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.
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.
JMW
Guest
Judd was finished two years ago. It still annoys me that the Club traded Josh Kennedy for the bald one. It also bugs me when supporters are one eyed. It's an emotive game made better with a dollop of objectivity.
Macca
Guest
TomC - This is a little late in the piece but on Essendon being a long way in front of the blues - here are the 2 teams that played in the round 23 dra Carlton - B Zach Tuohy , Michael Jamison , Sam Rowe HB Sam Docherty , Matthew Watson , Kade Simpson C Tom Bell , Andrew Carrazzo , Ed Curnow HF Chris Yarran , Levi Casboult , Troy Menzel F Simon White , Jarrad Waite , Dennis Armfield Fol Cameron Wood , Chris Judd , Bryce Gibbs I/C Ciaran Sheehan , Kane Lucas , Brock McLean Sub Patrick Cripps - The blues have lost Waite, McLean & Lucas out of that side, I would say that Armfield, Sheehan, White and Wood will be pushed out of the with Murphy, Everitt, Walker, Henderson, Buckley, Kreuzer & Thomas coming back in, that is a significant improvement to the round 23 team before you include any of the recruits form this draft/trade period. Essendon- B Mark Baguley, Cale Hooker, Michael Hibberd HB Dyson Heppell, Michael Hurley, Jason Winderlich C Ben Howlett, Jobe Watson, Travis Colyer HF Brendon Goddard, Patrick Ambrose, David Zaharakis F Zach Merrett, Joe Daniher, Paul Chapman Fol Patrick Ryder, Brent Stanton, Heath Hocking I/C Tom Bellchambers, Courtenay Dempsey, Orazio Fantasia Sub Martin Gleeson Ryder going has put a massive hole in that forward line (he was the only forward in the round 23 game that consistently troubled the blues) and Cooney coming in won't be a massive improvement. Based on that game (and I know it is only 1 game) and the changes available I don't see the gap as being that great - and the bombers age profile is much worse.
Macca
Guest
Col - Asking Don for insight is like asking a monkey to explain string theory.
Col of Brissie
Guest
Pretty insightful that Don. I could probably say the same about your mob too as they just beat Carlton by 5 points the last time they played each other and were lucky to do that.
TomC
Roar Guru
I'd steel myself for the worst, if I was you, Jack.
Don Freo
Guest
They're not much chop.
Jack
Guest
U guys are all soft blues at 51 are a great bet. they lost to Fremantle by 5 and got robbed against Geelong. Missing two of top 5 players for first 12 rounds. I would not be surprised if we are top 4. Great age profile across the list now
Col of Brissie
Guest
That's a big statement Don, care to enlighten me as to how you came to that conclusion?
Macca
Guest
You should get on them DOn - they are currently $21 for the spoon, behind the Saint $1.75, the demons $4.60, the Bulldogs $6.50, the Giants $6.50 and the bombers at $15 (which would have to be attractive if you think the AFL are going to give them a few weeks).
Macca
Guest
Not sure it will be a year of blooding kids, the blues only have 3 players on the list over 30 and if you look at the key positions the have Jamison, 29 in June, Rowe 27, Gibbs, 26 in March, Henderson 25 & Casboult 25 in March as the spine then Kreuzer 26 in May, Murphy 27 and Judd 31 as the first string on ballers. You throw in Simpson 31 in may, Walker, 28, Thomas 27, Curnow, 25, Menzel 20 Everitt 26 in March and Yarran 24 as certainties for the startnig 22 and you only have 7 spots left and at least some of them will be filled by (or at least fouhgt over by) the likes Bell, Jones, Touhy. Buckley, Docherty, Tutt, Di ck and Carrazzo who I would hardly call "kids". I do expect the likes of Cripps 20 in March & Graham 21 in June to get a lot more games and the likes of Boekhorst, Smith Holman and Johnson to get some game time but I can't see it being a wholesale blooding of kids year.
Don Freo
Guest
A real wooden spoon prospect. A weaker list than last season.
alicesprings
Guest
Those odds at $51 seem about right..id be betting they finish somewhere between 14-16. They'll safely finish above Melbourne, St.Kilda and should be above the Bulldogs. It will be a year of blooding young kids and getting set to have a serious shot in 2017. Sometimes you have to go back before you can go forwards. I think the risk for Carlton is that they do a half backed attempt of a rebuild. By which time clubs like the Saints, bulldogs, lions, west coast etc will have done their rebuilds properly. Im looking forward to Mick's press conferences!
johno
Guest
I think Lamb is their risk pick. Height, pace and skill but with apparent attitude issues when things don't go his way As for Freo - I guess the thinking is that you need 10+ mid fielders at any one time ina good team and this years draft is looking at that. Ethan Hughes was an interesting pick
Macca
Guest
TIme to come back to reality Slane, of last years finalists they got a win over North in round 1 (who beat them in the final), a win over Richmond in round 11 (who beat them in round 20) and a win over Port by 2 points. They also had 6 of their wins by less than 10 points plus a draw. Since the drug scandal they have added Cooney, Goddard & Chapman (which isn't helping their age profile) but have lost Ryder & Crameri which means their forward line is more than ordinary. Throw in a more difficult draw thanks to making the finals in 2014 and they will be in the battle with 8-10 other teams for the bottom for spots in the 8, if they have players suspended for the first few weeks they will be in real troulble
slane
Guest
Essendon are my smokey for the flag this season. Their biggest weakness is their forward line but Daniher will be a gun. Since the drug scandal came to light they've picked up Goddard and Cooney. As long as they get to field their team next season they could be challenging for a flag.
Macca
Guest
TomC - On the bombers it all depends on whether they actually have a list though.
TomC
Roar Guru
For what it's worth, if I had to nominate other teams to finish below Carlton apart from the three I've already mentioned, it'd be Collingwood, GWS and Brisbane. I think they each have stronger lists, but I think they're all a bit brittle and would struggle to deal with a lot of injuries.
TomC
Roar Guru
I think Essendon are a fair way ahead of Carlton at the moment, I'm afraid. Equally, you could argue that if Carlton had had the injuries of the teams around them on the ladder like Collingwood, Brisbane and GWS, that the season would have looked much worse. There's always swings and roundabouts. My real issue is that I just don't rate the list. I haven't rated it for a while, really, and I don't think it's gotten any better.
Don Freo
Guest
I see Melbourne above the Blues. Blues bottom 4.
Macca
Guest
The Bombers Tom? I am not going to predict where the blues will finish so far out from the season but they don't have to improve their best footy much to finish significantly higher than 2014 (especially given a friendlier draw) they just have to play their best footy more often. If you look at their results against last year finalist they lost to Richmond by 2 goals (with a goal kicked in the dying seconds), Drew with Essendon and got belted by them, beat North by 4 goals, Lost to Geelong by less than a goal twice, Lost to freo by less than a goal, were very competitive against the Hawks and got towelled up by Port and Sydney. If the blues played like they did against the majority of the top 8 against sides like Melbourne, GWS and Brisbane the season would have looked much better.