AFL 25: Glenn McFarlane names his Carlton team of the century so far

It’s been more than a lean patch for the Blues since 2000, but looking at Glenn McFarlane’s Carlton team of the century, you wouldn’t know it! Pick your best Carlton team here.

Carlton stormed into the 2000s just hours after a kid called Brendan Fevola booted 12 goals in a ‘Millennium Match’ mauling of bitter rivals Collingwood, and just months after a preliminary final upset for the ages.

If someone had said to you at the time that the Blues would go the next 25 seasons without a premiership – stretching the drought to 30 years heading into 2025 – you would have thought them crazy.

It’s been a humbling reality check in the years since for the Blues, complete with a salary cap scandal that all but ruined Denis Pagan’s tenure, the first of five wooden spoons, and a revolving door of coaches who arrived at Princes Park with grand plans before being ushered out the other exit.

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But thankfully Carlton is in the midst of a bounce back, spearheaded by one of the club’s greatest players, Patrick Cripps, and a few modern stars including Jacob Weitering, Charlie Curnow and Sam Walsh.

Chris Judd couldn’t drag his Blues to the promised land, but Cripps might do that!

What is fascinating is that while the Blues have spent large portions of the 2000s on or near the bottom of the ladder, the quality of a best-side from 2000 to 2024 is still elite.

We set a criteria of a minimum of 40 games played – or coached, which will come back to later – in that time in order to reach a best 23.

That means Stephen Silvagni, Craig Bradley, Brett Ratten, Andrew McKay and Scott Camporeale all qualified, and if the quality of those five are available, there is no doubt you are picking them!

Two of the best midfielders this century lead the way. Picture: Carlton Football Club.

Anthony Koutoufides was on track to win the Brownlow in 2000 before his knee gave way, and he is one of the first players picked in this team.

He could play anywhere – back, forward, middle. But we couldn’t help naming him in the guts, so he could line up alongside superstars Judd and Cripps.

Wowee, what a trio midfield, with Matthew Kreuzer aiming to give them first use of the ball.

The back half is impressive.

Imagine Weitering working in tandem with Silvagni, as well as Sam Docherty and Kade Simpson going into battle with Andrew McKay and Heath Scotland.

The riches in attack are mind-blowing.

Fev’s highs and lows brought about some of the most entertaining football played during the 2000s, while the same can be said for Charlie Curnow who has been a must-watch player since overcoming his knee setbacks.

Still, Lance Whitnall is impossible to leave out, so too is Harry McKay, who gives some great forward coverage from the bench.

Eddie Betts had two stints at the Blues, both packed full of highlights. It’s still hard to fathom how the Blues ever allowed him to move to Adelaide, which said something about the Blues’ decision-making at the time.

Sam Walsh has done enough to get into this 23, Scott Camporeale and Bryce Gibbs are also on the bench, while Andrew Walker’s highlights in the air and on the ground lock him in.

The most vexed question in this team – as it has been for the Blues across the past 25 seasons – is who is going to coach this side?

In all, with caretaker John Barker included, Carlton has had nine coaches since the 2000 season.

David Parkin coached the Blues into the 2000 prelim final before handing over to Wayne Brittain.

Michael Voss has led the Blues back to finals. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

So that means he only coached 25 games in the time frame which means he doesn’t fit the criteria of 40 games.

Unfortunately, we can’t include Parkin’s outstanding record before 2000, which includes three flags for the Blues (1981, 1982 and 1995).

If there was no criteria, he would be the coach! Of course!

The only other coach to take the Blues into a preliminary final in the 2000s is current coach Michael Voss.

Voss has taken the Blues to a prelim in 2023 and the elimination final in 2024, and has a 55.63% win-loss ratio.

That’s the best win-loss ratio for a Blues coach in the 2000s other than Parkin, who is ineligible.

Originally published as AFL 25: Glenn McFarlane names his Carlton team of the century so far