There’s been no joy around Princes Park for too long now.
Carlton’s powerbrokers can talk ‘rebuilds’ and ‘green buds’ till the cows come home, but rank-and-file Blues fans aren’t known for their patience and if a few more wins don’t come their way in 2019 pitchforks will be grabbed and burning torches lit.
2018 was supposed to be a step forwards but finished as the worst season in the club’s history, and it wasn’t just the win-loss ratio that has supporters worried.
Patrick Cripps and Charlie Curnow showed they’re stars, but Jacob Weitering stalled, Sam Petrevski-Seton had the second-year blues, and a swag of former Giants again failed to show themselves to be canny investments.
However, it could just take a change in the wind to get everyone moving in the same direction … or … blow the house down.
List changes
In
Mitch McGovern (Adelaide), Will Setterfield (GWS Giants), Nic Newman (Sydney), Alex Fasolo (Collingwood), Sam Walsh (Geelong Falcons), Liam Stocker (Sandringham Dragons), Finbar O’Dwyer (Yarrawonga), Ben Silvagni (Oakleigh Chargers)
Rookies
Hugh Goddard (St Kilda), Michael Gibbons (Williamstown), Matt Cottrell (Dandenong Stingrays)
Out
Jesse Glass-McCasker, Nick Graham, Sam Kerridge, Jed Lamb, Aaron Mullett, Cameron O'Shea, Sam Rowe, Matthew Shaw, Ciaran Byrne, Cillian McDaid, Alex Silvagni, Matthew Wright
Best Brownlow chance
Patrick Cripps $12
There really is only one Blue in contention for the Brownlow, but he’s a bloody good shot. Cripps finished equal fourth in 2018 playing for a team that won just two games for the season – that’s pretty impressive! Who knows what he could do if Carlton wins a few more matches. The thought of it certainly makes putting a few dollars down worth the risk.
Players to watch
Harry McKay, Will Setterfield, Sam Walsh
Everyone knows Charlie Curnow will be a star but the jury is out on McKay. Mitch McGovern will offer another tall forward option but Brendon Bolton will be keener to use the former Crow in the backline, so Harry’s fortunes could mirror his team’s.
That's a terrific kick from Harry McKay!#AFLFreoBlues pic.twitter.com/RbQBFFDwvz
— AFL (@AFL) August 12, 2018
Recruiting boss Stephen Silvagni says he rated Setterfield the number-one pick in the 2016 draft so it will be interesting to see if the Blues can get the best from the former Giant or if, like a few of SOS’s other ‘double-dips’, the jump from junior footy to the AFL is too much.
And how can you not keep an eye on the current number one selection? Walsh seems ready-to-go, and while no one expects him to be winning games off his own boot just yet, fans will be wanting to see the ‘green buds’ of a special talent.
A last chance to watch?
Kade Simpson, Levi Casboult
Simpson is starting to seem immortal, but surely the end is near. The durable defender will celebrate his 35th birthday with the Blues’ round seven clash against North Melbourne and move past John Nicholls into third place on Carlton’s most games-played list if he can run out for the full 22 matches of 2019.
He may be six years Simpson’s junior, but Casboult is also be looking down the barrel of retirement, shotgun style. Despite kicking issues holding him back from greatness, Levi’s size and willingness to compete has made him a valuable asset in a struggling side, but his position has been filled by more talented talls and, out of contract in 2019, it could be time to hang up his defective boots.
Carlton Blues' full 2019 playing list
| Number | Name | Games | Date of birth | Height, weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Byrne, Ciaran | 22 | 6 Dec 1994 | 187cm 88kg | Defender |
| 41 | Casboult, Levi | 104 | 15 Mar 1990 | 201cm 103kg | Forward |
| Cottrell, Matt (R) | 0 | 29 Feb 2000 | 181cm 72kg | Midfield | |
| 9 | Cripps, Patrick | 81 | 18 Mar 1995 | 195cm 93kg | Midfield |
| 28 | Cuningham, David | 16 | 30 Mar 1997 | 183cm 83kg | Midfield |
| 30 | Curnow, Charlie | 47 | 3 Feb 1997 | 194cm 91kg | Forward |
