Carlton won less games than they won in 2016, however looked like a better side with plenty of excitement and developing youngsters. Here is my season review.
Previous season reviews
Gold Coast
Brisbane
What happened
The Blues had a disappointing first five game, going 1-4 in that time, with one win against Essendon in the wet, and the four losses against Richmond, Melbourne, Gold Coast, and Port Adelaide.
Two of those losses were with over five-goal margins. They then won they’re next two games over Sydney and Collingwood to suddenly be back in finals contention.
They lost their next three games to St Kilda, Fremantle, and North Melbourne, but came out firing after the bye with wins against the two newest teams, the Suns from the Gold Coast sky and the Giants, who failed to make a big, big sound in the west of the town.
Similar to last year, the wheels fell off, dropping their next eight games, but managed to shape the eight and end the Hawks great era of success.
Mark out of 10: 7.5/10
The coach
In just his second season as coach of the rebuild of the mighty Blues, there is obvious improvement in their team and players. Forward-turned-defender Liam Jones established his place inside their defensive 50, while young players such as Jack Silvagni and Charlie Curnow continued to develop.
There is no doubt that Bolton is on the right track.
Mark out of 10: 8/10
The Best 22 – End of 2017
B: Lachie Plowman, Liam Jones, Jacob Weitering
HB: Kade Simpson, Caleb Marchbank, Sam Docherty
C: Sam Kerridge, Patrick Cripps, Ed Curnow
HF: Sam Petrevski-Seton, Levi Casboult, Dale Thomas
F: Charlie Curnow, Jack Silvagni, Matthew Wright
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs
I/C: Jed Lamb, Zac Fisher, David Cunningham, Jarrod Pickett
Players such as Harry McKay, Harrison Macreadie, and Tom Williamson are unlucky not to be in their best 22 at this stage, however things may change for them following the trade period and the draft depending on Carlton’s trade moves and players that leave.
Sam Rowe is also unlucky not to have a spot, being pushed out of the defence due to emergence of Liam Jones and Caleb Marchbank.
List changes
Possible delistings
Andrew Gallucci – Gallucci leaves the Blues without an AFL debut, but looks like continuing his VFL career
Kristian Jaksch – The former number 12 draft pick failed to make an impact at either of his former clubs, and his delisting by Carlton is self-explanatory
Liam Sumner – Sumner has been the unluckiest to be delisted by the Blues thus far, although is a possibility to be re-drafted onto the rookie list.
Blaine Boekhorst – Boekhorst hasn’t shown enough to suggest he is worthy of a new contract. I think the Blues should give him the axe
Dylan Buckley – Buckley haven’t shown enough to suggest he is part of the Blues future, and seems likely he won’t be at the Blues next year
Simon White – White has never reached his height over his career, and being 29 years old won’t help his case with the Blues being in rebuild mode, and might be moved on.
Free agents
Kade Simpson and Simon White are the only free agents for Carlton remaining. I suggested that White won’t be offered a new contract and will be delisted. However, Kade Simpson seems likely to either play on or retire, and would more likely be playing on next season.
Picks: 3, 38, 56, 74
(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
Potential trade targets
The big ‘will it happen’ trade is Bryce Gibbs potentially leaving the Blues to get to the Crows, after requesting a trade to get there last trade period but not eventuating. If the Crows get pick ten from the Demons for Jake Lever if he leaves, the most ideal trade to suit the Blues want is this.
Bryce Gibbs for pick ten and their third-round pick (currently pick 53). However, things can change over twelve months and Gibbs may be okay to continue on at the Blues and remain a one-club player.
It has been rumoured that the Blues are interested in Tom Rockliff, and would be able to get him for nothing due to him being a free agent. The Blues desperately need some more midfield depth and a back-up ruckman. Aaron Hall from Gold Coast might potentially be open to a trade, however, what will the Suns demand for him?
Will they play hard ball with him? At most, Hall is worth a second-round pick, and the Blues could trade next year’s second-round pick for him, but that should be the most the Suns should get for him.
The Blues might try and look at Lukas Webb and Luke Partington as possible gems. Their ruck stocks contain Matthew Kreuzer, Andrew Phillips, and Levi Casboult are the main players in their ruck division as it stands, and Casboult is more a tall forward that can go in the ruck if the number one ruckman needs a rest up forward.
Jackson Trengove is available and might appeal as an option that can play as a forward, ruckman, and defender. They could also raid the Giants list again and look at options such as Devon Smith, Matt Kennedy, and Matthew Flynn.
All would assist in their forward, midfield, and ruck depth, and all of them also fit the bill on young talent, which is what the Blues need. Jake Spencer is also available as a delisted free agent from the Demons, and may appeal as a mature-aged ruckman in their depth department.
Retirements
Dennis Armfield and Matt Korcheck have already announced their retirements. Kade Simpson, Dale Thomas, and Marc Murphy are all aged over thirty, however all of them seem likely to play on. Sam Rowe will be aged thirty by Round 1 next season, and may be thinking about retirement after his ACL injury in 2017, however it seems likely he will be at the club next year.
