Every Carlton player rated: The young guns facing make or break 2021
He came with a high price tag and sky-high expectations, but Mitch McGovern hasn’t delivered on his potential in navy blue. How can Carlton get the best out of him? Plus, our full list analysis on every Blue.
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It was a season that showed promise at times for Carlton under new coach David Teague.
But in the end it was the same old story as the Blues fell out of finals contention to finish 11th.
The list change has already begun after the Blues farewelled injury-prone ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and ever-dependable backman Kade Simpson last week, while a massive 10 players were re-signed just days after the season ended.
Question marks remain over other veterans, while injuries curtailed the season for some stars.
There were some standout individual seasons – from key defender Jacob Weitering and young midfielder Sam Walsh to name just two.
But there is a large portion of the Blues list which remains out of contract with big calls to be made.
We take a look at how every player fared in 2020.
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EDDIE BETTS
Age: 33
Games: 331
Status: Out of contract
There has been plenty of debate over the future of the veteran small forward, who has kicked just three goals from his past nine games in his first year back at the club. Coach David Teague said Betts remained in the club’s best 22, but the Blues are yet to publicly confirm the fan favourite’s spot on the list next year, despite reports he is set to play on. Betts made a romantic return to the Blues after six years at the Adelaide Crows.
LEVI CASBOULT
Age: 30
Games: 141
Status: Contracted until the end of 2021
The key forward has done enough as one of Carlton’s primary big men, kicking 16 goals for the season. His kicking for goal has improved, but he still has his issues. Has been a handy back-up ruckman, but list guru Gary Buckenara said the emergence of Tom De Koning could force the Blues to reconsider his future. “Do they actually need him now that De Koning should take his spot as that forward-ruckman?” he said. Just signed a new deal.
MATTHEW COTTRELL
Age: 20
Games: 5
Status: Contracted until 2021
The Blues’ latest cult figure after his matchwinning goal and “Greek Freak” celebrations against Sydney has played five games in his debut season after being taken as a summer rookie in 2019. Is the time trial king having edged Ed Curnow for that title.
PATRICK CRIPPS
Age: 25
Games: 118
Status: Contracted until the end of 2021
Hasn’t had his most productive season, but still remains arguably Carlton’s most important player. Has clearly played hurt for parts of the season, but has soldiered on. Cripps has suffered the biggest players rankings slide in the team from last season – for a minimum of five matches – according to Champion Data. The Blues have used him up forward at times and his craft here can improve, particularly his set-shot kicking for goal.
DAVID CUNINGHAM
Age: 23
Games: 37
Status: Contracted until the end of 2022
Has had a year interrupted by injury, spending a month on the sidelines with a calf issue. A dynamic forward-midfielder, Cuningham started the year strongly, kicking six goals from his first nine games of the season.
CHARLIE CURNOW
Age: 23
Games: 58
Status: Contracted until the end of 2023
Hasn’t played a senior game in 2020 after stress-related complications following surgery to remove screws from his right knee cap. Contracted for another three years, the star forward remains a long-term investment for the Blues, who would love him firing in attack alongside fellow young gun Harry McKay.
ED CURNOW
Age: 30
Games: 182
Status: Contracted until the end of 2021
The combative midfielder provides help for Patrick Cripps in the midfield. Has made his name as a tagger, but these days is used more to get his own ball. Has an elite ranking for kicks (12.5) and tackles (5.4) this season. Given a one-year extension.
TOM DE KONING
Age: 21
Games: 9
Status: Contracted until end of 2021
The athletic big man has emerged as a more than adequate frontline ruckman after making an impression since breaking into the team in Round 11. Has been used either as the frontline option or in tandem with the bigger bodied Marc Pittonet. Now Matthew Kreuzer has retired, the Blues will be looking for him to continue to step up.
SAM DOCHERTY
Age: 26
Games: 108
Status: Contracted until end of 2021
Has made a successful return this season after consecutive knee injuries wiped out his 2018 and 2019 seasons. Is a smooth mover at halfback where he often plays in a quarterback role and ranks among the elite in the league for kicks (13.5) and above average for metres gained (378m) and disposals (18.6). Has helped Cripps with the off-field load of captaincy.
