It’s a tough gig being a Carlton supporter.
Another off-season teasing hope and aspirations that a corner will be turned, and another 0-2 start to the year.
With the development of young stars and the inclusion of multiple key signings over the trade and free agent period, Carlton fans had every right to be optimistic leading into the 2021 season. However, from what we have seen in the opening two rounds, it looks like the same old Carlton.
It’s perplexing how a team loaded with first-round draft picks and an abundance of top-end talent can continue to perform well below expectations. But perhaps the problem lies much deeper.
Looking at Carlton’s draft period from 2009 to 2014, it is clear why the club has suffered throughout the past decade.
From the 2009 to 2014 drafts, Patrick Cripps is the only player who remains on the Carlton list. That is six drafts with only one player to show for it. That is inexcusable from a list development perspective.
Patrick Cripps is the sole survivor from Carlton’s 2009 to 2014 drafts. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Players selected during these drafts should be making up the middle bracket of Carlton’s current list. The Blues have generational young talent and a good mix of veterans.
However the club has been severely lacking consistent players within the 24-28 age group. For a team to succeed, you need talent across all age brackets.
Carlton’s incompetence to find talent through the draft has caught up to them. Players selected during those periods should be bridging the gap between their youngsters and their veterans, yet a gaping hole has been left with Cripps the sole survivor.
Here is a breakdown of Carlton’s draft selections from 2009 to 2014.
Blues fans, look away now.
2009 draft
Pick 12: Kane Lucas – 42 games (delisted in 2014)
Pick 43: Marcus Davies – 17 games (delisted in 2013)
Pick 59: Rohan Kerr – 0 games (delisted 2012)
2010 draft
Pick 18: Matthew Watson – 23 games (delisted in 2015)
Pick 34: Patrick McCarthy – one game (delisted in 2013)
Pick 43: Luke Mitchell – one game (delisted in 2013)
Pick 67: Andrew McInnes – 17 games (delisted in 2014)
Pick 70: Nick Duigan – 43 games (retired in 2013)
2011 draft
Pick 22: Josh Bootsma – 14 games (contract terminated in 2014)
Pick 44: Sam Rowe – 99 games (delisted in 2018)
Pick 62: Dylan Buckley – 39 games (delisted in 2017)
2012 draft
Pick 11: Troy Menzel – 40 games (delisted in 2015)
Pick 35: Tom Temay – 0 games (delisted in 2014)
Pick 54: Nick Graham – 48 games (delisted in 2018)
2013 draft
Pick 13: Patrick Cripps – 120 games (still active)
Pick 39: Cameron Giles – no games (delisted in 2015)
Pick 51: Nick Holman – nine games (delisted in 2015)
2014 draft
Pick 19: Blaine Boekhorst – 25 games (delisted in 2017)
Pick 28: Dillon Viojo-Rainbow – no games (delisted in 2016)
Pick 60: Clem Smith – seven games (delisted in 2016)
Pick 63: Jayden Foster – no games (delisted in 2016)
Excluding Patrick Cripps, Carlton’s 17 other national draft selections have played a combined total of 425 games. Brent Harvey played seven more games than 17 of their 18 draft selections combined between 2009 and 2014.
The average total of games played by those 17 players is 25.
This is where the current problem lies. There is no middle-range talent within their list that the club directly drafted themselves.
Players selected in the above drafts should be pushing towards 150 games and becoming the club’s next batch of solid veterans. Instead, only two players made it past 50 games: Sam Rowe and Patrick Cripps.
For comparison, if you look at Richmond’s draft selections during the same period, the Tigers have eight players still remaining on their current list. All have played in a premiership side for Richmond.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Those players are Dustin Martin (245 games), Nick Vlastuin (161), David Astbury (138), Kane Lambert (115), Kamdyn McIntosh (108), Jason Castagna (97), Jayden Short (92) and Ivan Soldo (34).
In total, 990 games.
That is 990 games compared to Carlton’s 120.
Whether it was a lack of talent, scouting oversight or poor development, this cataclysmic period of drafting may have set the club back five years.
