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Carlton and the curious case of the 2014 draft

9th December, 2014
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Roar Guru
9th December, 2014
49
1229 Reads

Curious. That is about the only word that can do justice to what was the 2014 draft of the Carlton Football Club.

A draft-day riser, a draft-day slider, a father-son steal and a rainbow to finish it all. This draft had it all for a football fan.

Ultimately though, it is still hard to get a read for what Carlton were trying to achieve or what holes they were trying to fill with their draft picks.

Their first two selections were draft-day risers with Blaine Boekhurst and Dillon Viojo-Rainbow both going ahead of initial projections and indicating that Carlton was set on specific players for specific roles. That appearance though is questioned when considering that Clem Smith, the club’s third selection, has a similar game to Viojo-Rainbow. Topping it off is Jayden Foster, who was eligible as a father-son to Western but was passed over in part to dominating as an over-age player.

All over this draft is contradiction and surprises. Sliders and risers. Like-minded players. Mature-aged talent. Over-aged in underage. Underage in over-aged. Reputation and unheralded. It comes across as a draft that lacked specific direction.

But for whatever strange reasons these players were selected, as a whole, this draft works for Carlton.

They are a club suffering by lacking depth of talent. The top end is good for Carlton and their best are some of the league’s best, but the bottom of the side’s best 22 needs improvement.

While they may have misplayed the field, given Boekhurst could have remained on the board at 28, regardless he still gives the club some outside run that they are desperate for. That he can win his own ball on top and has shown to be a willing competitor are exciting additional pieces for Carlton to work with. They believe Boekhurst can play right away and if they are right it does help their best 22 and outside run.

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Viojo-Rainbow and Smith are in some ways similar players but they have enough subtle differences that they could play in the same backline, which is where they both seem best suited. Not unlike a lot of other clubs, age is a problem in defence for Carlton and these two selections add depth in the short-term and potential answers in the long term.

If Carlton knew Smith was still going to be available at 60 it is hard to know if they would still have taken Viojo-Rainbow, but regardless, these two could work for Carlton.

Foster is perhaps the most intriguing in a draft group full of intrigue. Carlton have been calling out for a true forward who delivers on talent, and Foster is a true forward who has the talent. The questions though are on how he will perform when he is not the physical body and presence that he was playing against predominately younger players. Going with the surprise and intrigue theme, Foster being looked over by Western should raise warning flags.

It is curious, but hey if it works, and can return Carlton back to finals football, no Blues fan is going to be tweeting their displeasure.

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