Carlton 2016 report card: plenty of excitement around Brendon Bolton’s young Blues
BRENDON Bolton arrived in a whirlwind of intensity and immediately set about resurrecting last year’s wooden spooner. HAVE YOUR SAY
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BRENDON Bolton — the little man with the ruthless reputation — arrived in a whirlwind of intensity and immediately set about resurrecting last year’s wooden spooner.
With 15 new faces and a “reset” buzz word, Bolton integrated a game plan and structure in a side lacking both last season. The result was seven wins, with four coming consecutively in the first half of the year.
HOW DID THE BLUES FARE? VOTE AND HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW
It was a campaign that exceeded summer expectations. The Blues turned at half way at 6-5 and just a game outside the top eight before tiring in the run home.
Of the draftees, No.1 draft pick Jacob Weitering was a raging success, while Jack Silvagni, Charlie Curnow and David Cunningham showed signs. Of the acquisitions, Sam Kerridge, Matthew Wright, Lachie Plowman and Liam Sumner all worked.
The defence was organised and disciplined, led by All-Australian nominee Sam Docherty and Kade Simpson, while Patrick Cripps was again brilliant in a midfield that had skipper Marc Murphy for only 10 games.
The forward line, however, was a complete disaster. The Blues converted an inside 50m into a goal only 20.1 per cent of the time — the second-lowest ratio ever recorded by Champion Data. Levi Casboult struggled badly, Andrejs Everitt couldn’t recapture his 2015 form and Andrew Walker’s body let him down. The fact that little ex-Crow, Wright, led the goalkicking with 22 speaks volumes.
SNAPSHOT
WINS: 7
LOSSES: 15
LADDER: 14th
PERCENTAGE: 79.3%
LAST YEAR: 18th (up four spots)
WHAT WENT RIGHT
After winning the wooden spoon in 2015, it was a magnificent turnaround by the Blues under Brendon Bolton. Early wins and plenty of excitement surrounding No.1 pick Jacob Weitering. Getting games into the likes of Weitering, Silvagni, Cuningham and Byrne will reap rich rewards in the future. Trade and free agency acquisitions Matt Wright, Sam Kerridge and Andrew Phillips were also wins to varying degrees. Finally, the form of leaders Bryce Gibbs, Kade Simpson and Sam Docherty is equally as exciting.
WHAT WENT WRONG
A NAB Challenge loss to Essendon was followed by a regular-season loss to Essendon, which will rankle with the navy blue faithful. The early season wins dried up as the young Blues hit the wall mid-way through the year and nine consecutive losses followed. Captain Marc Murphy’s injury certainly put a dampener on the excitement at Ikon Park and the club will be hoping he is cherry ripe for Round 1, 2017. The Blues’ still have too much wasted places with the likes of Liam Jones and Jason Tutt a legacy of a former administration.
HIGHLIGHT AND LOWLIGHT
Does it get any better than beating the old enemies, Essendon and Collingwood, for Carlton fans? It came in consecutive weeks in Rounds 6 and 7 and Bolton’s Blues showed there’s a big future for the club after some difficult years. However, for sheer shock value, the Round 10 win over Geelong was the biggest and the best. On the other end of the scale, a final round loss to Essendon should drive the developing group over the summer. The Blues were coming off a big win over Melbourne the week before but never looked likely against the Bombers. There were still too many big losses with 10-goal shellackings coming against Sydney (R2), North Melbourne (R9), GWS (R14), Adelaide (R16) and St Kilda (R20).
