It’s been six years since the Blues went through what was truly their darkest times. Many fans, including myself, thought it couldn’t possibly get worse for them.
But Brendon Bolton made that possible over his four and a half seasons there. But the board sacked him, promoted David Teague to interim head coach and then permanent head coach and their form has been going up since.
Now some might think how can they be a finals team, especially after such a heartbreaking loss yesterday and being 3-4 so far?
Well I’m here to change the view of those who think they aren’t in contention for finals and prove why they can make finals in 2020 and beyond. Here’s why.
Consistency
Many know that when Carlton were in that ice cold streak they had troubles playing the full four quarters. They even had problems just showing up to the game. However since Teaguey came in they’ve gradually been able to either come back into games and win or play four quarters at nearly full energy.
Let’s go back to last year when Bolts was coach and they were facing Collingwood in front of approx. 70,000 at the MCG. The Pies were already 5-2 in the young season. When Mitch McGovern kicked his third goal of the match at around the halfway mark in the fourth the Blues were up by 10 points.
15 minutes later and Collingwood lead by seven points courtesy of Jordan de Goey, Callum Brown and Jack Crisp. They kick two more goals and the Pies win by 19 points when it should’ve been a Carlton win.
In Geelong just over a month ago and Carlton are in a much better position, leading by 35 points at three quarter time and having not conceded the lead for the entire match. The Cats come back and are down by 2 with a minute and a half left on the clock. Carlton manage to keep their cool and, thanks to an epic Eddie Betts tackle and a late mark, they win by two in what is a fortress.
And don’t forget as well during that time that they would lose by 100 points around two to three times a season. Well ever since Teaguey has come in, we’ve only lost one game by 50+ points. Their average losing margin as well under Teague is now only approx. 19 points. That’s a whole lot better than under Bolton.
We’re also able to play the full four quarters sometimes as well, with Port Adelaide only winning yesterday because of an after the siren goal. And don’t forget about our games against Essendon and the Bulldogs. Yes the game against the Bombers was a close one, but we did still manage to keep our energy up throughout the four quarters.
Carlton Blues coach David Teague (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Depth
Another problem between 2014 and 2019 was that we barely had any depth to cover our injured players. In fact, we had barely any back up really. But now we do thanks to Stephen Silvagni and co.
They do have a few out injured and who do have good first team potential, including Charlie Curnow, Matthew Kreuzer, Nic Newman, Caleb Marchbank even Jack Silvagni and Zac Fisher.
And most of the players that have come into the side have performed admirably, including Matthew Kennedy, who’s averaged 17.5 touches in his two games this season, Tom Williamson, who’s averaged 9.8 disposals, 3.8 marks and 1.4 tackles while defending admirably against some pretty good forwards.
Marc Pittonet has been a standout though, averaging 25.7 hit outs, 8.2 disposals, 3.3 clearances and 2.2 marks per game, averaging the ninth most in hitouts and is in the top 25 for average disposals among ruckmen. Don’t forget he’s played against Max Gawn, Tom Bellchambers, Rhys Stanley and Tim English.
Stars nearly everywhere
And finally we barely had stars between 2014 and 2019, with the only real stars being Pat Cripps and Sam Docherty when he was playing. Yes Marc Murphy was still a solid performer when he was playing during that time, but his form slightly dropped of mainly due to injuries.
But now we have very good to elite players in nearly every key position, especially in terms of tall players. Harry McKay has started to pluck a few marks and kick a few goals and has kicked six in his last two games, and is equal 20th in contested marks per game, while last season he was in the top five in contested marks per game.
Jacob Weitering has dramatically improved this season as well, rarely losing a single contest down back while averaging the equal 21st most marks and the 20th most disposals among key defenders per game.
He’s only conceded the five goals in seven games this season and is averaging the most score involvements (2.8) as well as the third most score launches (1.4) among key defenders, with these stats easily putting him among the best defenders.
Liam Jones has also become an elite defender, averaging the equal fourth most contested marks per game (1.4), the 20th most marks per game (4.1), sixth most intercept marks per game (2.6), fifth most spoils (7.7) and one percenters per game (9) among key defenders. His transition from key forward to key defender has been quite phenomenal.
Levi Casboult has also become very good up forwards, averaging the fifth most contested marks, second most marks, the most hitouts and most ruck contests, equal ninth most disposals, equal most score launches, equal sixth most score involvements among key forwards and is equal seventh in the Coleman Medal race with nine goals.
And who could forget Docherty and Cripps, our two co-captains. Probably our two biggest stars. They’re both in the top 25 in disposals per game (Docherty 17th and Cripps 24th), with Cripps equal 16th for inside 50s per game, equal second for clearances per game, equal first in centre clearances, and is equal fourth in contested possessions per game.
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Docherty though is truly elite, averaging the third most disposals (22.6) and the fifth most score involvements (3.6) among defenders the fourth most marks per game (7), third most kicks (16), most rebound 50’s (7.6) and the 16th most uncontested possessions per game as well. Continues to improve even after losing two years of his career.
