Reviewing Carlton’s season in totality with the bitter taste of the last month still in your mouth is difficult.
Ultimately, it was a positive year for the Blues. They looked a completely revamped side under new leadership in Luke Sayers, Brian Cook and Michael Voss and put in place standards that will hopefully set up the next decade.
Injuries across the board from start to finish ultimately saw the team run out of steam after a frenetic start to the year, but at the end of the day, they squandered an 8-2 start and ultimately missed the eight.
That final stamp puts a dampener on what was a year of individual and collective improvement.
The season in a sentence
Carlton completely overhauled their identity in 2022 under Michael Voss and when it worked it was brilliant, but ultimately they fell short when it mattered most.
The Highlight
It may not jump out as the season’s overall highlight, but Carlton’s Round 10 win over Sydney was a validating moment. The team now sat 8-2 and had just beaten a genuine contender, despite not having key personnel like Harry McKay, Marc Pittonet, Mitch McGovern and Zac Williams.
The win showed what the team was capable of when everything clicked and capped off a strong 10 weeks.
On an individual level, Sam Docherty’s return from a bout with testicular cancer to play all 22 games was incredible. Charlie Curnow winning the Coleman Medal after three seasons on the sidelines was also a great story.
The Lowlight
The loss to Adelaide was ultimately the miss Carlton could not overcome. The Blues sat on 12 wins, likely knowing one more would be required to play finals, and travelled to South Australia to face the struggling Crows.
Carlton lacked intensity that night and were comfortably beaten by a hungrier Adelaide side. With Brisbane, Melbourne and Collingwood to close the season, it was the loss they could not afford.
From there, the Blues barely fired a shot until it was too late the following week against Brisbane before successive heartbreaking losses to Melbourne and Collingwood.
Had they just banked the Crows win as expected, it wouldn’t have mattered.
Off-season moves to make
The Blues’ list is mostly sorted. The areas around the edges to address starts with the wing, where they never really felt settled in 2022. Someone like Fremantle’s Blake Acres would fit perfectly into that defensive wing role and be an upgrade on their current options.
Carlton faced periods this season with almost no healthy key position players at either end of the ground. Finding cheap key defensive depth, like Sydney’s Lewis Melican, would help. A depth key forward would also be nice, though this may be better to address in the draft.
Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay combined for 109 goals, with Patrick Cripps and Zac Fisher their next two highest goal kickers at 20 and 18 respectively. The Blues could certainly do with a crafty third goal kicker – potentially a veteran type like Luke Breust or Jack Gunston.
On the chopping block
The Blues still have as many as 10 players out of contract and a few decisions to make on the fringes of their lists.
David Cuningham, Caleb Marchbank, Josh Honey, Will Hayes, Sam Durdin, Dom Akuei and Will Setterfield will surely be locked in for at least 2023. Marchbank has been injury prone, but finished the season well, while Setterfield proved his strengths on-ball in the final fortnight.
The Blues have a decision to make regarding Ed Curnow, the only player over 30 on their list, who missed the whole season with injuries. Curnow can still likely contribute to a team pushing up the ladder.
The Blues must also make calls on first-round draft picks Liam Stocker and Paddy Dow. Dow is contracted, but has been marooned in the twos, while Stocker is out of contract and has shown glimpses in the backline. The Blues, you’d think, would give him 12 more months to develop.
Jack Newnes, Oscar McDonald and Luke Parks have all been delisted, while Tom Williamson and the club parted ways.
Newnes played 16 games for the club in 2022, but likely was not a part of their future plans, while McDonald started the year in the club’s best 22 in Liam Jones’ role, but a second straight significant back injury ended his year.
B&F top 3
- Patrick Cripps
- Adam Saad
- Sam Docherty
Carlton’s best and fairest is tough to order as the top-end of the list will be a tight race. Patrick Cripps’ unbelievable start coupled with his finish to the season will likely see him win the award, but don’t be surprised if fellow All-Australian Adam Saad comes close.
Sam Docherty had an incredibly consistent season, Charlie Curnow won the Coleman Medal and will obviously poll well. Sam Walsh will be right up there, while Jacob Weitering and George Hewett probably missed too many games.
Season grade: 6/10 (9/10 to the bye, 3/10 after the bye)
