Carlton 2024 preview: Three new names to power Blues to a premiership

After a remarkable 2023 season, it’s easy to forget that one of Carlton’s highest paid players missed all of it. But will his return to the team put them over the top?

Carlton’s 2023 season flipped harder than Tony Hawk.

Having roared into a preliminary final and boasting a handful of superstar talents in their prime, the expectations are sky high for the Blues.

Coach: Michael Voss

Captain: Patrick Cripps

It was the comeback that would put Brendan Fraser to shame.

The Blues seemed so kaput halfway through the year that fans were vandalising the club’s home at Ikon Park and Michael Voss seemed to be on thin ice.

Now the coach is leading Carlton into 2024 with massive expectations after a preliminary final run.

Carlton has as many A-graders as any team and almost all of the main figures are at the peak of their powers.

With low-risk, high-upside swings for Orazio Fantasia and Elijah Hollands, the Blues tipped their hand that they know they are in the flag window.

The question for this famous club will be whether they can handle the expectation.

Carlton skipper will be hoping to raise the premiership cup on the last Saturday in September in 2024. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

What happened in 2023?

You can literally split the year in two. After a loss to Essendon in June, Carlton had lost nine of 13 matches and was staring at a bottom-four finish. From that point, Carlton won 11 of 13 matches and somehow finished fifth on the ladder before overcoming Sydney by six points in an elimination final and toppling Melbourne by two points in a semi-final. The run eventually came unstuck with a 16-point preliminary final loss to Brisbane Lions at the Gabba. In the back half of the year the Blues zeroed in on pressure and contest to go from no-hopers to flag contenders.

Where do they finish in 2024?

If the arrow keeps pointing up, there is no reason why Carlton won’t finish the home-and-away season in the top four. Anything less should be seen as a disappointment. Voss’ men will want to start better than in 2023 and the Blues will probably have to score more, too. Carlton burst into September through defence, only allowing 68.8 points per game in the second half of the season — a mark that would have ranked best in the AFL if held over the whole year. But Carlton didn’t kick more than 11 goals in any of its final four matches as it battled to score. With two-time defending Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow, 2021 Coleman winner Harry McKay and a bunch of other options upfront, the Blues should manage more goals in 2024. Carlton is right in the ring of premiership contenders and should be right there when the whips are cracking.

Will Carlton deliver ruckman Tom De Koning reward in the form of a flag after he turned his back on free agency last season? Picture: Michael Klein.

Biggest improver in 2024?

The signs were there in the semi-final, when Tom De Koning took a bunch of huge grabs, booted two goals and stood tall against Max Gawn to help beat Melbourne. Carlton was planning for life without TDK mid-year, when indications were that he would depart the club, but the talented tall stuck fat and he has the ability to be a devastating forward-ruck. But De Koning has kicked just 21 goals in 60 career games and averages only 16.2 hit-outs. With bruiser Marc Pittonet beside him, De Koning has freedom to play to his athletic gifts. Now age 24, if he can go to another level the competition will need to look out.

Zac Williams is back in full training after a frustrating few seasons. Picture: David Crosling

X-factor

A season-ending knee injury over summer meant he was all-but forgotten in 2023, but Zac Williams could be a big swingpiece for Carlton. The former Giant was lured on big money as a midfield option but could provide a genuine attacking option off half-back and is a class operator waiting to be injected into a team full of stars. Keep watch on Jesse Motlop, too. It’s easy to forget the small forward only turned 20 in November, yet already has a big bag of tricks and can be the exact player the Blues need at the feet of Curnow and McKay.

Charlie Curnow with fans at Carlton Football training at Ikon Park before Christmas. Picture: David Crosling

Coach status

You would have had long odds in June for Michael Voss to be a shoe-in for a contract extension, but here we are. Voss’ deal runs out at the end of 2024 and if the Blues start in tatters the questions will be asked again. But after securing the club’s first finals win since 2013 and then adding another on top of that, a two-year extension seems to be the next logical move. A brilliant turnaround for the stoic coach.

Who is in the last year of contract?

Alex Cincotta, Alex Mirkov, Caleb Marchbank, Corey Durdin, David Cuningham, Domanic Akuei, Elijah Hollands, Hudson O’Keefe, Jack Carroll, Jack Martin, Jordan Boyd, Lachlan Fogarty, Matt Cottrell, Matt Owies, Sam Durdin

Outs for 2024

Ed Curnow, Lachie Plowman (retired), Paddy Dow (St Kilda), Zac Fisher (North Melbourne), Josh Honey, Lochie O’Brien, Sam Philp (delisted)

Ins for 2024

Elijah Hollands (Gold Coast), Orazio Fantasia (Port Adelaide), Matt Duffy, Rob Monahan (Irish signings) Ashton Moir (draft No.29), Billy Wilson (draft No.34), Matt Carroll (rookie draft No.15)

Originally published as Carlton 2024 preview: Three new names to power Blues to a premiership