AFL 2023: How Carlton has used the VFL to set itself up for a September run

Two months ago, Michael Voss was on the brink, now a remarkable turnaround has the Blues well on track for finals. And Voss’ method has proved the key due to one remarkable statistic.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 6: Caleb Marchbank of the Blues and Michael Voss, Senior Coach of the Blues celebrate during the 2023 AFL Round 21 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Carlton Blues at Marvel Stadium on August 6, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

As Carlton leapfrogged St Kilda on the ladder on Sunday night, Michael Voss’s Blues were also stealing Ross Lyon’s season mantra.

Carlton is on a seven-match win streak that has it surging into premiership calculations.

But at Marvel Stadium, it was also evident Voss’s side was benefiting from its own “year of exploration”.

Remarkably, 16 of the 23 Carlton players in the side to beat St Kilda have played VFL in the 2023 season.

Some, like Matt Owies or Marc Pittonet, played a solitary game returning from injury.

But many, like Paddy Dow, Zac Fisher, Lachie Fogarty, David Cuningham, Jack Martin and Caleb Marchbank, had done the hard yards working on deficiencies with long VFL stints before returning to the senior side.

Dow and Fisher are still likely to be elsewhere next year, but a Carlton side that found Liam Jones a new home in defence all those years ago has found a similar pathway for club favourite Fisher.

Zac Fisher starred in defence in the win over St Kilda. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Hawthorn famously forced its future stars to play seasons in the reserves before they became household names in the senior side.

On Sunday, it was apparent how successfully Carlton has used it as a stepping stone at a club that has had its development and coaching criticised at times this year.

Tom De Koning went back and worked on his ruck craft, with Voss now confident he and Pittonet can play together long-term in the senior side.

For a player the Blues believed was likely out the door, dropping him was brave – but, ultimately, the right call for player and club.

Fisher’s status is fascinating, given he wanted out the door for midfield time – North Melbourne and Hawthorn are strong suitors – but peeled off 32 possessions and 551 metres gained playing as a running defender.

He was not the only player lauded by Voss for his hard yards in the VFL.

“He has been back playing there in the VFL for quite a period of time. He wanted to go back there and explore it,” he said.

“A few of our coaches have been pushing for it to see whether there was something worthwhile to consider. He added some real punch out of the back half and joined in with that back six well so he certainly asked the question of us. To see him transition that (ability) from the VFL team to the AFL team was really good to see.”

Tom De Koning in action against the Saints. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

And in the VFL against Footscray earlier this year. Picture: Ian Currie

The gap between standards in the VFL and AFL is often seen as a chasm and, yet, when Owies was a late withdrawal in July, Jesse Motlop got his chance and responded with four goals.

As Voss said of small forward Fogarty and Dow, the VFL time has not proved an AFL death sentence.

“We have just got a lot of guys in our team right now who are in the same boat, and they have had to earn their way back in,” Voss said.

Pretty much three quarters of our backline is made up of that, they have spent some time in the VFL and then come back in. And four or five in the forward line who are doing exactly the same thing.

“Hopefully they are hungry and see their roles and it’s clear enough for them and we are seeing the results.”

Sam Walsh, Mitch McGovern, Adam Cerra, Jack Silvagni, Harry McKay and Matt Kennedy are still out of the club’s best side so the pressure will be on for spots as finals approach.

Cuningham, Dow, Fogarty, Marchbank, Ed Curnow, Silvagni and McGovern are still out of contract with decisions yet to be made.

Yet, in this season of exploration, Carlton is maximising its list’s potential – and it is taking them all the way to September.

Originally published as AFL 2023: How Carlton has used the VFL to set itself up for a September run