Until the current rookies and youth develop past 100 games, Carlton could still be a few years off pushing for a finals berth.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Including 2010 I would say the Blues missed on Watson (18 in 2010), Menzel (11 in 2012 but we made it good with a savvy trade in 2015) & Boekhorst (19 in 2014) – the jury is still out on Dow (3), O’Brien (10), Stocker (19), Kemp (17) & Philp (20) but I think at least Dow, Stocker & Kemp will turn out to be very good players. Given Watson at 18 was more like 30 given the pre-draft players I don’t think it is a too bad, especially given the number of picks late in the top 20. if you throw in players like Fisher & TDK taken later it is pretty decent.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Cuningham showed yesterday he needs to play on the ball, from memory he has only really been played as a genuine midfielder twice, the last 2 games against the bombers and has excelled both times. He and Dow (6 disposals, 5 contested and 4 clearances in less than a quarter yesterday) both need to be given an extended run in the middle.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
A combination of things, scouting over sight and Malthouse’s backwards coaching philosophy are the two big ones. The other issue is for the first part of that decade all the best talent was going to the Gold Coast and greater western Sydney.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Definitely better when Silvagni is in the forward line. Cuningham is good when he's on but he goes missing for a few weeks after a good game. He was good yesterday, just hope he can continue it.
C
Guest
And SOS spent years trying to plug the gap with other teams (mostly GWS) second chance players. Saw the problem, tried to fix it the only way he could, not much luck.
C
Guest
PS anyone else think we are a better side when Cunningham and Silvagni are on the grass?
C
Guest
I think Carlton have learned that you have to play kids - but back then they didn't. I think it's at least partly a development issue. There were definitely some dud choices but a lot of these players didn't get a look in and they certainly didn't grow. That's not happening any more (I hope - want to see Stoker and Dow getting consistent runs so they can accumulate consistent runs, and if they don't at least we tried...) Nick Holman's never going to win a Brownlow but you have to admire his toughness and aggression at the Suns and we somehow couldn't bring that out (although the minor leagues did). The one "flop" I'd take off the gone list is Duigan, who I thought was a great late mature pick.
berrlins
Roar Pro
It's true Macca the Dogs got lucky with the father son talent, but they've also nailed every single top 20 pick since 2010, the blues haven't. Even in their good years the Dogs did well in the draft.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
That's a really good run down, it would be interesting to see all the clubs statistics on this.
Scragger
Roar Rookie
And I guess we chose right. Which is what the article was all about. Even if you discard those three father son picks we look a lot better. Honestly I wasn’t having a go at Carlton. I like Carlton and I don’t like seeing them in this situation. I use the Dogs’ draft because that’s all I know. I probs could have used any number of other clubs.
Macca
Roar Rookie
But you couldn’t have had them and the others you got, you would have had to choose.
Scragger
Roar Rookie
We would have drafted them anyway.
Macca
Roar Rookie
But they have been dropped, they have had to perform at the lower level, O’Brien is earning his spot as we speak, what more do you want Carlton to do? And how can we make them earn their spot anymore than making them play at the lower level?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Personally I find Peter Moore incredibly selfish for only having one son. At least Daicos had two. What about sons of those Blues sides late 70’s and early 80’s. Hunter? Maclure? Kernahan? The Buzz? Any sons coming through?
Blitz
Guest
Sheppard, Gaff, Darling, McGovern, Hutchings, Sheed, Barrass, Duggan, Nelson - 9 players, 7 premiership players, Gaff would have been 8. Lycett now at Port.
Mitcher
Guest
Minor miracle this bloke hasn’t posted 45 extra comments below.
Puntroad
Roar Rookie
I hear he’s getting raised in a dungeon under Princess Park; eats only red meat and only has Mark Maclure for company. When he gets out, he’s going to be real angry.
Puntroad
Roar Rookie
The plan seems to be just hope that Kouta’s son is a competition destroying super beast and wait for that.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Every game they have played Macca they haven't earnt, if you are happy with the games that they have played then this attitude is the exact reason why they haven't improved since Under 18's.
Kane
Roar Rookie
No we didn't, picked up Kane Lucas instead of Talia.