Carlton Blues players of the year and season review

Chancho - I think the results speak for themselves. You look at the list SOS put together at the Giants compared to what the Suns did and throw in the fact that the Giants have traded out some quality players doing very well at other clubs and go into this draft with 3 first round picks already and players like Marchbank, Hoskin-Elliott etc going to get them more good draft picks. Then you get to what he has done at the blues so far, managed to get them 4 first round picks last year and bring in players like Wright, Kerridge, Plowman and Phillips from trading away Yarran (didn't play a game in 2016), Menzel (didn't play a game in 2016), Bell & Henderson and then follow up by nailing every pick we had last year - he has laid some serious foundations, if we have half the success this trade and draft period as we did last year we will be playing finals sooner rather than later.

Again true but as we have seen on more then one occasion a change of club all that is needed to help a player improve.

Macca, what's your thoughts on SOS? This will be his first full year back at the club and taking them through the draft etc. How do you think he'll get on, and do you see him being the guy to put together a good list for you guys?

Not a fan of Green as he is too inconsistent and doesn't apply enough forward pressure for me. We have Andrew Gallucci on the rookie list who showed plenty of promise in the pre season but got an early shoulder injury in the two's that finished his season. He reminded me a bit like Puopolo the way he threw himself around so hopefully he might come good. I thought Sumner had a good first year after injuries curtailed his time at GWS. Another pre season should see him improve and hopefully kick more goals.

Hard to say - he ahs only averaged 1.3 goals a game for his career and hasn't been able to go through the midfield and only played 11 games this year in a side that finished 17th but were ranked 14th for points scored only 8 points behind 13th - if he does find a new home he won't be traded for much,

intresting view there and can see the logic. I wonder where Green could end up then. Hawks, Cat and Saints would be no need for him. so if as you say Carlton don't need him Melb or Tiger could be the best fit for him.

Not great - Lamb and Sumner played that roll a bit this year, Dylan Buckley was used up forward a bit but is better suited where he can run towards goal, Matthew Wright was pretty handy and one the goal kicking but spent plenty of time through the middle as well - however I don't think it will be a massive priority for us - 3 of those 4 players were just brought to the club in 2016 so they might be given more time and we have a lot bigger needs. I would also think that if we can get a mid at 5 who can make an impact next year (similar to Parish), we get more games into Cuningham and perhaps if we get a Hoskin-Elliott (Or O'meara perhaps) then I would expect that we would be using them and Murphy up forward more and over come the deficiency that way.

Macca what are the blues Small forward like? As I have just seen that Josh Green is open to be traded from the Lions. He is 24 and would fit in to the time frame and has been good other then this year. But I think that is more to do with them not getting the ball in the forward line as much.

Tomlinson I think going on the article on there web page is staying at GWS so maybe Caleb Marchbank is going to be the better target.

Yeah that surprised me a bit - but hopefully it simplifies things and makes a deal for Marchbank easier.

Macca, also noted that Tomlinson is staying at GWS so we can forget about him. SOS can now concentrate on getting Marchbank and we should use pick 5 on getting one of the young midfielders you named.

Just read an article about the winner of the Morrish Medal (Hugh McClugage) and it said he was competing for the Number 1 spot with Will Brodie, Andrew McGrath, Ben Ainsworth and Sam Petrevski-Seton. McCluggage, Brodie and Petrevski-Seton are all mids who would suit the blues very well by the sounds of things and given the Suns are likely to be forced to use their first pick on Bowes at least 1 of them should get through to pick 5.

Hopefully.

Brinnx - we didn't scrimp and scrag in all hose wins, we kicked 99 points against the pies, 104 against the Cats,93 against Port and 102 against the Lions - not too sloppy. This draft and trade period is important, but given the success we had last year I have a lot of confidence we will get it right this year.

We can't have both?

hehe been waiting to see what your response to this was Macca. Mattyb has it right in that this draft is massive for the blues, get it right and it will set them up for the future. He gets it wrong with rating the wins as sloppy, we just had to scrimp and scrag wins because we have no forwards capable of kicking multiple goals, but that will change. We do have some people on the list over 25 that need to be moved on, and once they go we of course will get a younger list, its why we can't touch Cloak/Vickery/Ballantyne in the pursuit of competitiveness next year. Our focus has to be beyond success in 2017/18. IMO we are looking at 2020 before finals are realistic, and the draft this year has to reflect this.

Brinnx - we need class, we have a lot of players that bust a gut but don't use it well forward of the centre.

Reluctant to trade out next years 1st pick - things could go well next year and we may improve - but we also may well go backwards and give up a top three pick in what is reported to be a very good draft crop. I would rather trade a know commodity (no 5 pick) than gamble on results next year ala Pies. Marchbank and Tomlinson plus some draft swapping in the 2nd round in return for no.5 would suit us fine. The honeymoon is far from over for Bolton, that run of wins in the earlier part of the year give Bolts plenty of credits to spend. As mentioned lots of work to do, still need a Key Position back to play on the tall full-forards that are coming through, 195cm is not going to be enough once Hogan,Danniher and Lynch grow up. In SOS and Bolts we must trust, Melbourne built from defence, and we improved in that area this year. The forward line will be last thing built, but the talent we have there shows promise and they will be given time. As for who should be traded/kicked out, take your pick of passengers in the last 10 games. I remember watching a game years ago that meant nothing between the Tiger's and Blues on a wet winters August day at the MCG. 13th v 15th or thereabouts with no hope of either side making finals. Craig Bradley busted a gut in a 80 meter run to get to a contest on the far wing to knock a contested ball out of bounds. It was min 28 in the last qtr and his team was behind by 30 points. I'll take that sort of effort and determination over beep tests and KPI any day. That's what we need in this draft - skill is all well and good but means bugger all if they don't have the will, and half a dozen players in our last 22 just don't have the iron will that has made Hawthorn/Sydney/Geelong the finals mainstays they are today.

Can't fault anything with that Col.