RECRUITING DEPT REVIEW
Draft picks: Jacob Weitering (1), Harry McKay (10), Charlie Curnow (12), David Cuningham (23), Jack Silvagni (53), Jesse Glass-McCasker (rookie), Andrew Galluci (rookie), Matthew Korcheck (rookie)
Trade/free agency acquisitions: Daniel Gorringe (Gold Coast), Matt Wright, Sam Kerridge (Adelaide), Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips, Lachie Plowman, Liam Sumner (GWS),
Some big wins for the Blues. Weitering was everything the club hoped for, holding down a key defensive post in his debut season and even swinging forward to kick some crucial goals. Silvagni provided some late-season excitement, showing he’ll be a long-term part of the Blues’ attack. The club’s free agency pick ups were hot and cold. Wright is a big tick and won the club’s goalkicking award but Gorringe barely got on the park. The biggest move during the 2015 trade period was Carlton picking up four Giants in one move. Phillips, Plowman and Sumner showed they can contribute long term while Lamb still has some way to go.
THE COACH
The bubbly, chuckling man we saw as interim Hawks coach was replaced by a stone-faced, straight-talking Carlton mentor in the first year of a three-year deal. “Reset” and “sprouts of growth” were oft-repeated words in a seven-win campaign that exceeded expectations.
Cleverly integrated trade acquisitions, emboldened draft picks and restored confidence in established names. It was a debut season that has set the platform.
YOU SAID IT
“We’ve got an incredible amount of hard work ahead of us, but there were some really strong foundations laid this year for us to continue to grow.”
- Brendon Bolton after Round 23.
BEST & FAIREST
The John Nicholls Medal promises to be a three-way shoot out between Sam Docherty, Kade Simpson and Patrick Cripps, with Bryce Gibbs also a chance. Reigning club champ Cripps led the AFL in clearances per game (8.8) and contested possessions per game (16.9).
B&F Count: John Nicholls Medal, Friday, September 9 at Crown Palladium
SUPERCOACH STUD
Can we proclaim this one a draw? Backline premiums Sam Docherty and Kade Simpson were worth their weight in gold this year. Simpson is SuperCoach’s Mr Reliable and finished with an average of 106, good enough for 14th overall while Docherty emerged as a high-scoring force - averaging 108.7 - and finished the year as the 10th best overall scorer. Bryce Gibbs and Ed Curnow can consider themselves unlucky.
SUPERCOACH DUD
Marc Murphy only played 10 games due to injury, so you could say this is a little harsh. However, in that time the Blues skipper only managed to average 79.5. After an opening round 123, Murphy then scored 84, 64 and 36. He bounced back to score five 90-plus scores before injury struck.
THE LIST
ELITE: Patrick Cripps, Bryce Gibbs, Kade Simpson, Sam Docherty,
BIG IMPROVERS: Matt Wright, Ed Curnow, Jacob Weitering
GONE: Michael Jamison (retired), Andrew Walker (retired), Cameron Wood (retired), Matthew Dick (delisted), Jayden Foster (delisted)
GOING, GOING: Liam Jones, Dillon Viojo-Rainbow, Jason Tutt
TRADE BAIT: Dylan Buckley, Andrejs Everitt, Mark Whiley, Zach Tuohy
ON THE BLOCK
The Blues are believed open to trading Zach Tuohy, while Andrejs Everitt and Sam Rowe are also without deals. Mark Whiley would be on thin ice.
WHAT THEY NEED
Carlton’s mantra will undoubtedly be to keep adding talent on every line. There’s still some “list cloggers” wearing navy blue, which goes to show the club’s list overhaul - lead by Stephen Silvagni - still has some way to go. A forward line target could be handy - Harry McKay is still up their sleeve - as Levi Casboult struggles with his accuracy and Liam Jones’ time at the club looks up. The Blues’ first-choice midfield is as good as any in the AFL but the drop off in depth is Everest like. The club would love to add another classy ball-user to compliment Patrick Cripps.
PREMIERSHIP CLOCK: 3pm
Very early days. The big question is can the Blues mount a challenge before it’s senior players — Murphy, Gibbs, Simpson etc — are at the end?
STATS
(Source: Champion Data)
Originally published as Carlton 2016 report card: plenty of excitement around Brendon Bolton’s young Blues
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