Carlton’s dismal performance against North Melbourne on Sunday has left the Blues under heaps of pressure and coach Brendon Bolton on thin-ice.
If Carlton is to get thrashed by the Magpies at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, I believe this will be when Carlton will ultimately relieve Brendon Bolton of his duties as senior coach of the club. You simply can’t continue to coach with a 1-7 record this season and with a 3-41 total win/loss record.
It might be simply putting John Barker or David Teague as caretaker coach for the rest of the season, but it looks like the Bolton experiment will finish up with another thrashing.
Brendon Bolton has talked about green shoots, with the shoots sprouting only sporadically – and not on a consistent basis, this could see the bewildered Blues sack their third coach of this decade.
If Bolton does get sacked, this won’t be the only person who will be getting sacked from the club. Expect the club to again undergo a major change from the coaching department. We will probably be seeing the departure of John Barker as stoppages coach, Dale Amos as defence coach (failed to make a mark as an assistant coach), Robert Walls as Bolton’s senior coaching director with the former Premiership coach has failed to live up to his tough mentality to this side and Sav Rocca will be relieved as a specialist coach, the former Roo and Pie failing to help get Levi Casboult’s goal-kicking up to scratch.
Josh Fraser might survive the chop as the Northern Blues are currently 3-1 so far in the 2019 VFL season, and Andrew Russell’s premiership-winning formula as high-performance manager at Hawthorn might also be departing Carlton, with the former Hawks performance manager currently failing at his job to get this Carlton side’s fitness up to scratch.
Carlton will need to look at some assistant coaches from other clubs who can potentially take Carlton back to the promised land. Blake Caracella from Richmond looks to become a readymade AFL coach eventually and is someone that the Blues can look at. Nathan Bassett is making waves in South Australia as he took Norwood to a premiership after they finished bottom of the table, and is currently an assistant coach at Port Adelaide.
Bolton has recently appeared at the board meeting, and would definitely be answering some difficult questions on why again the Blues are continuing with the poor performances. It might have to be a massive wakeup call this club needs, and again will have to go through the draft and will most likely have a high draft pick for another season.
These are some of the changes coming at the Blues, Bolton better hope the team can bounce back after the dismal performance against North – because if they have another thrashing at the hands of Collingwood, it’ll be time to start swinging the axe at Carlton.
DTM
Guest
I don't see the logic in sacking a coach 7 or 8 rounds into a season. I find it distasteful that so many journalists spend their time writing stories like this. I don't follow Carlton but I think their list manager should be the first to go - for me, they currently have about 10 - 14 AFL level players. You cant win many games with that sort of list.
John McManus
Guest
What?
Macca
Roar Rookie
Just a quick stat worth considering this week, the blues have 10 players in the 18-21 age bracket, the pies have 2.
Macca
Roar Rookie
I would love the blues to win this week just to see what the likes of Barrett, Wilson and Hutchy have to say. I severely doubt it will happen but geez it would be fun if we did.
Blue Bagger #13
Roar Rookie
Jeez. Take a chill pill. I'm as disgusted as anyone by last week's effort but just as one swallow does not a summer make, one turd of a game does not a wasted year make. The graph is heading in the right direction in every measurable and who knows, we may string quite a few wins together in the second half of the season. I wouldn't expect we would win the next 2 games against the Pies and GWS but after that the draw gets a bit easier.To get rid of the coach/es would be old Carlton and no one wants that. We will be a top 8 side next year if everyone can hold the line just a little bit longer. Have faith baggers!
Macca
Roar Rookie
The difference is starting point, Geelong in the last decade have been starting with a top 4 team and continuously topping up with high quality 27 year olds. The blues started from rock bottom - they couldn't just add in 1 or 2 players each year, they needed to do something drastic. AS for the Suns and GWS - the Suns have made massive mistakes on and off the field. GWS however have absolutely nailed it and while a premiership still eludes them, the Cats haven't won one since GWS came into the league either.
John Bell
Guest
As a Very Happy Carlton Supporter because our History is incredible and we are the Only Club with a Jumper that show's we are Carlton The Mighty Blues CFC. I truly hope that Bolton keeps his job let's all Carlton people including the committee show some long term faith.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I much prefer to go down the Cats way then the Blues way. Stocking piling bulks amount of top end talents really doesn't guarantee you anything. Look at GWS & Suns. They had talent after talent after talent and still to have anything to show for it. (For me Premiership / Grand Final is something to show- a couple of appearances in Semi's doesn't count)
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I loved what Mal Michael brought to us. He was hard nosed, no nonsense defender. Just what we needed. Seeing Mal Michael was basically at Fullback the whole time... Liam Jones a poor man's Mal Michael???
IAP
Guest
Cox is a spud, they should keep Reid for sure. He's actually a footballer.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Given we poached Mal from another club and he was half crocked when he came here, I'm going to say McGovern
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Black is it! I was wondering who he reminded me of. Blues fans will be hoping for: Cripps (Voss), Fisher (Black), Curnow (Brown), Mckay (Lynch). Where is Mal Michael though?
Parkside Darren
Roar Rookie
Always number one. Ultimate goal is always to win
true blue
Guest
I would take the seven wins every time. The team is always more important than the individual. Cripps is a gun, no matter if he wins the Brownlow or not.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I'm a big fan of Fisher, he's a natural footballer, even if he is slight. There's a touch of Simon Black about him
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
I think Tim would be pretty embarrassed by that article Pete. I think I was on a ship cruising around Japan at the time so luckily no comments from me that I might have been embarrassed about.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Not fussed about either really as long as we keep progressing and are on track for a good 2020, but assuming we are progressing regardless 2.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
I would take 2 Pete. Only a 2 win difference but to see your best player and Captain rewarded with a Brownlow would be great and probably bring inspiration to the players for the next season.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Question without notice Macca. (Col and Kane too) Which do you take. 1. A 2019 Blues season with 7 wins and Cripps 2nd in Brownlow to a Pies player by one vote. 2. A 2019 Blues season with 5 wins and a Cripps Brownlow beating a Pies player by a single vote.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Sorry Macca, Col and Kane but I'll probably keep dragging up Tim's article before every Pies Blues game until you guys are higher than us. Then I'll forget it ever existed. It is fun reading the comments in there though including some embarrassing ones by myself.