PADDY DOW
Age: 20
Games: 42
Status: Contracted until end of 2022
The 20-year-old has battled injury this year, restricted to just three senior games, but failed to impress in his limited opportunities this year to the point club great and dual Brownlow medallist Greg Williams called on Dow to “toughen up”. Season 2021 looms as a critical one for the former No. 3 pick, who has faced queries over his kicking efficiency.
ZAC FISHER
Age: 22
Games: 63
Status: Contracted until the end of 2021
Has been restricted to eight games this season due to injury, but has been reborn as a small forward with a role to provide pressure while also looking to kick goals. Is probably too small to be a frontline midfielder but appears to have found his niche inside attacking 50m.
MICHAEL GIBBONS
Age: 25
Games: 36
Status: Contracted until 2021
The mature-aged recruit has continued to make the most of opportunity after being plucked from the VFL. He has emerged as a quality half-forward, kicking 11 goals in his 15 games. He has an elite ranking for kicking and is above average for disposals, tackles and marks in 2020. His Champion Data rankings points have climbed by 28 per cent on last season.
HUGH GODDARD
Age: 24
Games: 12
Status: Delisted
One of four players delisted just two days after the final game of the season. The defender did not play a senior game this season, unable to add to his tally of two matches with the Blues last year. The rise of Jacob Weitering and Liam Jones as the first choice defensive combination kept the 198cm backman on the outer.
JOSH HONEY
Age: 18
Games: 1
Status: Contracted until 2021
The son of a former Olympic pole vaulter and Australian netballer earned a call-up for his debut against Fremantle in Round 12. But the teenager’s inclusion lasted just one game. He had impressed with his speed and burst in scrimmage matches, but development coach Daniel O’Keefe said the club wanted to see more “pressure acts” and to lay more tackles as a “pressure forward”.
LIAM JONES
Age: 29
Games: 142
Status: Contracted until the end of 2022
The veteran defender has played every game for the Blues this season in a strong defensive combination with Jacob Weitering. He ranks among the elite in the competition for spoils and intercept marks this season. But has had trouble on true power forwards, such as Charlie Dixon, who booted 3.4 on him in Round 7.
BRODIE KEMP
Age: 19
Games: 0
Status: Contracted until end of 2021
The 19-year-old midfielder, who was the 17th selection overall in last year’s national draft, is yet to play a senior game. He arrived at the club part-way through his recovery from a knee injury and continued his rehabilitation this year. Has been developing his knowledge during this time, taking on the role of runner during scrimmage matches.
MATTHEW KENNEDY
Age: 23
Games: 48
Status: Out of contract
The midfielder-forward has had limited opportunities in 2020, playing just the seven senior games. But Champion Data says his improvement across last season until now has been significant, recording a 34 per cent rise in his player ranking points from last year – the second-highest at the Blues behind Will Setterfield (based on a minimum of five games). McGuane described him as “too slow” in his assessment of the Blues’ list.
MATTHEW KREUZER
Age: 31
Games: 189
Status: Retiring
The 2007 No. 1 draft pick has called time on his career after a year ruined by a serious foot injury, which he sustained in Round 1. Injuries plagued the popular big man during his 13 seasons with the Blues, who will now look to Marc Pittonet and youngster Tom De Koning to lead their ruck department.
DARCY LANG
Age: 24
Games: 64
Status: Delisted
The Blues announced Lang among four players on Monday who would not be offered a new contract for 2021. After eight games in his second season at the Blues last year, Lang managed just one senior appearance in 2020 – against Melbourne in Round 2 – in which he had just four disposals and one goal.
HARRISON MACREADIE
Age: 22
Games: 9
Status: Out of contract
Macreadie played just one senior game last year in an injury-interrupted season, but has not been able to add to that tally this season. Battled a hamstring issue injury at the start of the season and had since not been able to force his way into a largely settled back-six.
CALEB MARCHBANK
Age: 23
Games: 48
Status: Contracted until 2022
Marchbank’s horrid run with injuries continued in 2020. After his season ended prematurely last year following a fractured neck, he has not been able to play a senior game this year due to knee injury. The Blues made the call to rule the highly-rated defender out for the rest of the season to allow him to focus on preparing for next year.
