Where does your AFL club sit: Avoid more injuries and Carlton is a genuine top-four contender
The Blues have done an outstanding job of building a squad good enough to contend, but who makes the cut should they avoid the injuries that hampered them in 2022? Find out who’s in the mix here.
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The time is now for the Blues. There are no more excuses. After a generation of pain, Carlton has all the tools in place to once more become an AFL power club; now it just has to stay fit and healthy and finally get the job done in 2023.
CARLTON
Coach: Michael Voss
Captain: Patrick Cripps
What happened in 2022?
So much went right that it is still hard to fathom how they didn’t play finals footy in what was Michael Voss’ first year in the coaches’ box.
They sat in the top eight every week of the 2022 season other than the only week that really matters as a heartbreaking one-point Round 23 loss to Collingwood tipped them out.
Eight wins came in the first 10 rounds, highlighted by a Round 1 taming of the Tigers and a systematic victory over eventual grand finalists Sydney in Round 10.
The Blues were two games clear inside the eight when they knocked the Giants off in Round 19. But they couldn’t close the deal when it mattered.
The heartbreaking last month of near misses and last-minute losses to Melbourne and Collingwood will surely be burning deep in their motivation for their 2023 preparations.
Where do they finish in 2023?
Carlton is talented enough to be shooting for a top-four finish. Let’s not kid ourselves, the Blues should be reaching for the stars. Their depth is greater than at any stage in the club’s recent history and they have bona fide stars on every line, but they will be immediately tested after the loss of Sam Walsh (back surgery). A quiet trade period saw them secure Blake Acres for that missing link on the wing. It won’t surprise to see first-round draft pick Ollie Hollands making a big impression in year one. Champion Data rated their 2023 fixture as the second-easiest. Luck with injuries — Walsh hasn’t been a good start — and finals should be a lock and a top-four berth should be realistic. At a bare minimum, they should win a final.
Biggest improver in 2022
Adam Cerra played 18 games in his first season in navy blue last year, but his output was a shade down on what many expected from him. Insiders will tell you he battled his way through some injury issues in his first season with the Blues. He was 10th in the best and fairest count, but Carlton is confident he can elevate his game to a new level — even beyond what he showed with the Dockers — if he can get some luck with his body in 2023.
X-factor
The X-factor might come collectively from the health of Carlton playing list rather than any individuals. The Blues had a horror run with injuries last season — particularly to key personnel — and it hurt them when they were on the way towards a finals berth. They’ll start off on the back foot after losing Walsh but will need to keep their other stars on the park.
Coach status
No issues here for Vossy, as he is about to enter the second of a three-year contract, having impressed everyone with his handling of the Blues in year one. He coached the Lions to a finals campaign in his first year (2009) before it all fell apart up there. This quest at Carlton looks far more sustainable. The Blues hierarchy would be happy with their choice right now.
Who is in last year of contract?
David Cuningham, Ed Curnow, Tom De Koning, Sam Docherty, Paddy Dow, Lachie Fogarty, Josh Honey, Brodie Kemp, Caleb Marchbank, Mitch McGovern, Jesse Motlop, Nic Newman, Sam Philp, Marc Pittonet, Lachie Plowman, Jack Silvagni, Lewis Young, Domanic Akuei, Sam Durdin
Outs from 2022
Jack Newnes, Liam Stocker, Will Setterfield, Tom Williamson, Will Hayes, Luke Parks, Oscar McDonald
Ins for 2023
Blake Acres, Oliver Hollands, Lachlan Cowan, Jaxon Binns, Harry Lemmey
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