In the end, if these players can continue to perform and even improve and if we continue to be consistent for the rest of the season, we’re a massive chance to play finals for the first time since 2013.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
the issue with the Carlton supporters here they pat their players on the back for losing a game, thats not going to build a winning culture, there is no such thing as a good lost, when you lose its bad, when you win its good, the AFL has 1 prize, no one gets a participation award in the AFL, its not kindergarden its a win or lose game, in fact if you come runners up in a season your reward is the second last first round draft pick, coming second is the same as coming last, whats the difference losing by 20 goals or 1 point? Nothing you lost. Carlton supporters need to build a winning culture and need to demand it from their Club 25 years since their last flag.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
I’m not a Carlton supporter but I note that they won today.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Or have another great lost as Macca would be hoping for.....
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Yeah another person hoping Carlton has a GREAT lost, how about building a winning culture at the club, maybe if their supporters start to demand a winning culture they Carlton might start having one.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Your posts are really bad. Do better.
Flux
Guest
Bolton was only there 3 and a half seasons.
Caz
Guest
Very interesting and informative article, keep em coming Josh Ward????
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Didn't Levi miss one from about 10 metres? Almost as easy as Tabs' play on.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Mitch could be they key to a Claremont WAFL Premiership in 2021.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Thank you Cracka. You allow me to appreciate the balance in Macca's way of seeing. Nothing is black and white...apart from the maths of premiership points. If you are watching footy only for the result, you are missing the richness of the game. There are so many things to appreciate. Of course Carlton can make the finals. Losing a close game to the top team (as a result of a once in a thousand after the siren shot) does not disqualify them as a contender for finals.
Jeff
Guest
Who criticised him Rippa? I think he did a brilliant job - I don’t hear any Carlton people criticising SOS .
Macca
Roar Rookie
And Port failed 1 minute earlier and Gray failed when he missed his easier set shot in the last and Martin failed at 3/4 time and Casboult failed when he missed from the top of the square. There are plenty of mistakes in every game of football but that game last week was one of the best games I have seen in a while
Fred
Guest
No but we failed in the last 40 seconds
Jeff
Guest
I also hope I’m wrong on him wanting to return to WA-
Macca
Roar Rookie
" but the kids at Carlton can’t get it done." Gibbons (25) kicks long down the line to Pittonet (24), McKay (22) and Casboult (30) fail to gt the ball over the line, before Port kick in back to a pack where Weitering (22) and Jones (29) fail to get the ball over the line, Martin (25) seemingly believes the ball is going out and doesn't chase hard until Mayes picks up the Ball before hitting Gray who takes a great mark under extreme pressure from Plowman (25) - those "kids" really couldn't get it done. "all I’m saying is supporters getting excited about great lost……mate Teague must be over those games by now" I am not getting excited about a loss but just like I saw the negatives in the win against the Bulldogs I can see the positives in a loss against Port. Docherty said earlier in the week the close nature of the loss has validated the teams belief they can beat any team in the comp, Curnow said today they have taken a lot of positives out of the game as well as a lot of learnings about what they could do better, they aren't "angry" or "frustrated".
Macca
Roar Rookie
“Macca do you think the players are getting a pat on the back from the coaches for not been able to finish of the game again?” Do you think they are being slammed as failures by the coaches? Listen to Ed Curnow on the Carlton webiste and he is saying there are plenty of things the want to work on from the game and plenty of positives – it isn’t black and white. But how about you answer a couple of simple questions I have put to you; I believe you can play well and lose – do you agree? If Gray missed that goal would you be happy that the blues were able to “ice” the game simply because they won? If we won would you believe the game was an unqualified success? The players and inner circle aren’t “angry”, anger is a waste of energy and clouds your focus. The players and inner I suspect would be feeling exactly the way I am, frustrated and disappointed we didn’t get the win and get ourselves well in the 8, but able to recognise that while we still have a bit to work on we did a hell of a lot right. Just like I didn’t think every problem was solved after belting the Bulldogs, I don’t think everything is a disaster after lsoing to the Power – the world isn’t binary.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Mate all I’m saying is supporters getting excited about great lost……mate Teague must be over those games by now and must be frustrated that his side can’t win those games, the Port players did, it was a game that should have been iced by Carlton and the Coaches must be very very frustrated. I’m sure they would have been through the ending of games a dozen times and what needs to be done, but the kids at Carlton can’t get it done. Thats why they went out and got, Betts, Martin, Pittonet and Newnes so they could get a mix of more bigger bodies on the ground with more experience. And I can see guys like Lang still playing next season at Carlton iif they don’t start getting this right.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Some of his kicking has been a bit poor but he is definitely showing he can pla at the level, looking forward to seeing the next step.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Jonboy is a Freo supporter who constantly says Cripps wants to go back to WA. All I have heard & read (from Cripps himself) is that he has no plans to return to play in WA and wants to stay & achieve success at the Blues.
Macca
Roar Rookie
The McGovern deal is front loaded too, that was the point. McGovern has 8 goals from 7 games, Martin has 9 and Betts is leading the blues with 10 and McGovern is second at the blues for Goal Assists (Behind Betts) and equal 13th in the league. He is going alright. On Martin he is playing good footy but against Melbourne he missed a 45m shot at goal on a slight angle to put us 5 points in front and on the weekend he missed the same shot to draw us level at 3/4 time (there have beeen a couple of other times he has missed that shot this year) and currently has 9.8 - if he can just tidy his set shots up a little he will move into that elite category. I also think he would be kicking himself on his chase of Mayes at the death, he is normally such a ferocious tackler I think he thought he ball was going out but it took an odd bounce.