Carlton fans can’t be too disappointed by the season so far.
The side have five more wins than they would have expected at this point, and after six years of misery and heartache it’s safe to say that Brendon Bolton has laid the foundation for the young Carlton players.
That said, he wasn’t able to make the tough calls required to win games, and now David Teague has taken the talent of the Blues young list and is running with the momentum.
We have seen some terrific football from Carlton, defeating Geelong and the Western Bulldogs. However, we have also seen by far the worst brand of football by a team in 2020. Carlton’s games against Hawthorn and Collingwood were hands down the worst matches of football for the Blues. Lazy forwards, wasteful midfielders and defenders who can’t play all three roles.
Carlton’s matches against St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney were the definition of lazy football, and they were beaten by the better sides. The Blues should have won against Port Adelaide, West Coast and Melbourne but were undone by umpire decisions at key moments.
The players who have stood up
Sam Walsh
He’s a gun and a fantastic pick of the pack in the 2019 draft. Walsh is by far among Carlton’s top three players. The Blues need to lock him away with a long-term contract.
Lachie Plowman
He’s one of the greatest defenders in the AFL. He kept Tom Papely quiet, which is what other clubs can’t do!.
Jacob Weitering
The former No. 1 draft pick from the 2015 draft has finally shown what he’s made of. An All Australian defender who will be the best defender in the AFL in no time!
Zac Fisher
Why he was forgotten for the first half of the season is beyond me, but he is by far shining light for Carlton fans. He is a very smart player when it comes to kicking and hitting targets.
Ed Curnow
Has been influential for Carlton this year. Curnow’s does not shy in changing the way he would usually play to adapt to the game situation.
Charlie Curnow (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
However, for Carlton to win a premiership they need the following players to leave, stand up and these players from other clubs.
Players who need to stand up
Patrick Cripps
He’s been pretty average by his standards. He needs to stop smiling and giggling after a loss. I bet Carlton fans feel the same.
Levi Casboult
His kicking needs to improve, as does his marking.
Sam Petrevski-Seton
He needs to be tougher in the contests and needs to be smarter when using the ball.
Harry McKay
His kicking and marking need to improve.
Paddy Cripps (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
The players who need to get the boot
Mitch McGovern
Has he even done any damage on the scoreboard or had an impact on a game this season? I don’t think so. Unless he stands up with two games left, Carlton need to get rid of him.
Michael Gibbons
Unfortunately he doesn’t fit into Carlton’s game plan. He would be fantastic trade bait.
Eddie Betts
As sad as it is to say, Eddie Betts probably doesn’t have much more to give. I hope Carlton keep him as a mentor or even a coach. He is a fantastic person, let alone footballer.
The players Carlton need to pursue
Tom Papley
It’s no surprise Papley is on this list. He expressed interest in joining Carlton last trade period. He would be perfect for Carlton and would make them so dangerous going into next season. Carlton would need to give up two first-round picks for him.
Ollie Wines
He is contracted until 2022 but would be a perfect fit into Carlton midfield and would be able to support Cripps, Curnow and Will Setterfield. Carlton would need to give a second-round pick and possibly a future second-round pick.
Alex Witherden
If Carlton can’t get Wines, they need to go with this star in the making. Averaging 19.3 disposals a game and with elite ratings in marks and kicks, Carlton need to monitor carefully. Two second-round picks would probably suffice, or Carlton could look at trading Cameron Polson.
Zac Williams
He is a must for Carlton. The Blues back six is probably the best in the AFL. With Kade Simpson all but likely to retire at season’s end, Williams would be a perfect fit in Carlton’s defence. As a free agent Carlton just need to convince him to make the move south.
With Charlie Curnow and Caleb Marchbank due to return fully fit next season, Carlton will become a premiership favourite in 2021, especially after seeing the potential they really have.
Tom De Koning and Marc Pittonet during the off-season need to really focus on their ruck work. They could be a really dangerous duo in Carlton’s line-up next season.
Beckfish
Roar Rookie
As a bagger, if I read this article without context it would seem we are on our way to a flag next year. Comments like 'The Blues back six is probably the best in the AFL', and 'Carlton will become a premiership favourite in 2021,' make me wonder if I've been paying close enough attention. The reality is that we are far off being considered relevant, let alone premiership favourites. I do agree with some commentary, like the compliments on Fish, and Setterfield's resurgence, however most other comments are outlandish. E.g. Casboult needing cleaner hands and Gibbons needing to 'get the boot.' He is a live wire in our forward line and I wouldn't consider it ambitious to suggest that he is one of our more important pressure forwards. It would be nice to pick up Williams however, but let's not get sucked into the crime of believing that one player can change the fortunes of an entire team.
Russ
Roar Rookie
TBH his game last week was his best for almost 2 years.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Anyone need a McGovern? Perhaps an Eddie? Maybe a monorail?