JACK MARTIN
Age: 25
Games: 112
Status: Contracted until 2025
The high-profile off-season recruit had made an impression in his first year at the Blues after six seasons at the Gold Coast Suns. He has contributed a handy 12 goals and earned a nomination from his teammates as one of the Blues three contenders for the players’ MVP.
MITCH MCGOVERN
Age: 25
Games: 76
Status: Contracted until 2023
Battled a hamstring injury mid-season but hasn’t delivered the return up forward hoped for from the high-prized recruit, who has kicked just one goal since Round 7. He may have to shift back to defence – where he had been used at Adelaide – once Charlie Curnow returns from injury next season, a move the Blues tried in the final round. Ranked below average for disposals and goals this year.
HARRY MCKAY
Age: 22
Games: 48
Status: Contracted until the end of 2021
The key forward has shown glimpses of his star power up forward this season, in which he has kicked 21 goals. His Champion Data player ranking has taken a seven per cent hit on last season, but former Cats forward Cameron Mooney said recently the Blues needed to lock away the tall forward for the long-term. “He runs out of contract at the end of next year,” Mooney said “If I’m Carlton … I’m extending him as much as I can. Four years as soon as I can. He’s No. 1 forward for five-eight years for this club.”
CALLUM MOORE
Age: 24
Games: 10
Status: Out of contract
The forward managed just the two senior games in 2020 after being given a second chance at AFL level by the Blues and didn’t have a great impact. Carlton used the last spot on its list to sign Moore as a rookie after he was delisted by Richmond where he played eight senior games. Kicked five goals playing in the ruck in a scrimmage match against Fremantle last month.
MARC MURPHY
Age: 33
Games: 285
Status: Contracted until the end of 2021
The veteran midfielder has extended his tenure at the Blues into a 16th season. The deal puts Murphy within reach of the 300-game mark. Murphy sits above average for kicks and marks this year, but his overall playing ranking average has slipped by eight per cent on last season according to Champion Data.
NIC NEWMAN
Age: 27
Games: 53
Status: Contracted until 2021
In his second year at the Blues, Newman’s season came to a premature end in Round 2 when he ruptured his patella tendon. It was a cruel blow for the defender, who had fought his way back from a dislocated elbow he suffered in Round 1. The former Swan required season-ending surgery on his right knee.
JACK NEWNES
Age: 27
Games: 169
Status: Contracted until 2021
Newnes provided one of the highlights of the season for the Blues when he kicked a brilliant matchwinning goal from the boundary after the siren against Fremantle. The midfielder has proved a more than handy acquisition for Carlton after crossing from St Kilda at the end of 2019. Champion Data says so, too, with his player ranking up six per cent on last season.
LOCHIE O’BRIEN
Age: 20
Games: 36
Status: Contracted until end of 2021
The midfielder has played only the one senior game in 2020, not breaking into the team until Round 17. Development coach Daniel O’Keefe noted earlier this month O’Brien had “grown in the contest” in practice matches, but continued to work on his “defensive awareness”.
FINBAR O’DWYER
Age: 20
Games: 0
Status: Delisted
The Blues have announced O’Dwyer will not be offered a new contract. In his second season at the club, O’Dwyer did not play a senior game after being selected at pick No. 66 in the 2018 national draft.
MATTHEW OWIES
Age: 23
Games: 0
Status: Out of contract
A former college basketballer with the University of Hawaii and Seattle University, played just one senior game in 2020. Owies earned a call-up to make his debut in Round 16 against Sydney, finishing the match with just five disposals.
SAM PETREVSKI-SETON
Age: 22
Games: 80
Status: Contracted until end of 2021
Petrevski-Seton is one of the Blues who has suffered the biggest rankings slide from 2019 to this season. He features in the bottom three at the club – of the players to have played five games or more – with his player ranking down 11 per cent on last season. Is highly-touted as a former No. 6 draft pick, but yet to unlock his true potential.
FRASER PHILLIPS
Age: 19
Games: 0
Status: Out of contract
Taken with the Blues’ final pick in last year’s rookie draft, the teenager didn’t play a senior game in 2020. Development coach Daniel O’Keefe noted the young forward presented “good leading patterns” in a recent practice match but the club was still working on some of his “defensive outlets”.
