Graham Wright’s huge task ahead after another false dawn at the Carlton Football Club

It looked like Carlton were headed in the right direction under Michael Voss. But now another significant shift is needed — and the most emotionally-detached man in football has the keys.

This would feel like the biggest false dawn in football.

From the Michael Malthouse dead-end, Brendon Bolton’s ‘green shoots’ and the derailed ‘Teague Train’, Carlton’s fan base has endured some of the darkest days in the game over the past decade.

But as the Blues delivered the biggest no-show of the season on Thursday night, the terrible reality would have set in.

One of the most bankable AFL list builds we’ve seen needs another significant shift to get the club’s hands anywhere near their first cup in 30 years.

Patrick Cripps Blues leads his team off. Picture: Getty Images

A few weeks ago the club would have been thinking coach Michael Voss should stay with some tweaks to the squad.

But the needle will have shifted significantly towards a much more concerned outlook for the coach and some of his highest-paid players following terrible losses to North Melbourne and Port Adelaide over the past fortnight.

Because a club which had taken a long time to rise over the past decade is now being leapfrogged again by young and up-and-coming rivals.

And perhaps more concerning than the skill problems was the complete lack of spirit on Thursday night.

You could see the look of shock and worry on Voss’s face after heading down to the bench in the second quarter.

The loss condemns this season to a second-straight failure and big decisions loom on the Carlton squad which has relied too heavily on its twin towers and inside midfield strength.

And star ruckman Tom De Koning looks set to leave the Blues not only because of the riches at St Kilda but because the under 24 talent looks better at Bayside.

Carlton has had more number one picks than any other club in the AFL era but is now seen by its gun ruckman as a less appealing destination than the Saints.

For inspirational captain Patrick Cripps, who has given everything to the ‘Baggers, this would be an awful reality.

But rivals are swerving past them in 2025 and this year they can’t blame injuries or its rejigged high performance department.

The list looks out of synch with the modern game.

Western Bulldogs saw the writing on the wall last year when Luke Beveridge made the tough call to drop Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel to the twos and then trade them out in favour of more run and precision ball use.

If that was harsh, wait until we see what Blues’ new CEO Graham Wright has in store.

Not only does he have a wicked eye for talent, he is also the most emotionally-detached man in football.

Graham Wright (C) has some serious work to do. Picture: Carlton FC

Wright tapped Brodie Grundy on the shoulder at Collingwood in a bid to clear up $1 million a year from the salary cap.

Three years on, the sense of deja vu is unmissable at Carlton for Wright who will be mulling similar calls on high-priced players as part of an inevitable recalibration.

So as much as Harry McKay, Adam Saad, Zac Williams or Mitch McGovern may want to stay at Carlton, they would be the most nervous men in footy if Wright’s name flashed up on their mobile phones towards the back end of the season.

It’s not a full-on rebuild, but some strategic shifts are required to inject the line breaking run, athleticism, finesse and small forward tackle pressure the squad desperately needs.

As much as all the players will feel a sense of dread for Voss’s future, the reality is no one is safe at Ikon Park this exchange period.

As former Hawk and Cat Isaac Smith said of Wright on Triple M on Thursday night: “I remember him (Wright) saying to me one day (at Hawthorn), ‘for the right price every player is up in the air’.”

Carlton is the worst-kicking team in the AFL at a time when the game has undergone a significant swing towards quality ball use.

The Cats, Dogs, Lions and Magpies are the best teams in the competition for their precision ball movement which can overcome being beaten in the clearance and contest.

And the Blues can’t hit the side of a bus heading into attack in 2025.

So Carlton zigged, when the game zagged towards outside run and counter-attack methods.

And Carlton has the best part of $4 million dollars invested in its spine including twin towers McKay and Charlie Curnow, who are excellent individual players.

But system, cohesion and collective performance will take precedence from here.

Wright will be working overtime in the background considering the options they will have if they off-loaded McKay, and receive a top-10 compensation pick for free agent De Koning.

In a weak draft, it ratchets up the degree of difficulty.

But it’s not like Wright hasn’t done it before.

Originally published as Graham Wright’s huge task ahead after another false dawn at the Carlton Football Club