The Blues are challenging for a spot in the eight but may miss it by a whisker.
They have had their chances too, having lost games that seemed winnable mainly due to their inability to stop oppositions who get a run on.
Under David Teague, Carlton are conceding large swings, losing control of games they may have otherwise had in their hands.
They conceded the first five goals against Richmond in Round 1, before steaming home to fall just short. They conceded the first seven against Melbourne before doing the same thing.
Carlton led West Coast by 19 points before the Eagles banged on six in a row, and the Blues had a five-goal-to-zero start against the Hawks before losing that too.
The issue may be a result of their injury list – for the second straight year, the Blues’ medical room has been full, with many injuries occurring mid-game.
In Round 1, ruckman Matthew Kreuzer went off inside the first five minutes and hasn’t been seen since, while Round 2 saw defender Nic Newman ruled out for the rest of the season in the first quarter as well.
Jack Silvagni was injured inside five minutes of the Round 4 clash against Essendon and hasn’t played since, Mitch McGovern hurt his hamstring before halftime against Port Adelaide in Round 8 and is still dealing with that, David Cuningham hurt his calf against Hawthorn and didn’t feature in the second half, while Jack Martin also tweaked his calf during the second quarter of the loss to West Coast.
Jack Silvagni (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Added to that list is Zac Fisher, who has played just two games this year, Harry McKay’s three missed games, while Caleb Marchbank, Paddy Dow, and Charlie Curnow haven’t been sighted this year.
The Blues have had their share of downed soldiers, as most teams have in 2020, but Carlton’s issues have affected key players.
The Blues could do more to slow down the momentum of games when opposition sides start to get ahold of them, but when such crucial men are missing, it can leave too much for too few to do.
What’s more, they don’t have many players in their prime, with a list based on extremities. That will change as their youth develops but until then these run-ons may continue.
The Blues have the easiest draw on the run home, so a finals spot is there for the taking, but their injury list may play a pivotal role.
Jake Benoiton
Roar Rookie
Champion Data assessed it as the easiest run home.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Richmond did lose games early in 2019 and once they got players back started to win.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Pete, you didn’t ask me about playing the pies and your comments have nothing to do with what I said in the first place. You’re twisting $hit around to suit whatever your agenda is. Like I said, if you want to use injuries as an excuse and an easy get out for your club’s players then by all means go for it but i won’t accept it as an excuse for the players at my club.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Every team is missing players so I don’t get your point at all. Any club worth it’s salt will plan on having a number of players unavailable at any stage during a season. There is no excuse especially for the Blues which this article is about.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
You still won’t answer Kane because you know if you admit to preferring to play the Pies without those three players your argument falls over by the correlation that we are a worse side without them.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Doesn't matter when the injuries were, the whole squad got them into the finals. You can make all the excuses that you like when your side is not winning or playing well but I won't because it's a team game that every player on the list and coaches have input into. DeGoey, Howe and Treloar aren't available so why mention them with ifs and buts, back in the available players to do the job which is exactly what the successful sides of the last few years have done ie. Hawthorn, Geelong and Richmond.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
I hope he kicks 10! (Out on the full of course) :thumbup: :laughing:
PeteB
Roar Rookie
The list of key players mentioned is pretty slim. A number would be on the fringes of being dropped based on their completed games (JSOS, McGovern, Cunningham). The biggest impact has been Cripps who has been carrying an injury for most of the season an the absence of Charlie Curnow. Most clubs lose players to injury during games. It’s still a very poor excuse and to claim Carlton has had it worse than other clubs is a stretch.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I’m hearing Rene Kink May get a game this week at 63.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
But that’s not the point Macca and you know it. Who would you rather face with the Pies? Moore, Howe and Roughead down back, De Goey forward or Dunn, Madgen, Scharenberg down back and Josh Thomas forward?
2dogs
Roar Rookie
I’d prefer Rocca and Craig Kelly (at their age now) so we could “Hopefully” win easily :happy:
Macca
Roar Rookie
We'll be missing Curnow and McGovern so that makes it about even.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Doggie, I just can’t see the logic in any club missing a few of their key performers and not being able to claim it as at least part of the reason. I’m not talking just the Pies here who have both key injuries and shocking form along with a breakdown in the forward line. Take the Blues in our upcoming game. Would you rather play the Pies with Roughead and Moore as FB and CHB or with Dunn and Madgen?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
You didn’t answer my question. The Tigers in 2019 had most of their injuries early and fans were entitled to make excuses for their average on field performances at the time. In fact, your comment supports what I just wrote Kane. Tigers started the season just average while they had injuries and as their players came back their performances improved. So yes, injuries are a justifiable excuse. There’s two things here. Excuses by clubs and excuses by fans and your comments mix the two. Tigers didn’t complain of injuries because clubs don’t. We can.
Kane
Roar Rookie
I didn't say anything about a "code" in here, I'm just saying injuries shouldn't be used as an excuse. It's an easy way out. Richmond had a shocking injury list last year but the whole squad and game plan got them through to win the flag, they weren't using the injury excuse.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
PTS loves stirring the pot in here
Rissole
Roar Rookie
I remember a few years ago Essendon were getting heavily criticised because, whilst they were playing attractive attacking footy and scoring freely, they were so easy to score against.
Macca
Roar Rookie
The upper echelon can also score quickly. The blues strategy is a good one (they have showed they can be very hard to score against), they just need to execute it better for longer, that will come in time
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I think the upper echelon clubs can shut games down when needed, Richmond, West Coast, Geelong...it’s why Brisbane and Port may not go the whole way. Can they shut games down with team defence? As you have said, the Blues open themselves up to be scored against in one qtr, even if they’ve been solid the other three they get burned.
Macca
Roar Rookie
From memory the blues have been pretty good in last quarters this year and 5 goals runs by the Saints, Richmond and Melbourne all happened at the start of the game before any injury impacted.