Carlton signalled to the rest of the competition that their time without threatening finals is done with one of the biggest hauls of the trade period and a quietly successful draft.
The club also swept clean the washouts of the Stephen Silvagni era and farewelled a pair of club greats.
One of the worst-kept secrets during the season was that Zac Williams wanted in at Carlton during free agency and Greater Western Sydney did not match the offer once the period opened – believed to be over $5 million if he meets incentives – instead collecting the mid-first-round compensation pick.
Williams is a tough rebounding defender, but the Blues want to play him through the middle. The happy medium for 2021 will see him getting midfield minutes while playing a defensive role, which if they can get the balance right will give them new dimensions in two places they’re required.
Zac Williams could be the difference for Carlton (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Adam Saad was another early rumour that gained ground as the trade period drew closer, yet the back and forth between Essendon and Carlton (who before last season hadn’t traded anyone between them since 2003) dragged. On the second last day, Carlton managed to squeeze Pick 48 in addition to Saad for Pick 8 plus a swap of late picks.
Saad goes some way toward replacing the retired Kade Simpson, although he’s another who has expressed a desire to play in the midfield, so preseason is going be interesting to see if the selectors go with best players to fit their gameplan or best 22 players with some playing out of position.
The other player trade that had draft implications was trading Picks 30 and 51 for Lachie Fogarty and pick 38 from Geelong, which was comparatively cheap for a young-blooded small forward from a quality club and it effectively only meant a slide of eight places in the draft order (on draft night it was reduced to five places with picks in the mid-30s being extinguished by bid matching).
Carlton followed up their first trade period with a judicious pick swap that saw them trade Pick 48 to Sydney and their future third to the Gold Coast, with Sydney giving their Pick 31 to Carlton, while the Suns gave their Pick 37 to the Swans.
The Blues end up picking twice late in the second round of the actual draft, taking South Australian small forward Corey Durdin and Western Australian draft slider Jack Carroll.
Then the Blues passed out of the main draft and went to the rookie draft to select Glenelg product Luke Parks.
Durdin is joining the race to replace Eddie Betts, but he also offers something as a small mid and cut his teeth in the SANFL in 2020.
Carroll is already among the tallest in Carlton’s midfield and he hasn’t even turned 18, so look for him to keep growing and building as he recovers from a season-ending wrist injury.
Parks is a Swans Academy graduate (the fourth taken in this year’s draft), but after missing last year’s draft, the midfielder tried his luck in the SANFL and succeeded in getting onto an AFL list.
The Blues addressed their needs by getting a pair of 100-plus gamers and four youngsters with senior experience who can compete in training immediately.
Ten players have left the club and with six new players, Carlton has gone in with the minimum 36 on their primary list, leaving them well-positioned to draft in help before or during the season, otherwise saving on cap space for the 2021 draft.
Carlton’s rebuild must now be close to complete if they are going to play finals while the last of their ageing veterans are still on the list. The club has gone to the trade table again for their current 16th player, which is a third of their list, relying on a strong group of under 25 draftees to produce a winning season.
They are now all in: win or watch the stalwarts retire.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
The same reason that the Suns didn’t try to rush Matt Rowell back or push through his injury. But with Izak Rankine there was a concern about his ability to make the transition and keep fit, which related to his professionalism. Without knowing details, it is safer to relay exactly what the club has said, which I’m paraphrasing.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
2020 was a comp that produced the best top 8, no question. However, there was no equalisation with the 5 return bouts cancelled, therefore, teams that finished outside the top 8 in 2019 were not given the extra 5 games against lesser quality sides for a true result. In 2021, St Kilda has possibly the toughest draw of all and will struggle to make the finals. Collingwood would not have made the finals with their original fixture based on form, so they could drop out too. West Coast are another candidate, although it could be anyone given the gruelling 22 game fixture. Carlton are just one of several teams challenging. It really could be a season where enormous change occurs if injuries and timing conspire to knock out some heavyweights.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
A team of fit healthy Curnow brothers- I’d pay to see that
2dogz
Roar Rookie
“His own time to be professional” - he’s in The professional league. He’ll be a star no doubt. Why wait on his time to be professional though...
