Why Carlton’s obsession with GWS Giants players is yet to pay off but is far from a failure

FOR all the memes and jokes about the Carlton “Giants”, one statistic shows why the jury is out on the Blues’ obsession with GWS players, writes Jon Ralph. EVERY TRADE RATED

Some of Carlton's former Giants.

FOR all the memes and jokes about the Carlton “Giants”, one statistic shows why the jury is out on the Blues’ obsession with GWS players.

Not an abject failure, mind you, just an open question mark about whether it has been a success so far.

Will Setterfield’s decision to choose Carlton means he will be the 11th GWS player in four years and five trade periods to move from western Sydney to Ikon Park.

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Across the last four Carlton best-and-fairests, just a single one of those ex-GWS players has recorded a top-10 finish in the John Nicholls Medal.

Lachie Plowman finished seventh in the 2017 best-and-fairest after a 301-possession, 21-game season as a reliable third tall.

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Caleb Marchbank in action for Carlton. Picture: Michael Klein

Will Setterfield in action for GWS. Picture: Phil Hillyard

But as far as setbacks go it will only fleeting, the silver lining an easy decision on what to do with pick No.1 (back in Sam Walsh) and a million bucks of extra cap space to go for next year’s version of Shiel.

So they will settle on Setterfield, the latest in a procession of Giants to be lured by Steve Silvagni and his predecessors.

Despite his injury issues Setterfield is a hard tackling, strong bodied, 190cm explosive midfielder who at 20 should be ready to play in Round 1 after a pre-season ACL rupture.

The reason why the Blues persist with this strategy is because they gave up very little for many of those Giants, with considerable upside for the others who remain on the list.

Many of them came packaged up in bigger trades for Plowman and Caleb Marchbank, filling holes on a list that was in the process of turning over 42 players in three years.

The Plowman trade also saw Andrew Phillips, Jed Lamb and Liam Sumner thrown in, with a swap of first-round picks allowing them to secure the selection for Harry McKay.

Of the 10 Giants to come across, Caleb Marchbank is the shining light, Plowman should be a lock to play 150 games as a serviceable defender and Jarrod Pickett has flashed in and out of games.

Kristian Jaksch is an outright bust, Rhys Palmer was a salary dump who played a single game, Mark Whiley vanished without a trace, and former No.10 pick Sumner (20 games at the Blues) is gone, too.

Boom or Bust?

Caleb Marchbank - Pass

Could be anything despite an injury-prone year, an intercept marking defender who at 22 has his best footy in front of him.

Lachie Plowman - Pass

A versatile defender who should slot into the back six for the next eight years. Doesn’t have huge tricks, but a best-22 player.

Jarrod Pickett - ???

Taken as part of the Marchbank deal, his huge talent has still only resulted in eight goals from 17 games for the Blues.

Jed Lamb - ???

Still to win a contract for next year, they gave up little for the serial agitator but have got 44 games out of him.

Andrew Phillips - ???

Sneaks into this category through a couple of excellent games this year before injury struck again. 22 games in three years at the Blues

Matt Kennedy - ???

Huge talent but a tough year where he started late after shoulder recos, suffered a serious ankle injury and apart from a cracker against the Hawks was generally quiet. Will be better for the run.

Kristian Jaksch - Fail

Secured in the deal that gave up pick 7 and also secured Blaine Boekhorst before SOS’s time. Shocking decision all around.

Liam Sumner - Fail

The former pick 10 was part of the Plowman deal that also secured Harry McKay, but after 20 mediocre games was delisted

Mark Whiley - Fail

Part of the horror Jaksch deal, the former GWS zone selection quickly sank without a trace.

Rhys Palmer - Fail

The Blues secured him to save the Giants cap space and fill a spot on a list in rapid transition. He played only one game,so it’s hard to be too critical of the transaction.

The Blues traded pick 28 for Kennedy, who arrived with a similar reputation as Setterfield - a hard, bustling midfielder ready to roll straight away.

Instead he suffered an early ankle injury, missed two months mid-season, played one superb game against Hawthorn (29 possessions, seven clearances, 15 contested possessions and a goal) then had August ankle surgery.

Carlton fans would feel like his first year was a qualified fail but hope he can have a major influence in coming seasons alongside Patrick Cripps and Zac Fisher.

Marchbank, Kennedy, Setterfield and Plowman need to develop into new versions of ex-Brisbane defender Sam Docherty, who turned from a so-so kid with poor disposals into a 2017 All-Australian.

Two years after the Blues forced GWS to use pick 5 by bidding on Setterfield they will get their man, but an immediate top-five best-and-fairest finish would certainly help the fans yet to be convinced of the Giants invasion.

Originally published as Why Carlton’s obsession with GWS Giants players is yet to pay off but is far from a failure