For years we have seen this team get it wrong. So horribly wrong that not less than two years ago they declared a full club reset and re- build.
From one of the proudest and most successful clubs to the bottom of the ladder with one of the worst playing lists ever assembled.
Dumped from primetime, dumped from relevance. Now two years later, 64 players have come and gone and Carlton’s well documented reset and journey is about to enter pre -season number three.
Following the release of the 2018 AFL fixture there has been uproar from members of the media condemning the AFL’s decision to grant Carlton four primetime Friday night games. A bold call – and as the league has admitted it is a risky call – but it can come with such a cost if results don’t fall their way.
Carlton has won 13 games in their past two seasons under Brendon Bolton. These are baby steps from the four wins that was season 2015 which saw the Blues feature on Friday night seven times and fail miserably by an average of 65 points each of those games.
They had only one appearance on primetime in 2017 and that resulted in a 90-point mauling at the hands of Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. Some argue that the Blues are not worthy of Friday night fixtures and there are more deserving teams. However, for Carlton to continue working their way back to relevance and to keep rebuilding, the Friday night games could be seen as a show of faith from the AFL that they are indeed looking after their big four.
Or is it the AFL putting the Blues on trial? Is this the AFL’s way of testing us?
Carlton fans would expect that. After drafting a plethora of young talent and developing the list and learning the new game plan, this team’s trajectory is on the up.
It will give them a chance to silence the bulk of the media and naysayers for good. It’s a big year for the Blues in more ways than just their fixtures.
The Blues have gone through another summer of fixture changes. Trading away Bryce Gibbs was probably the right call in the end but will leave a whole in the middle of the ground that the Blues would be desperate for Mathew Kennedy to come in and fill.
Armed with picks three and ten in this national draft to join the likes of Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow, Jacob Weitering, Sam Petrevski, Harry McKay and Jack Silvagni – the list goes on and on.
There’s young talent galore – but the club needs to develop them into the stars we know they can be.
Bolton knows the heat will be on if the performances don’t come. As does the president and the incoming CEO.
The players themselves would know that they are coming to the time where they need to take the next step in their reset.
The AFL has placed them on a platform to showcase the development and strides they are making. If it pays off and they’re ultra-competitive and maybe jag a few wins, it’s a win for the entire footy community.
It doesn’t, well, they AFL admits it was their blue and the media get ready to do what they do best.
Murphster888
Roar Rookie
Let's take away 2 first round picks a second, and third from you next year and then the year after let's take your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round picks and fine you 1 million dollars and see how long it takes you to recover. In fact let's do it to Hawthorn they have just come to the end of an era and had most of there senior stars either retire or move on just as Carlton did in 2001. I wonder how long Hawthorn would take to recover from that belting. My guess would be never.
Murphster888
Roar Rookie
Yeah and Collingwood just announced another financial loss for the year and another year with no finals and haven't even started the rebuild they will need by the time Buckley is done, not hard to see he learnt under Malthouse, how to destroy a club in three easy steps.
Murphster888
Roar Rookie
No they play losing football with no game plan and no eye on the future. 22 midfielders won't win you a game someone should tell Bucks to stop trading in more mids that can't hit the side of a barn.
Macca
Guest
Cal Twomey's "Mock draft" has the blues taking Dow at 3 and Bonar at 10 - I would be pretty happy if it worked out that way - Cripps, Kennedy, Cuningham, Dow, SPS & Bonar would make a pretty decent midfield to build around with their various strengths - if they all work out.
Macca
Guest
Interesting statement from Ed Curnow on the blues website yesterday "Harry McKay looks like he ate last years Harry McKay - he's huge!" Here's hoping he can get through the whole pre-season injury free!!
Macca
Guest
Can't complain about that, 3 words (ask Tony Abbott how effective they are), it invites an action and it ties in to the message that Bolton has been giving since he got to the blues
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
It's "Join the Journey".
Macca
Guest
Mattyb "I think some people need to worry more about how their team performs onfield and less about how it performs on an Internet forum" You do realise we are discussing the clubs "performance", just covering both on and off field (although at board & corporate level rather than internet forum level)?
Mattyb
Guest
I think some people need to worry more about how their team performs onfield and less about how it performs on an Internet forum. The most important thing a Carlton fan can currently do is buy a membership and get to the games.
Stephen
Guest
Looking at the 2015 AFL financials. Carlton membership revenue of $8.5m was well down compared with the two highest - WC and Collingwood - both $20m+. CFC sponsorship revenue $12m. Collingwood/Sydney the highest with $17m. Gaming/Social revenue - CFC the highest at $18m+.
Macca
Guest
Stephen - it was assumed he did (possibly even by some board members) but the fact the blues stuck to the process is a very positive sign. Liddle does have a good track record in memberships but also in revenue in general, he set up Leisure Activities for the Tigers which runs fitness and aquatic centres and tips in $15m a year into the richmond coffers.
Macca
Guest
I didn't see Boekhorst but it makes sense, the blues still have more spots than they have draft picks. I have also heard the Sumner has been invited to train with the blues. On Pickett I agree with your summation - but turning up to the first day of pre-season in great condition and standing out in the first couple of weeks gives me a lot of confidence that he will have built that tank come March. As I said early days but he is one of the players that can really change the blues season IF he does take that next step.
Stephen
Guest
Interesting Macca. I thought/was told - Lethlean had the job. And perhaps he was the front runner until the home-straight. Liddle comes with a membership background. So as the new CEO - you would expect him to bring that commercial flavour to the top job.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Macca, I suppose we will hear how the Liddle appointment was the wrong decision. In regards to Pickett, he has shown he has some speed and skills, just needs to build up the tank and it sounds like he is doing everything right about achieving that. Interestingly in the Marchbank interview during training I caught a glimpse of Boekhorst running around. Perhaps the club has ideas of picking him up as a rookie.
Macca
Guest
Stephen - I read an interesting article today on the appointment of Liddle, which says that when the blues sacked Trigg they were seen to be doing so to get Lethlean, which was a classic "old Carlton" move However they went through the process and arrived at Liddle instead. A lot of the credit for the adherence to the process is going to Judd (who Mattyb wants removed) and Jenkins but the President deserves credit for a) putting them on the committee and b) having the strength to accept their recommendations. The change of culture is impacting the board faster than many think.
Stephen
Guest
Agreed, club culture is a powerful force and not easily changed. The old CFC culture of buying big-name players - is clearly changing as the club moves through the current rebuild. The other component of the CFC culture - of relying on heavy/generous donors - is changing also. But arguably at a slower pace.
Stephen
Guest
Yes - I recall that one also. The marketers will argue - here we are 10 years later - still remembering the slogan. It's a fair point.
Macca
Guest
As long as it isn't "can you smell what the blues are cooking" I will be happy.
Stephen
Guest
Perhaps 2018 might see the Blues old slogan - 'They Know We're Coming' - receive the kiss of life?!
Macca
Guest
Is that the same someone who has a mate inside the blues who feeds him info that always turns out to be wrong? (Gibbs to GWS, Casboult to Collingwood etc) By the way Col have you seen that both SPS and Marchbank have nominated Pickett as the player who impressing the most in the pre-season so far? Early days but he seems to have come back in great shape and if he can have a full pre-season (for I think the first time) he could have a real impact in 2018.