Apologies to all for my poor attempts at journalism but after a frustrating few weeks of very few AFL articles (especially not ones about the actual game), the appearance of a soccer article on the AFL page forced me to take matters into my own hands.
It will surprise no one my topic is Carlton and specifically the big questions facing them in 2022. To me the Blues are the team, to reference Donald Rumsfeld, with the most “known unknowns” going into 2022, the three greatest of which to me are:
1) What is the plan?
While Carlton at times played some incredibly attractive (if inconsistent) football in 2021 the one constant was the inability to restrict the oppositions scoring despite having highly credentialed and talented back seven.
The blame for this was consistently sheeted home to a poor defensive system and structure and it ultimately cost David Teague and most his assistants their job.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
With a new broom of Michael Voss, Aaron Hamill, Ash Hansen and Tim Clark sweeping through, all eyes will be on what they can do to remedy the situation and how quickly the players can adapt to their third system since 2019. This ability to adapt appears to have been severely hampered by the very late start to the pre-season, with the more experienced players not due back until December.
2) What is the best team?
While there seems to be as many versions of Carlton’s best 22 for 2022 going around as there are pundits but the one thing that can be guaranteed is that it will be massively different to 2021.
My attempt at a 22 would look like this;
B Lachie Plowman (19 games for Carlton in 2021) Liam Jones (19) Lewis Young (0)
HB Adam Saad (22) Jacob Weitering (22) Zac Williams (14)
C Ed Curnow (22) Patrick Cripps (20) Adam Cerra (0)
HF Josh Honey (4) Charlie Curnow (4) Jack Martin (11)
F Jack Silvagni (15) Harry McKay (19) Zac Fisher (10)
Foll Tom De Koning (13) Sam Walsh (22) George Hewett (0)
Int Liam Stocker (17) Matthew Kennedy (12) Brodie Kemp (2) Paddy Dow (16)
This team has an averages of just 12.86 games for Carlton in 2021, which makes drawing a form line from one year to the next an exercise in futility.
However, it does demonstrate that there is an enormous opportunity for a significant rise up the ladder if Voss can find the right mix and the right plan.
Having players the calibre of Cerra, Hewett and C Curnow play a full season alongside McKay, Walsh and Weitering dramatically changes the look of the Blues’ best 22.
3) Who takes their chance?
A new coach is an opportunity for all players to have a fresh start and press their claims for a spot in the side. The 22 I listed above is almost as much about the players not listed as it is those in the side.
Former first round picks Caleb Marchbank, David Cuningham, Sam Philp, Lochie O’Orien (possibly the biggest beneficiary of a new coach after the previous one seemed unwilling to use him ahead of the limited “good soldier types of Jack Newnes and Matthew Cottrell), Lachie Fogarty and Will Setterfield, 2021 defenders Nic Newman and Tom Williamson, 2021 promising draftees Jack Carroll and Corey Durdin plus experienced campaigners like Mitch McGovern, Tom McDonald, Jack Newnes and Marc Pittonet all are out of my side and could press their claims for a spot, not to mention co-captain Sam Docherty.
There is a significant amount of, as yet unrealised, talent amongst that group and more than one of them can point to a horrid run with injury for their inability to secure a regular spot but the number of these fringes players who are able to take their chance and establish themselves as legitimate AFL footballers will have a big say in how far the Blues can go in 2022 and into the future.
I must confess that I have no concrete answers for any of the questions I raised, or for what the hell we do if Liam Jones refuses to get vaccinated.
While I continue to be optimistic about the strength of the list we are building and that the long-term trajectory seems to be upward but that shouldn’t prevent us Roarers doing what we do best, discuss, challenge and examine the issues presented thoroughly.
Macca
Roar Rookie
"As it stands, Carlton has 3 primary draft spots, " - Reports in the Age today have the Blues having to petition the AFL to be able to use their second draft pick currently 64 to replace Jones because "Under existing rules, the Blues cannot use the pick they have in the draft because they did not have enough list places available when they had to lodge their list a week ago. Jones announced his retirement three days later."
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
At least it will grow back with a vengeance.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Still mowing, blimmin weather is giving me the you know what's though. La Nina, won't stop raining.
Macca
Roar Rookie
No twisting required when you yet again accuse a player of collusion. How exactly did Greenwood collude to get delisted?
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Sure, twist my words whichever way you like.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Once again it’s everyone fault but the Suns.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
He's a 30yo Tasmanian with a long history of breaking contracts. He signed with the Perth Wildcats only to backflip the same day and convert to AFL on the Crows rookie list. He left Adelaide for money and now he's colluded with North to get delisted so he could slip out without costing a pick. He has gone on social media saying he's keen to play for the Tasmania Jack Jumpers (yes, you read that right) next summer.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
R u still in the mowing or are you back in the kitchen?
Macca
Roar Rookie
The difference between O’Brien & Cottrell and Greenwood is; 1) they weren’t contracted, let alone still have 2 years to run and 2) they played fewer games combined in 2021 than Greenwood did alone. 3) the blues clearly made them feel much more wanted and secure than the Suns did with Greenwood The reason no one breaks the code is because no one ever delisted a player worth breaking it for.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
There will be one no doubt in the off season.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
You realise that Carlton delisted a pair of players they intend to re-rookie, right? Any club can add O’Brien and Cottrell in Delisted Free Agency. They won’t because there is an unspoken code about these things. North have broken the code and it appears to be the Suns’ ex-list manager doing the double-dealing.
Macca
Roar Rookie
The blame would be laid at the feet of the club that delisted a player with 2 years left on his contract and didn't do enough to ensure the player was happy enough with the process he didn't field other offers. But of course it would never be the Suns fault!!
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
You always have to take the cynical path. The Suns delisted him in the belief that other clubs would honour the unwritten agreement that clubs don’t tamper with other clubs designated delistings. I don’t remember the last time it happened. Where else would the blame be laid? North poached a player by offering him a massive pay increase. He is the one who accepted the offer. It may even turn out that he asked for it.
Macca
Roar Rookie
AFL are reporting he signed a 2 year deal with North, which takes him to the end of 2023. Bit rich to lay the blame at Greenwoods feet when you are the ones who delisted him, with a couple of years on his contract no less.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Greenwood has just signed with North as a delisted free agent, great list strategy by the Suns. Would like to see how Thom spins this one. :unhappy: :laughing: :laughing:
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
He is leaving AFL at the end of 2022 season to join the new Tasmanian NBL franchise and also wants to be part of the Tassie AFL license. I’m a bit dirty about it, but he’s just another mercenary.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Write the article and we will.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
You can take that T shirt and..... Good on Macca, at least are talking footy not soccer.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Won't be taking Greenwood, he has signed on with North. Can't wait to hear how this was actually a masterstroke by the Suns.
Gianni
Roar Rookie
100% in agreement with you Chanon