Carlton season review: The big contract calls and where the Blues can bounce back in 2025
Carlton fans are known for being ruthless — and the club’s board has historically been as well. How does Michael Voss avoid joining a procession of coaches to feel their wrath next season?
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Carlton fans have had their glasses half-empty for much of the last 30 years so Michael Voss will know that in 2025 he has to fill them up to the brim.
With the Blues season literally ending in an injury enforced limp, fans can look at 2024 in two ways.
In the glass half-full corner, Carlton sat second on the ladder after round 19 and legitimately looked to be the biggest challenger to Sydney as the best team of the season before injuries ultimately ravaged their hopes.
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In the other corner, the Blues went from flag contender to an elimination final thrashing in just over a month, winning once after round 19.
Ultimately that half-empty glass of a season in which the Blues were in the premiership window was poured down the drain and Voss had nothing to show for it.
Carlton should be right back in the top four next year.
While the list will obviously be a year older next year, it is not an old squad, with only Nic Newman over the age of 30.
There is still time for Voss and the Blues to lift that cup but they have holes to fill and steps to take.
OFF-SEASON MOVES
Carlton is in a unique position list-wise, with a handful of genuine A-graders taking up much of the salary cap room and a need for role players to fill the breach.
There are three obvious deficiencies in the Blues outfit, with the need for more key defensive support for Jacob Weitering, more small forward impact at the feet of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay and more speed through the midfield.
Finding a key defender when you don’t have big bucks to spend is tough.
Giant Nick Haynes is likely to float towards Lygon St next year to provide intercept support.
The Blues need to then get creative, could they poach Adam Tomlinson or Jayden Laverde?
With Hawthorn adding Josh Battle and likely Tom Barrass, should Carlton go after one of the Hawks stuck further in the queue like a Jai Serong or Ethan Phillips?
Dougal Howard remains yet to ink a new deal at St Kilda but so far has not begun entertaining outside offers.
Those names aren’t huge difference makers anyway.
All-Australian Dan Houston is likely out of the Blues’ price range.
The Blues are set to add the Camporeale father-son twins, should they find enough draft capital, and will hope for some half-forward support from them.
The revolving door of Orazio Fantasia, Jack Martin, Corey Durdin, David Cuningham and Jesse Motlop just didn’t work this year.
Matt Owies was Carlton’s best small forward but he strangely is now out of contract.
Lachie Fogarty plays a good role there but got injures late, as did Matt Cottrell.
Moving Zac Williams forward worked early but he kicked one goal in his last four games.
Jack Silvagni will be fit next year and his role will be heavily scrutinised.
The Blues don’t need big goals from the smalls but need better pressure and link-up play.
And they need speed in the middle, with a strong but plodding midfield.
Their best runners, Ollie Hollands and Sam Walsh, are good players but they don’t break lines.
Too often superstar Patrick Cripps – who is the hot Brownlow Medal favourite – looked as if he was doing everything himself because he didn’t have runners to feed.
At their best this season, the Blues attacked into space and went with forward speed – like the Cats and Hawks – but that fell away as the year wore on.
Carlton was chuffed to draft Billy Wilson last year and he has genuine speed but he didn’t get a crack in his first season.
The Blues have some history to defy next year.
While they got the margin back to a respectable 28 points against Brisbane on Saturday night, they were belted.
In the past decade no team has won a final the year after losing an elimination final by at least seven goals, so while the Blues margin wasn’t that great, they will have some mental demons to shake off.
OFF THE FIELD
The biggest thing the Blues have to get right is the fitness of their players.
Soft tissue injuries are seen as more avoidable than contract injury but the Blues got smashed by calf and hamstring problems.
They will remake their fitness department, with Sydney guru Rob Inness to come in for the highly respected Andrew Russell.
It wasn’t just the final weeks that cost Carlton, with the Blues injury list in the double digits for much of the season even as the team kept its head above water.
Voss will coach Carlton into 2025 and is signed up until the end of 2026.
But with a restless fan base, he would surely know a slow start to next season could kick off murmurings about his future.
Injury excuses won’t hold up next year and a top four finish is a must.
President Luke Sayers will bow out next year and CEO Brian Cook is adamant his tenure will end there too, so the Blues have some off-field work to do.
CONTRACT CALLS
The Blues did a good job avoiding contract worries in 2024.
Martin and Jack Carroll appear likely to leave, Owies is hunting for a new contract but otherwise the sheet looks good.
List boss Nick Austin has a task for next year though, with Tom De Koning at the top of the list.
The ruck was headed towards a new club last year before signing a two-year extension and will be fielding monster offers next year.
His role will surely play a part in his decision, with his pairing with Marc Pittonet a constant question – De Koning plays better without Pittonet.
Injury-prone Adam Cerra, defender Adam Saad, George Hewett, Jack Silvagni, Jacob Weitering, Matt Kennedy, Mitch McGovern, Sam Docherty and Nic Newman will all be out of contract next year.
Expect the Blues to try and cut that list down in the off-season, with Weitering a big target to lock down.
WAY TOO EARLY PREDICTION
3rd (16-7)
Originally published as Carlton season review: The big contract calls and where the Blues can bounce back in 2025
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