SAM PHILP
Age: 19
Games: 2
Status: Contracted until end of 2023
Taken with pick number 20 in last year’s national draft, Philp made his senior debut against Essendon in Round 4 this season. He played again the following week against St Kilda, in which he kicked his first goal, but he did not play another match for the rest of the season. Speed is a trademark of Philp’s game.
MARC PITTONET
Age: 24
Games: 20
Status: Contracted until end of 2021
After being recruited from Hawthorn at the end of last season, Pittonet grabbed his chance in Round 2 following the foot injury to veteran ruckman Matthew Kreuzer. He has not looked back, playing in almost every game since to confirm his status as the Blues’ ruck future alongside Tom De Koning.
LACHIE PLOWMAN
Age: 25
Games: 110
Status: Contracted until the end of 2023
The reliable defender has played almost every game for the Blues this season. He has taken on some important shutdown roles, including earning coaches votes in Round 16 against the Swans for his job on the dangerous Tom Papley.
CAMERON POLSON
Age: 22
Games: 19
Status: Out of contract
After three senior games in 2019, Polson has managed to add just another three senior appearances to his tally in 2020, returning for the final match of the season. After less than 20 games in four seasons at the Blues, his future remains uncertain.
SAM RAMSAY
Age: 19
Games: 0
Status: Contracted until end of 2021
Taken with pick No. 47 in last year’s national draft, Ramsay is yet to play a senior game for the Blues. Spent time on a wing and forward in recent scrimmage matches, in which the Blues have been working on honing his tackling.
WILL SETTERFIELD
Age: 22
Games: 36
Status: Contracted until end of 2021
According to Champion Data, Setterfield has been the biggest rankings improver for the Blues from season 2019 to this year. His player ranking points are up by 47 per cent on last season. He has played every game for the Blues this season and has an elite ranking for tackles at an average of more than five a game.
BEN SILVAGNI
Age: 20
Games: 0
Status: Delisted
Will not have his contract renewed for 2021. Did not play a senior game after two seasons at the club after being taken at pick No. 70 in the 2018 national draft. Shoulder problems curtailed his hopes this year, undergoing a shoulder reconstruction last month.
JACK SILVAGNI
Age: 22
Games: 63
Status: Contracted until end of 2021
The former forward has worked to rebrand himself as a hard-working midfielder, who can tag. But his opportunities were restricted in 2020. The son of a defensive gun was injured against Essendon in Round 4 and was unable to play a game for the remainder of the season.
KADE SIMPSON
Age: 36
Games: 342
Status: Retiring
The man who brought sleeves back at Carlton has called time on his career after 18 seasons at the Blues. Simpson will finish his career with the third-most games played in the club’s history – only Bruce Doull and Craig Bradley sit above him. Was still playing consistent football at halfback, but the time had come for the Blues to look to look to a new generation.
LIAM STOCKER
Age: 20
Games: 5
Status: Contracted until end of 2022
The second-year midfielder left the club’s Queensland hub in July for personal reasons and did not return. He remains a player the Blues hope can emerge in the midfield, or to slot into Simpon’s position at halfback. Stocker was unable to add to the five senior games he played in 2019 before a foot injury curtailed the rest of his season.
SAM WALSH
Age: 20
Games: 39
Status: Contracted until end of 2022
The 2018 No. 1 draft pick and last year’s Rising Star award winner hasn’t suffered any second-year Blues in the navy blue. Walsh has played every game possible since he was drafted and has enjoyed a strong finish to the season, kicking eight goals and averaging 24 disposals since Round 12. He has enjoyed a 15 per cent rise in his player ranking points since last season, according to Champion Data.
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JACOB WEITERING
Age: 22
Games: 93
Status: Contracted until the end of 2025
The Blues have locked away the star defender for the long term with Weitering this year signing a four-year contract extension, tying him to the club until the end of 2025. His original deal had been due to expire at the end of next season. Weitering has been one of the Blues’ best performers this season and is likely to feature in All-Australian calculations.
TOM WILLIAMSON
Age: 21
Games: 32
Status: Out of contract
After playing just two senior games in 2019 due to back problems, the defender made a long-awaited return to the Blues line-up in Round 3 this season. He has played in every game since, impressing with his work as a stopper on small forwards.
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Originally published as Every Carlton player rated: The young guns facing make or break 2021