Carlton’s next generation must assume control of the Blues fortunes, writes David King
CARLTON’S youthful stars are making their way from pimples to muscles, but this next wave is about to assume control of the Bluebaggers’ fortunes, writes David King.
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CARLTON’S youthful stars are making their way from pimples to muscles, but this next wave is about to assume control of the Bluebaggers’ fortunes.
The glut of national draft top selections in Marc Murphy, Matthew Kreuzer and the departed Bryce Gibbs have passed the baton to the new “Navy Blue Chip” stock of first-round picks.
Charlie Curnow is the man to single-handedly drag Carlton from relative obscurity into finals contention.
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An awesome athlete who can play anywhere in 2018, including as a true midfielder at times in a Matthew Richardson-type evolution.
Comparing talls, in the second half of the year only Lance Franklin and Tom Hawkins had a greater SuperCoach points return than Curnow — since Round 14 he averaged 93 points from 16 disposals and seven marks a game.
Curnow’s elite kicking, more than 80 per cent efficiency, sets him apart.
He has lieutenants in Sam Petrevski-Seton, Jacob Weitering and Harry McKay. All first-round picks in the past 24 months and with just short of 100 games of experience between them, fans are salivating at their potential.
Add No.3 draft pick in Paddy Dow, who is like Patrick Cripps with a run-and-carry capability, and things are looking promising.
It’s time for Brendon Bolton to show us all that he is a successful AFL leader, Carlton’s next premiership coach, and that he has the capability to deliver his vision.
Club insiders marvel at Bolton’s communication skills and have no doubt he is the steady hand to take this club back to the top of the league, but when will we see it?
The talent stocks of the rebuilding Blues have ensured Bolton has taken a knife to a gun fight most games, so assessing the past two seasons in isolation would be grossly unfair – but improvement must be visible in 2018.
In the past two years, the Blues promised a complete rebuild without any shortcuts.
They have been true to their word, but the board’s ability to remain patient in an impatient industry will be tested.
What will be Bolton’s stamp?
The 2017 method of defending through possession retention, and controlling the game via uncontested marks in the defensive half was a safe way to play the game that tried to protect the cost on the scoreboard.
The Blues appeared stuck in second gear in attack, reluctant to handball and maintain offensive speed, but this has been addressed over the pre-season and we should expect to see faster, more fluent ball movement than last year’s model, which ranked 17th overall.
Expect six to eight wins, but the young stars will emerge.
ROBBO’S TAKE
WHAT I LIKE
Charlie, Charlie, Charlie Curnow for starters. And Patrick Cripps. And Jacob Weitering. And Liam Jones at full-back. And Murph at 30. And Simmo who is even older. And Matty K. And cameos from most of the others.
But what about the game plan? The coach’s defensive style helped beat Essendon, Sydney, Collingwood, GWS — and the Hawks in Round 22 — last season.
Only three blowout defeats last year compared to six the year before, so the competitiveness is getting better.
Can we ask Blues’ fans to stay patient, or do they demand more wins? In the past four seasons they have won six, seven, four and seven games. That’s 24 wins from 88 games. Um. More wins please.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
More negatives than positives. Midfield lacks depth, Sam Docherty is out for the season with his knee injury and there are fill-ins, youngsters, and players still trying to find their ground from other clubs.
The Tigers went small ball to win the flag, but the Blues have Curnow, Harry McKay and Levi Casboult as possible forward options.
Can they play them all? Don’t think so.
If they do, ball movement has to be quicker and more attacking than what it is. And that has been an issue for the Blues.
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