Robert Walls says it is time for Carlton to stop talking and start delivering on their potential.
The Blues haven’t played finals since 2013 and missed out in agonising fashion last season when going down to arch rival Collingwood by one point in Round 23.
It seems each and every pre-season there is a lot of positive talk surrounding the club, but so far they have been unable to deliver for their fans who are constantly hanging on to hope.
Once again, there is an air of optimism (recent injury news aside) at IKON Park as they look to go at least one step better than 2022, but what will a pass mark be for the Blues in 2023?
Walls was asked if anything bar a top-four finish would be a failure for Michael Voss’ side.
“Not, it’s not,” the 1987 premiership coach said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“But if they don’t make the eight it will be (a failure).
“They’ve shown a bit, but it’s got to be delivered this season, no doubt about that.
“Yes, they’ve got a lot of early draft picks (on their list) and they’ve brought in some pretty handy players over the last few years. A couple of them have underachieved.
“What worries me a little bit over the last few years at this time of the year we hear a lot of hoopla and excitement about what Carlton is going to do. Well, the bottom line is they’ve done very little the last decade.
“Until they start to do that I’d just rather they kept a lid on things.”
Walls acknowledges that the Blues were a little unlucky when losing close games late last season.
He feels if they are more fortunate this campaign, things could look a little different come the business end.
“They missed a couple of games towards the end of the year by only a kick and could have gone either way,” he added.
“That’s why I think that if they make the eight this year it’s a tick.
“Potentially they could do better than that but I don’t want to talk too much about that because the proof is in the pudding and at this stage they haven’t played a finals game for thousands of days, it stretches out to.”
The Blues are preparing for practice matches against Collingwood (February 24) and Sydney (March 3) before kicking off the 2023 season with the traditional opener against Richmond at the MCG on March 16.