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I'm like that with Izak Rankine. All of his "injuries" have more been about getting AFL match fit and developing habits in his own time to be more professional. He hasn't played in the same team as Matty Rowell yet, who is another that they aren't even letting train before Christmas because you just don't take your Lamborghinis out in the rain unless it's race time.
Kane
Roar Rookie
I'd love to see him back but if it takes another season then so be it, he's only still very young so I wouldn't be disappointed if he misses the year if it means he gets back to full fitness.
Kane
Roar Rookie
I agree totally but he can be easily replaced on the ground. His biggest influence for Carlton going forward will be off the ground in a mentorship kind of role. I wouldn't be disappointed if Eddie kicked 40 goals this year tho.
Kane
Roar Rookie
No i seen him against Durdin and I've seen him play the last few years which I have based my comments around. There's no doubt he has very good foot skills but foot skills aren't much good when he can't get the ball. I'd love nothing more than to be proven wrong but from what he's put out so far he's going to be full of regret when he's 40. Same goes for Dow. But only my opinion
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I was saving bag of chips for what the Dog paid for Treloar if the win the flag.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Are you talking about the contest between Settlefield and O'Brien around 8 secs of viewing on a video of 1 min and 6 secs, your basing your whole opinion on that, 8 secs?
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Apparently Hinkley has had some hum dingers over his time,think Clarkson would let rip and your bloke I think could loose it bigtime :laughing:
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
If that's true, good on him. If players competing in the AFL competition can't handle that, then they won't have what it takes to be ruthless and get better. Nobody likes to hear criticism, but a decent dose of reality-check mixed with positivity and opportunity is the right approach.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Well time will tell, Kane. :stoked:
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Hey, lay off Josh Schache-BOOM, Thomas! :laughing:
Kane
Roar Rookie
Like I said I'd be very happy to be proven wrong but these 2 mentioned are too soft and don't like the contact. I seen footage yesterday of O'Brien in some one on one's with our new draftee Durdin which proves my point. Durdin is tiny and has never done an AFL preseason but he monstered O'Brien because he wants it more, it was very obvious for all to see and quite honestly bloody embarrassing for O'Brien.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Dow is 21 years old 187cm fast/breakaway speed and O'Brien is 21 years old 185cm smooth moving/long left foot kick, both lost cause at 21 years old, that's a huge call Kane but that's your opinion. Patty Dow had injuries for most of 2020 season and O'Brien was replaced with Newnes in effect, 186cm, (winger/half forward) 27 years old 150 plus games at AFL level, I think you will find Carlton played a lot of their young players early and then at the end of their 2019 season went with bigger/seasoned, more experienced bodies Martin/Newnes/Pittonet and getting back Docherty (lost Newman to injury in 2020 season) so 4 bigger more seasoned bodies for most of 2020. Carlton have identified their reserve side needs to be better to help develop these guys like Dow, Stocker, O'Brien, Ramsay, Philp, Honey, Owies, Cottrell, Kemp, Kennedy, Silvagni, Carroll, Durdin, DeKoning and the other young fella Parks, so they have gone out and put a team around these guys using young guys that have been in the system for sometime, I think you will fine the coaching group at Carlton will develop their game plan in the reserves to suit their needs in the senior side and as injuries happen a player from the reserves will step up, from there it will be up to that youngster to play his role for the side and if that is good enough I think that's how they will get their opportunity, yep I know its very old fashion to say it but they will have to EARN THEIR SHOT AT SENIOR LEVEL, lol, I know I live in the pass, I guess everyone expects players to walk from the under 18s straight into senior AFL footy and win B&F awards, play staring roles etc But hey that's my opinion.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
The fact that he got 58 games in before his injuries started to mount suggests that he can get past this, but the complications around his knee are such that a year out of footy could be the best solution. Carlton will want him back on the field this year, so we'll see if he can come back as they want him to or whether he needs 15 months to come back 100% fit with zero injury concerns.
Scragger
Roar Rookie
They will certainly be interesting. Can’t wait.
Scragger
Roar Rookie
My family would never forgive me.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Being sponsored by Camry is our problem.