Early prediction
My early prediction on the Blues 2018 campaign is that they get between ten and seven wins, and finish between tenth and fifteenth on the ladder.
That’s my review of Carlton’s 2017. What are your thoughts?
Rippa
Guest
Don't feed the trolls macca.
Conor
Roar Guru
David C, it is an early prediction, and I have no doubt that my early predictions will change following the trade period and draft, and once the fixture comes out.
David C
Guest
Well, you've offered Rocky a contract.
David C
Guest
Carlton have offered Rockliff a contract Macca, what do you think about that? Have you heard any rumours as to how much they have offered him?
Slane
Guest
My club is about the play in a Prelim and still the best part of this season was how Jeremy Howe was overlooked for the All Australian team. The outrage of a hundred thousand toothless Collingwood fans will sustain me for most of the off-season.
Macca
Guest
Liam - Throw in the loss of Cripps & Ed Curnow from our midfield and Marchbank & A Silvagni from our defence and it become pretty obvious what happened. Given the fact we had numerous close games in those losses "wheels falling off" seems a stretch.
Liam
Guest
"Similar to last year, the wheels fell off, dropping their next eight games..." D'you by any chance take a look at the fixture, of who we played those games against? Maybe consult Ryan Buckland then, who had the Blues having one of the hardest second halves in the competition; nah, let's just use a tired metaphor and not actually consider anything, hmm?
Macca
Guest
Peter - "Our trade strategy has been brilliant" and yet every year you have gone backwards - if each year you trade strategy has resulted in your list getting better but your performance has got worse why would you reappoint the coach? But as long as you are happy - but it odd you criticise the blues "tragic drop on standards for a once proud club." and yet you praise Collingwood's fall.
Macca
Guest
" way to manufactured and constructed to implement flexible plans when under the pump" How do you explain the numerous in game comebacks? If you are judging him on ladder position alone you are being very superficial.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Kane Last time I checked I said " a Carlton man " - I thought Mick cut his teeth at the Tigers . Anyway , Mick was passed it when he went to the Blues , never less he was a great coach in his prime . I can't see Bolton cut from the same cloth - to much of a poindexter .
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Macca Who cares if the players " love " Bolton - where did they finish on the ladder ? Supposedly , the players at Collingwood love Buckley - where did they finish on the ladder ? We all know Buckley can't coach and Bolton's certainly on the same path - clueless under pressure and unable to instigate different strategies . As I said - way to manufactured and constructed to implement flexible plans when under the pump.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
Our trade strategy has been brilliant. The only two players you mention there who hurt us leaving are Shaw and Beams and Beams has been largely injured since and asked to leave to be with his sick Dad. All the others who left have only been fringe players. The Sad Blues even destroyed Daisy's career. Nathan Freeman still hasn't played a single game 2 years later at the Saints. Scharenberg has been injured just coming good now. Treloar is a jet and totally worth 2 first rounds. The others we brought in cost only salary as they were either very high draft picks (30+ is basically a raffle) or free agency. Wells can still deliver, so far Mayne deal is a dud. All the others you mention have done nothing at their ther clubs to suggest we should have kept them. Harry O, Dawes, Kennedy, Thomas, even Wellingham and Seedsman still struggle to cement a starting point. Witts is ok at the Suns but we simply didn't need him with Grundy and we got a bloke from Melbourne who should have been All Australian in Howe.
