The Blues are on the up and their green shoots are quickly becoming young stars.
The improvement of Carlton’s youth has put pressure on the Blues to make a call on some of their veterans.
Marc Murphy, Matthew Kreuzer, Kade Simpson and Eddie Betts are all north of 30 and out of contract at season’s end.
Murphy is closing in on another one-year deal, the former captain set to sign in the coming weeks.
Kreuzer hasn’t played since the opening minutes of Round 1, when he injured his foot, and has been replaced by young duo Marc Pittonet and Tom De Koning.
Simpson is the oldest player on the list and second-oldest in the AFL. The Blues have no shortage of players along the half-back line and some are waiting in the wings should Simpson call it a day.
Betts has been seen as the most likely to say farewell, his goal output has been down, but his pressure has been as good as ever and he recently found goal-scoring form again.
Eddie Betts (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
But Carlton don’t need to rush any of these champions out and should avoid doing so. How they leave the club is just as important as whether they do or not.
While the Blues need to give younger players an opportunity, they can’t do so at the abandonment of experience. The club has a lack of players in their prime years and need the wise heads to help the youngsters learn and develop.
While Murphy will probably play most games as the Blues lack serious midfield depth, keeping Betts, Kreuzer and Simpson doesn’t mean the Blues owe them 22 games next year.
Betts’ place depends on a trade for Sydney small forward Tom Papley. If the Blues land their man, Betts’ services may not be needed or at best he will be the second-choice small forward.
Betts is locked in to a job at Carlton in 2021 should he retire but he is keen to play on.
Kreuzer is keen to go around again, however his body is the issue, the 2007 number one draft pick has long been riddled with injuries. De Koning is seen as his replacement but before this year’s injury, the Carlton hierarchy believed they had more years left in Kreuzer.
Pittonet has been good but has slowly faded out of form as the year has rolled on, an indication that maybe one more year for Kreuzer may be best.
The Blues have plenty of half backs with the likes of Tom Williamson, Sam Docherty, Sam Petrevski-Seton all playing that role this year, while Nic Newman will return next year from injury, but Simpson can play as a back up
nother tick in the Simpson box is the soft cap reduction – Carlton have already had to let go of some development staff so retaining an experienced player would help with the development of youth.
There’s little to be gained by letting any of thee players go, while the positives stand clear.
If anything, for the years of service these players deserve the right to go out on their own terms in front of their fans.
Craig
Guest
Papley to replace Betts
Craig
Guest
Murphy’s class still stands out - he has a couple years in him. Kreuzer is now done. Simmo still plying well; make the youngsters push him out - don’t just gift it to them. Unfortunately Eddie’s output is way down. The way we’re bringing the ball in isn’t helping but he’s 50/50 proposition. If we get Papley then he should retire.
CC
Guest
Dow is doing great in the practice games and deserves a better run. Kennedy needs to play or go.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Personally think Simpson has run his race and should retire. Kruezer, might have a bit of trade value so I'd be seeing whether you can get a get later second rounder for him from a Club who needs a ready made Ruckmen who you want get 8-12 games out of and help develop a young ruckmen. Betts has been pretty good and i think there's another year there. Murphy has resigned so mute point
Craig Bounds
Roar Rookie
I would say there is midfield depth - outside the guys who have played in that role each week (Cripps, Curnow, Murph, Setters, Martin, Walsh) we have Kennedy, Stocker, Dow, O’Brien, Philp: they need more time to develop though, minimal game time for most (Kennedy has had a few games this year, Dow last year but not so much this year until now). As mentioned in other articles and feedback, a couple of experienced defensive mids would be handy acquisitions in the off-season. There are a few free agents who would fill this void.
Boo
Guest
Carlton's greatness was there arrogance it's long gone.Time to pension off Betts, Murphy , Kruezer and Simpson and put the mediocrity of there careers behind them.If list sizes drop as expected there will be plenty of good players to replace them and create the new history for the Blues.Im sick of this ambivalence to there lack of success they gave us old blokes some great footy memories in the seventies and eighties time to start afresh.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Michael Bolton? Says it all really.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Yet he is never wrong! Lol.
Leighton
Guest
Sadly the board is the source of most of Carlton's problems for two decades. Take a look at the small size (max of 8) and the limited skill set and one can begin to see where the problems start. Too much nepotism, all are of a family business or narrow skill base that lacks awareness of the needs of a membership based organisation and sporting club and stuck in the past. Erratic and muddled decision making has been the norm for years, with poor results. Lots of examples such as sacked coaches and CEOs can be pointed to but one stands out to this long time member who has not renewed this year. How has the club managed to utterly squander its strategic location of princes park and the potential it offers. 25 years of how to lose friends and not influence people. The board stands condemned. The current president sees his term expire next year. How will the Pratt and Mathieson families work this one out?
fractal pixie
Guest
Love it.
Nick
Roar Guru
hahahaha.
Nick
Roar Guru
Admittedly the fitness levels required are WAY different, but American athletes often play into their 40's, more cricketers are now playing T20 into their early 40's, and footballers can have long careers into their late 30's. It's not their fault they are better than the juniors. The objective of any team is to win games. Put your best 22 on the park. Forget age.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I think the only organisation in Victoria who's had worse pre-selections of new talent over the last ten years has been the Liberal party
2dogs
Roar Rookie
So I still have a chance at 40??? You just spruced my day :thumbup: :cricket: :thumbup:
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
We also have a bridge we could sell them ... but no monorail!
Prez
Roar Rookie
Crows would do that trade in a heart beat
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
How has LoGioduce been useless. He has helped turn Carlton’s poor financial record around to where they are now nearly debt free. He has grown the club membership each year to where they now sit at around 67,000. He might not be outspoken like Eddie or Jeff but most club presidents stay out of the media. I don’t read or hear much about Colin Carter either.
Nick
Roar Guru
Age should never matter - only drop a player when they aren't in the best 22. If they are 36 years old or 25 years old, it doesn't matter. If I was a Carlton fan, I'd be a pinch annoyed that young players aren't good enough to shove a 36 year old out of the side, or that their ruckman are still not good enough to finally ice Matt Kreuzers knees for good. Not that this author is, but it's easy to attack the older players and forget that the club bears responsibility for poor picks of the young players.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Yes, but Michael Bolton perfected the mullet.
Russ
Roar Rookie
We would still end up paying half of his salary and then it will hurt like it might with Betts if he kicks 5 against us when we are still paying him.