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
"What Carlton needs to win a premiership"; the AFL to end the communist charade of "equalisation", dismantle the salary cap and go back to letting the old boys from Toorak buy up all the best players like they used to :laughing: :silly:
Jeff
Guest
Macca thoughts on SPS? Could he become a small forward 2021? I’m thinking it may suit him better. Quick - elite kick- can mark
Jeff
Guest
Disagree on casboult marking - he is one of the best - Agree on McGovern - Jonathan Browns comments Tuesday night hit the nail on the head- “he is running around with no idea “ That’s what McGovern does- runs around- producing clangers. Our forward line is not better structured with him there as some suggest. Trade this year if anyone wants him . I like Ollie wines. Better than Zac Williams- and Ollie grew up supporting the Carlton - even better Carlton are cashed up with plenty of trade bait- if tom papley is untouchable, then MacDonald tipungwuti is the man to target- genuine X Factor - electric & tough as nails- Tippa would look very good in Navy blue. Ollie wines Anthony M Tipungwuti Andrew McGrath Luke Parker My trade targets .
Macca
Roar Rookie
Really feel sorry for Gibbs TBH, went to a team he thought was pushing for a premiership and they completely imploded and then he seemingly became the whipping boy of the clubs. Last year he had 16 possessions and 7 tackles in round 1, then 23 and 2 followed by 27 and 4, missed round 4, had 26 and 1 in round 5, missed round 6. Then he played round 7, missed round 8, played round 9, missed round 10, played round 11, missed 12-14, played 15 missed 16-19 then averaged 21.25 possessions and 3.75 tackles in the final 4 rounds before only getting 2 games this year.
Footyguy
Guest
Wines won't leave port no way now, he'll be there for the rest of his career Better going now for Riley Bonner I know he's no wines but he's younger and won't cost as much
Macca
Roar Rookie
Teauge said the other day the blues aren't looking for big bodied mids, they want an "inside outisde" mid, someone with a bit more pace for some run and carry.
AD
Guest
You think Carlton are getting Wines (with 2 years left on his contract) out of Port for a second round pick, "maybe" 2 second round picks? Delusional. A first rounder would be the starting point, and it would probably end up costing 2 first rounders (or a first and a good player) with a bit of change coming back in the form of some later picks / swaps.
Footyguy
Guest
Gettable Affordable Trade target list for carlton All these players are gettable and you don't need any super high draft picks to get and could have a big impact at carlton next year Dumont- Nth Melbourne are going through a rebuild, Dumont might want to be play for a big club like Hawthorn, Geelong, Essendon or Carlton, will cost about pick 18-34. North might want a bit but if you traded Lochie O Brien and Macreadie and pick 25 to North I'm sure that a deal could be done Dunstan- Big bodied midfielder, injured worth about pick 50-70 Graham- Big bodied midfielder struggling to get a game worth about pick 28-44 Sier- Big bodied inside mid to support cripps worth about pick 40-60. Wills- Big bodied inside mid Worth about pick 50-80, could be a steal Narkle- Might go to fremantle or west coast, since he's a perth boy, more likely fremantle than west coast since west coasts list is insanely stacked and has Ryan, Cripps, Petruculle, Cameron but he might want to stay in Melbourne if he does carlton should look at him. Will cost about pick 30-42 Fiorini- Gold Coasts list is stacked, Fiorini I think is a very good midfielder, someone like carlton, Essendon and Hawthorn should absolutely try to get him, will cost about pick 20-40. Neal-Bullen- Why not? Neal Bullen struggling to get a game at Melbourne, neal bullen is one of the best elite endurance runners in the afl, his 2018 was terrific, won't cost more than a 3rd round pick E. Smith- This guy cannot get a game at Brisbane, Victorian, big bodied tough nuggety mid sort of player carlton need with e Curnow has 2 years of good footy left in and fits the age bracket perfectly, will cost about pick 50 J. Gallucci- Will get delisted, only 22 years of age,victorian, pick 14 in 2016, get him as a delisted free agent
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Yep Witho next in line once Birchall is done. 12-18 months of development.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Witherden won't be leaving. Contracted until end of 2022. He'll stay. Trade us Harry McKay and we might agree to it. :silly:
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Right up there with Nick Malceski and Brett Deledio in terms of buying at the peak of the market and watching it crash
Clay
Roar Pro
Alex Witherden for Cameron Polson? I mean I've got a soft spot for Polson but he has precisely zero currency in a trade. Gibbons can move into the midfield more rather than sticking up forward. Considering all he went through to get onto a list, shopping him out would be counterintuitive. Having seven wins being "five more than expected" for 2020 is pretty insulting - most expectations were to have around 8-10 wins in a full season and we're still on track for that. These aren't the Pagan years.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Even funnier is your star recruit Bryce Gibbs is retiring after 3 great seasons at the Crows.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Fire and ice sale? Please Explain ( in that redheads voice)
Paul D
Roar Rookie
If they couldn't win one with brown bags, the box factory money, rorting the salary cap, tanking for Kreuzer and picking up Judd in a fire and ice sale then I'm not sure playing by the rules is going to work out for them.
MickySea
Guest
Disagree re Levi and Harry. Their marking doesn't need improving at all - it's elite. They just need to work on converting their set shots, which frankly Levi has and can only improve incrementally from here on in. Harry could be the most damaging tall forward in the comp if he actually has a standard goal kicking routine.
Macca
Roar Rookie
"Why he was forgotten for the first half of the season is beyond me" He was injured.