Gary Buckenara analyses Carlton’s list after the 2018 season

CARLTON were very active during the trade period, picking up four players from rival clubs but it is their last pick-up, who arrives with the least fanfare, that could be the best move. Gary Buckenara analyses Carlton’s list.

If Dylan Shiel wants to be a Blue, Carlton must trade the No.1 draft pick. Picture: Phil Hillyard

SEASON 2018 was one to forget for Carlton.

After showing promising signs of development and improvement last year, members, supporters and the football world expected more from the Blues, but they failed to deliver.

The season was one of the worst in Carlton history, made worse by the fact its young players didn’t show further signs of progress after the club heavily invested in the drafts.

While it would be premature to declare list boss Stephen Silvagni and his team haven’t nailed their draft picks, there are serious and valid concerns given the lack of improvement.

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Players like Sam Petrevski-Seaton, Harry McKay, Darcy Lang, Jarrod Garlett, Jacob Weitering, David Cuningham, Jarrod Pickett and Jack Silvagni all seemed to take a step back rather than forward in 2018, while Matthew Kennedy and Darcy Lang were underwhelming in their first seasons at the club.

Improvement must come from these players in addition to better seasons from senior players including Marc Murphy, Levi Casboult, Liam Jones and Jed Lamb. Luck with injuries also plays a part as Sam Docherty (missed the season), Caleb Marchbank and Lachie Plowman are important players who had injury-riddled years.

Patrick Cripps is a star but he needs help in the midfield. Picture: Michael Klein

One player who has continued to go from strength to strength, however, is Patrick Cripps. He is a serious player who not only possesses great talent but also the heart and spirit you can build your club around. But he needs help. Cripps is a competitor and a combative player who will throw himself into any situation and risk his body but there are negatives to this type of play because the body can get so banged up it ends up cutting your career short. Players can also lose their passion for the contest when the attention from opposition teams is relentless.

GARY BUCKENARA WILL BE ANALYSING EVERY CLUB’S LIST IN A SPECIAL SERIES OF COLUMNS. STAY TUNED FOR YOUR CLUB IN COMING DAYS

That’s where the development of Paddy Dow, Lochie O’Brien and Zac Fisher comes into play. Dow in particular showed good signs this year, while Fisher is one of the few young Blues who showed clear signs of development and improvement this season. You can see he has learnt lessons and applied them at senior level, while he is also now used to the pace of the game.

What is clear, given the current predicament Carlton is in having claimed another wooden spoon, is just how important it is to nail your recruiting and list management. The Blues failed in these areas before Silvagni arrived, which is the main reason for the club’s current struggles.

Mitch McGovern has joined Carlton. Picture: Getty

NO GO: BLUES DENIED PRIORITY PICK BY AFL

Carlton were very active during the trade period and brought in four players — Mitch McGovern, Alex Fasolo, Will Setterfield and Nic Newman — but did miss out on Dylan Shiel.

McGovern will give them some flexibility given he can play forward and back and also adds a marking presence. Setterfield is a nice player but the Blues can’t expect too much from him next year as he’s coming off a torn ACL. In time though, and with the right development, he should become a handy addition to the midfield and help Patrick Cripps.

Fasolo is the interesting one. He’s a risk but he could be a real gem of a pick-up because he’s a matchwinner. His body is a bit fragile but if he can get himself right physically and mentally then he can bring genuine x-factor.

Carlton were active late, securing Nic Newman from Sydney very cheaply and I think he is a great get. He’s a good runner, is quick, a good ball user and can play off halfback and on the wing, where they do lack some speed and good ball use. He’s an underrated pick-up and will be best 22.

The Blues have also kept pick No.1, which is a great result and by all reports Sam Walsh will join the club with that selection. He’ll be a really good inside player for the future but again, expectations need to be tempered as he won’t be the midfield answer straight away.

CARLTON’S LIST NEEDS

The Blues have a few areas requiring attention but the most critical need is midfield depth. Murphy, Ed Curnow and Nick Graham are the only pure midfielders on the list over the age of 24 and despite Cripps being an absolute star, he needs help. He can’t keep doing it all on his own.

The list is well stocked for defensive options both in talls, medium-sized players and smalls so the attention needs to be focused up forward and targeting a clever small forward who can feed off the likes of Curnow and McKay. Garlett and Pickett were too inconsistent this year, so finding a player to apply that manic pressure who can kick goals consistently will be crucial. Fasolo isn’t this type of player.

Marc Murphy has handed over the captaincy for 2019. Picture: Michael Klein

PLAYERS WHO NEED TO STEP UP IN 2019

While I could nearly list every player on the list, I think there are some players in particular who must have a big years next year and Murphy is one of them. Handing over the captaincy was the right call — he now needs to get his body right and just focus on playing footy. Murphy can still be a damaging midfielder because he’s never had trouble finding the ball and I think handing over the captaincy will release the pressure and allow him to just play the game.

Casboult was out of favour at the end of the year as Brendon Bolton opted for Curnow and McKay as his key forwards, so the clock is ticking on Casboult and how he responds. He needs a big summer to get himself super fit so he can be a bit more flexible around the ground as the forward/ruckman.

Jacob Weitering struggled this season. Picture: Getty

Jack Silvagni needs to find where he fits at AFL level. Picture: Michael Klein

What does the future hold for Silvagni? He’s been tried in a number of positions, including as a midfielder and is still yet to find where, and if, he belongs at AFL level. 2019 looms as a critical season for him as it will be his fourth in the system. It’s time to show us all if you belong, Jack.

Weitering is another under pressure. His form slump had many asking what happened to a player who looked so good as a junior he was the undoubted No.1 draft pick and then impressed in his first season in the AFL. He’s had two lean years now and he can’t afford a third. Weitering must take big strides forward next year to prove he can be the gun key position defender we all thought he’d be.

Lang had no impact in his first season at the club due to a combination of injury and form so will need a big summer to get his body right, while Garlett and Pickett have shown signs but are far too inconsistent.

CRYSTAL BALL

Cripps is a spiritual leader at Carlton and it’s fantastic the club made his leadership role official. He’s shown this season not only with his form but also with his long-term commitment that he’s more than ready to lead this club into the future.

Carlton is still at least three years off challenging for finals but it’s critical the club doesn’t get impatient, as it has done in the past, and stays the course in building and developing a list for sustained success.

GARY BUCKENARA WILL BE ANALYSING EVERY CLUB’S LIST IN A SPECIAL SERIES OF COLUMNS. STAY TUNED FOR YOUR CLUB IN COMING DAYS

Originally published as Gary Buckenara analyses Carlton’s list after the 2018 season