This headline probably doesn’t comfort the faithful at Princes Park, but the Blues’ start to the season has been super impressive.
Wins and losses are how football clubs should be assessed, but you also need to see the bigger picture sometimes.
Since Brendon Bolton became coach in 2016, Carlton have amassed seven, six, two and one wins in his four seasons at the helm.
Taking over one of the older lists in the competition at the time, Bolton was tasked with rebuilding the playing roster.
The Blues’ list at the end of 2015 was a complete rabble.
Mick Malthouse mounted a tilt at the premiership, but when that didn’t happen, the squad looked tired.
Stars like Chris Judd, Eddie Betts and Jarrad Waite had either retired or been traded. So while they slipped down the ladder at the end of 2015, they were still relatively experienced.
As Carlton have tumbled down the ladder under Bolton, their list profile has changed. They have let go of experienced players and incorporated young bodies into the team.
The side had to go through growing pains while this happened and now the flowers are starting to bloom.
They have recruited probably the most consistent 18-year-old midfielder in history in Sam Walsh, but he’s not the only star.
Young on-ballers Paddy Dow, Sam Petrevski-Seton and Zac Fisher have emerged as genuine talents and the form of Harry McKay as a contested-marking beast and Jacob Weitering in defence has given fans hope.
(Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
And a side can’t be competitive without the senior players holding their form.
The return of a fit Marc Murphy has given Patrick Cripps a stable support system to do his work.
The form of Liam Jones has allowed Weitering to do what he does best.
There is a lot to like about what Carlton are doing this season. They are becoming a dependable, solid team.
They have been in every game despite a difficult draw. They have played Richmond, Port Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn.
Three of those six sides played finals last year with Port Adelaide holding a spot in the eight for much of last year.
They could easily be either 3-3 or 4-2 with the losses to Gold Coast and Hawthorn being last-second affairs.
Against the Swans, they controlled the first quarter and only inaccuracy stopped them from taking a lead.
This week against North Melbourne they have an amazing opportunity to win their second game for the year.
They are playing a North side fighting for respectability. Carlton have made inroads this year but they need to win for their fans – to give them hope that this rebuild is sustainable and lasting.
Bolton is the man to lead them out of the doldrums. Can the players help him achieve his vision of success?
I’m quietly confident that they can win. They have a simple game style that requires effort and a willingness to play one-on-one.
If they stick true to those values, there’s nothing but positive news for this week and beyond.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
They emerge one week then go and hide the next. I watched the 1st Quarter and half of this game with a stinking hangover too. So it was godawful. However thing that I had a bit of chuckle about at one stage they showed a stat that North Melbourne had 60 more possessions then Carlton but had Double the amount of tackles Carlton had. You can talk development and all the other stuff, but that's just straight out work ethic. And people mention injuries, so are we to believe with all the talent Carlton has on it's list, that three players drop out (two of who've barely had an impact this season in Kruezer because hasn't been there due to injury & McGovern just not doing alot) and they all decide they are going to not defend, tackle and close down space? After a couple of ok weeks, there performance on the weekend was pretty poor, against an average Kanagroos. And Carlton have done absolutely squat to think they can just turn up and win (which I saw an article yesterday suggested the attitude)
GeoffB
Guest
Williamson (only played 2 games in a year and half so miles off it) and stocker are no were near ready they have been average in the VFL so how they go a game is beyong me .
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Ludwig Leichhardt went missing, Carlton pass into alternative dimensions.
GBlues
Guest
His coaching has been poor this year . I totally agree with the above . He made coaching error against Swans and Gold Coast as well as picking underperforming (McGovern -another Crow stich up) /injured players Williamson and Settlefield.
Macca
Roar Rookie
But he plays a role we don't need, Martin is the type we are desperate for
Macca
Roar Rookie
Players that would have had to move out of the midfield if we tagged O'meara.
Kane
Guest
I'd prefer Jones Macca, he's tough as they come and has a bit of s#%t about him which would add something different and compliment the list perfectly I believe. And he runs in straight lines which we don't have a lot of. I'm not sold on Martin yet
Dean Brooks
Guest
Cripps still got a bit of the ball but Howe really shut down his impact on the game. He wasn't as damaging as he usually is which helped the Hawks get back into it. As a target he still got 19 disposals 4 clearances and 4 tackles. Very underated run with play at 23. I thought some of your other players influenced the game more than Cripps.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Martin yes, Jones no.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Those are the two that would get the most from him I suspect, plus probably Setterfield. I have loved to see how Cripps handball has gone to another level this year releasing the likes of .Fisher and SPS around the clearance (those 2 players are probably getting to better positions as well). The knock on both Cripps & Dow is their foot skills and the word is yesterday they were working hard on hitting 25m kicks after bursting from a stoppage, if diesel gets this part of their game up to his standards McKay, Curnow and McGovern will be licking their lips.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Great to see Cripps and Dow have invited Diesel Williams to Ikon Park for personalised coaching. Hopefully some of the other mids will join in.
Macca
Roar Rookie
It was a great game but tagging isn't always the answer, especially when the player is so good on the inside. Look at Cripps, Howe tagged him and he still ended up with 28 touches, 6 clearances and 9 tackles.
Dean
Guest
Yep that's true but Omeara was the only player that stood up in the first half. If not for his clearances and disposals the game would have been over. I just thought that you undermined a great game by Omeara.
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
Bolton is a painful character. Maybe he's a better leader behind the scenes in which case he should edit or limit his public speaking.
Jack
Guest
I think we will lose against north however completely agree with our talent. 13 out of 22 players are under 22, we are absolutely full of young guns. We will target maybe Martin at Gold Coast or Zac Jones plus dockerty back next year . With organic growth could be close to finals next year. Side note excited to see Williamson and stocker this weekend. Two more possible 10 years players that just need games. Bolton said earlier this year I finally have my lost now they just need to grow together . Don’t forget mor of our team are under 30 games
Macca
Roar Rookie
To tag O'meara we would have had to take one of our offensive mids out of the rotation. While we were dominating the game we could afford to let O'meara go.
Brinnx
Guest
Cornes is trying to make a name for himself as a bomb thrower, so he tends to go to the extreme end of an argument just to get a reaction. For mine Bolts has grown along with the team, as the playing list have learned and got better at what the coaches have asked them to do, the more he has evolved as he has more to work with. The Blues have done the hard yards with the green shoots, time is coming when they will reap the harvest, the next 18 months will tell if its a bumper crop or just an average yield. I hope it will be bountiful!!!!
Slane
Guest
If you can beat the Bulldogs you can beat the Roos!
Dean
Guest
If it wasn't for Omeara Macca the Hawks would have been a lot further behind at half time. 15 possessions in the second half is not shabby and probably ran out of a bit of juice in the second half. His clearance work in the second half helped the Hawks get back into it in the third quarter and got significant help from Shiels and Worpel. He was dominant in the first half but had no help. One of the best games l have seen him play.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Teams with young players filling the key positions tend to go missing for periods.