Macca
Guest
Peter - just wondering what you think of this - in 2012 Collingwood finished 4th and tehn made the following trades; 2012 IN: Draft selection No. 17* (Brodie Grundy) OUT: Sharrod Wellingham (West Coast) IN: Draft selections No. 20 (Tim Broomhead), No. 45 (Brant Colledge) OUT: Chris Dawes (Melbourne), draft selection No. 58 (Clay Cameron) IN: Draft selection No. 71 (Daniel Nicholson) OUT: Tom Young (Western Bulldogs) IN: Jordan Russell (Carlton) OUT: Draft selection No. 71 (Daniel Nicholson) IN: Draft selection No. 39 (North Melbourne) OUT: Draft selections No. 42 (Matthew McDonough), No. 48 (Dean Kent) In 2013 they slipped to 6th and made the following trades 2013 IN: Jesse White (Sydney) OUT: Draft selection No. 44 (Aliir Aliir) IN: Draft selection No. 6 (Matthew Scharenberg), draft selection No. 44 (Aliir Aliir) OUT: Draft selection No. 11 (Dom Sheed), draft selection No. 31 (Malcolm Karpany), draft selection No. 49 (Dylan Main). IN: Taylor Adams (Greater Western Sydney) OUT: Heath Shaw IN: Patrick Karnezis (Brisbane) OUT: Jackson Paine IN: Free agency compensation (first round draft selection) OUT: Dale Thomas (Carlton) 2014 the had gone down to 11th and made the following trades Trade Activity: Dayne Beams and pick 67 to the Brisbane Lions for Jack Crisp and picks 5 and 25. Pick 25 to North Melbourne for Levi Greenwood; Heritier Lumumba to Melbourne in a three-way deal involving Mitch Clark from Melbourne to Geelong and Travis Varcoe to Collingwood. In 2015 the pies had gone to 12th and did the following Four-way deal Collingwood, Adelaide, Melbourne and Port Adelaide were involved in the trade, which involved the Pies sending Paul Seedsman to Adelaide and Ben Kennedy to Melbourne in return for Howe and pick 68 in the 2015 National Draft. In sending Seedsman to Adelaide, Collingwood received pick 32 which it traded on to Melbourne. The Demons then exchanged pick 32 and Jimmy Toumpas with Port Adelaide for picks 29, 50 and 68. Collingwood then traded Kennedy to Melbourne in return for Howe and pick 68. Freeman joins St Kilda Collingwood received a future second round draft pick from St Kilda in exchange for young midfielder Nathan Freeman on day seven of the AFL Trade Period. In addition to St Kilda’s second round pick in the 2016 National Draft, Collingwood improved its position in the fourth round of this year’s draft, swapping pick No. 68 for the Saints’ pick No. 63. Treloar's wish granted Talented young midfielder Adam Treloar will call the Holden Centre home after Collingwood reached a trade agreement with Greater Western Sydney on day eight of the AFL Trade Period. The club exchanged picks No. 7 and No. 65 in the 2015 National Draft along with its first round pick in the 2016 National Draft for Treloar and the Giants’ pick 28. Aish involved in three-club deal Collingwood has added another talented young midfielder to its list, securing Brisbane’s James Aish in the final hours of the 2015 trade period. As part of a three-club trade involving Brisbane and North Melbourne, Collingwood sent pick No. 26 and a future second round draft pick to Brisbane in exchange for Aish, while receiving picks No. 34 and No. 53 from North Melbourne in exchange for picks No. 28 and No. 47. 2016 so the club remain in 12th and complete the following trades; 4. Traded Jarrod Witts to Gold Coast Suns for Picks 44 and 62 5. Traded Travis Cloke to the Western Bulldogs for Pick 76 6. Traded future second round to GWS Giants for Will Hoskin-Elliott 7. Traded future Jack Frost, Pick 76 and future third round to Brisbane for Lions’ future third round and future fourth round and 1. Signed unrestricted free agent Daniel Wells (North Melbourne) 2. Signed unrestricted free agent Chris Mayne (Fremantle) They then finished 13th the following year. The question is do you think their trading strategy has been a success and given the payers they have chased and brought in why are they going backwards? 8. Traded Pick 47 to Melbourne for Lynden Dunn and Pick 51 9. Traded Marley Williams to North Melbourne for Pick 105
Macca
Guest
Wow Peter - 2 whole Premierships in 28 years wow!! And speaking of manipulating stats since 1990 Carlton have played in 1the 1993, 1995 and 1999 grand finals - that's 3 not 2. If we go back 30 years to 1987 we get back to 2 premierships a piece - go back further than that and it gets pretty ugly for you. But Peter past premierships are meaningless in where the teams are now - you keep harping on about how you won a premiership 6 years ago but very few of that team remain, you have a different coach and in 6 years only once have failed to go backwards and that year you stayed 12th - f you want to bask in that glory go for your life - I prefer to focus on the present and the future and right now the blues future looks pretty bright,
Peter the Scribe
Guest
Oh Macca, you manipulate stats worse than Cat and that's saying something. Let's take the start of the AFL in 1990 then. We have 2 flags from 5 grand finals. You have 1 flag from 2. Hoe about from the year 2000? Carlton 4 wooden spoons Collingwood none. How about your average ladder position from 2002 -2017? 12th. I rest my case.
David C
Guest
Bit early to be making predictions about next season. I think I'll wait until after the trade and draft periods are done but I'd expect Carlton and Brisbane to start edging their way up the table. GC and North still have a lot of work to do on their lists.
David C
Guest
I think you need to keep drinking for the next 2 years actually to numb the pain.
Kane
Guest
Someone like a Malthouse maybe Mike? How'd that go for us?
Macca
Guest
Farnsworth - I find this oft repeated prediction that the blues won't be in finals in the next 5 years interesting - that is 5 draft, trade and free agency periods - who knows what the blues list will look like in 2 years let alone 5. Throw in the fact it is impossible to predict how quickly the 1/3 of the blues list that is currently under 21 will develop - who knows what Charlie Curnow could do next year let alone by the time he is 24 or 25.
Macca
Guest
So you have 1 flag in the last 25 years just like the blues. And since you won that flag and immediately sacked your coach you have finished 4th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 12th and 13th - that is quite the trend line you have got going there under Bucks, 14th here you come!!