold on Kreuzer’s talent level may be an issue though.
The status of Andrejs Everitt, Dale Thomas, Levi Casboult, Liam Jones and Cameron Wood isn’t bright.
Those five players make up an average age of 27.2, so none of them will be apart of Carlton’s long-term future. The market will be dire for all of them, so any return would be a positive one for the Blues.
Simon White, Matthew Wright and Ed Curnow have all been fair contributors but are stuck in the mid-aged, B-grade category. The Blues would be wise to try and use them as trade bite to secure some draft picks or younger players.
Finally, Carlton has a large group of young players who can’t cut it at AFL level.
Nick Graham showed tremendous promise in the VFL, but has given too little in his senior appearances. Kristian Jaksch has never played to the potential he showed at GWS, while Jason Tutt, Dylan Buckley, Mark Whiley, Jayden Foster, Dillon Viojo-Rainbow, Matthew Dick and Clem Smith will be lucky to receive another chance.
However, some of Carlton’s youngsters have impressed this season.
Jacob Weitering has played up to his number one pick status, Sam Docherty is in All-Australia form, Patrick Cripps continues as one of the league’s most fierce midfielders, Jack Silvagni shows promise, Liam Sumner started the season strong and Blaine Boekhorst has developed into a solid tagger.
Additionally, Ciaran Byrne looked strong before he tore his ACL and 2015 draft picks Harry McKay, David Cuningham and Charlie Curnow need time. Sam Kerridge and Lachie Plowman have secured spots in the best 22.
That contingent of Blues receives a pass mark for 2016.
The Blues were 10th with six wins after Round 11, a sign that their core group of young players is good enough to lead them into the future.
With the middling nature of the rest, another major overhaul is a smart and feasible option.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.