| 35 | Curnow, Edward | 143 | 7 Nov 1989 | 181cm 86kg | Midfield |
| 12 | De Koning, Tom | 2 | 16 Jul 1999 | 201cm 92kg | Ruck |
| 15 | Docherty, Sam | 92 | 17 Oct 1993 | 187cm 87kg | Defender |
| 2 | Dow, Paddy | 20 | 16 Oct 1999 | 184cm 80kg | Midfield |
| 32 | Fasolo, Alex | 101 | 8 Jun 1992 | 181cm 84kg | Forward |
| 25 | Fisher, Zac | 34 | 15 Jun 1998 | 175cm 72kg | Forward |
| 21 | Garlett, Jarrod | 28 | 3 May 1996 | 180cm 74kg | Forward |
| Gibbons, Michael | 0 | 15 May 1195 | 175cm 73kg | Midfield | |
| 45 | Goddard, Hugh (R) | 10 | 24 Aug 1996 | 196cm 95kg | Defender |
| 14 | Jones, Liam | 112 | 24 Feb 1991 | 198cm 98kg | Defender |
| 7 | Kennedy, Matthew | 31 | 6 Apr 1997 | 188cm 89kg | Midfield |
| 36 | Kerr, Pat | 4 | 31 Jul 1998 | 194cm 94kg | Forward |
| 8 | Kreuzer, Matthew | 173 | 13 May 1989 | 200cm 101kg | Ruck |
| 16 | Lang, Darcy | 55 | 21 Nov 1995 | 183cm 82kg | Forward |
| 42 | LeBois, Kym (R) | 0 | 22 May 1998 | 175cm 70kg | Forward |
| 27 | Lobbe, Matthew | 98 | 12 Feb 1989 | 200cm 96kg | Ruck |
| 26 | Macreadie, Harrison | 8 | 11 Apr 1998 | 196cm 91kg | Defender |
| 22 | Marchbank, Caleb | 35 | 7 Dec 1996 | 193cm 90kg | Defender |
| 45 | McDaid, Cillian (R) | 0 | 14 Aug 1997 | 186cm 84kg | Defender |
| 11 | McGovern, Mitch | 48 | 11 Oct 1994 | 190cm 89kg | Defender |
| 10 | McKay, Harry | 15 | 24 Dec 1997 | 200cm 95kg | Forward |
| 3 | Murphy, Marc | 249 | 19 Jul 1987 | 180cm 80kg | Midfield |
| 24 | Newman, Nic | 31 | 15 Jan 1993 | 186cm 84kg | Midfield |
| 4 | O'Brien, Lochie | 18 | 18 Sep 1999 | 184cm 78kg | Defender |
| 38 | Finbar, O'Dwyer | ||||
| 44 | Owies, Matt | 0 | 19 Mar 1997 | 183cm 82kg | |
| 5 | Petrevski-Seton, Sam | 42 | 19 Feb 1998 | 180cm 74kg | Midfield |
| 34 | Phillips, Andrew | 36 | 3 Jul 1991 | 203cm 99kg | Ruck |
| 33 | Pickett, Jarrod | 17 | 18 Aug 1996 | 178cm 77kg | Forward |
| 20 | Plowman, Lachlan | 73 | 11 Sep 1994 | 191cm 90kg | Defender |
| 29 | Polson, Cameron | 13 | 11 Mar 1998 | 177cm 76kg | Midfield |
| 19 | Schumacher, Angus | 0 | 16 Mar 1999 | 190cm 84kg | Defender |
| 43 | Setterfield, Will | 2 | 5 Feb 1998 | 190cm 82kg | Midfield |
| 37 | Silvagni, Ben | 0 | 196cm 86kg | Defender | |
| 1 | Silvagni, Jack | 43 | 17 Dec 1997 | 191cm 89kg | Forward |
| 6 | Simpson, Kade | 307 | 5 May 1984 | 181cm 76kg | Defender |
| 13 | Stocker, Liam | 0 | 183cm 85kg | Midfield | |
| 39 | Thomas, Dale | 238 | 21 Jun 1987 | 185cm 84kg | Midfield |
| 18 | Walsh, Sam | 0 | 184cm 77kg | Midfield | |
| 23 | Weitering, Jacob | 56 | 23 Nov 1997 | 195cm 95kg | Defender |
| 31 | Williamson, Tom | 15 | 12 Dec 1998 | 189cm 82kg | Defender |
Own the future.
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) November 22, 2018
🔵🔵🔵#BoundByBlue pic.twitter.com/8tmoKW6rYo
Carlton Blues’ 2019 fixture
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thursday March 21 7:20pm | Richmond | MCG |
| 2 | Saturday March 30 4:40pm | Port Adelaide | Adelaide Oval |
| 3 | Saturday 6 Apr 1:45pm | Sydney | Marvel Stadium |
| 4 | Sunday 14 Apr 2:40pm | Gold Coast | Metricon Stadium |
| 5 | Sunday 21 Apr 1:10pm | Western Bulldogs | Marvel Stadium |
| 6 | Sunday 28 Apr 3:20pm | Hawthorn | UTAS Stadium |
| 7 | Sunday 5 May 1:10pm | North Melbourne | Marvel Stadium |
| 8 | Saturday 11 May 1:45pm | Collingwood | MCG |
| 9 | Sunday 19 May 4:40pm | GWS Giants | Showground Stadium |
| 10 | Sunday 26 May 3:20pm | St Kilda | Marvel Stadium |
| 11 | Sunday 2 Jun 3:20pm | Essendon | MCG |
| 12 | Saturday 8 Jun 1:45pm | Brisbane | Marvel Stadium |
| 13 | Saturday 15 Jun 7:25pm | Western Bulldogs | Marvel Stadium |
| 14 | BYE | ||
| 15 | Sunday 30 Jun 3:20pm | Fremantle | Optus Stadium |
| 16 | Sunday 7 Jul 1:10pm | Melbourne | MCG |
| 17 | Saturday 13 Jul 1:45pm | Sydney | SCG |
| 18 | Saturday 20 Jul 2:10pm | Gold Coast | Marvel Stadium |
| 19 | Saturday 27 Jul 2:10pm | Adelaide | MCG |
| 20 | Sunday 4 Aug 3:20pm | West Coast | Marvel Stadium |
| 21 | Sunday 11 Aug 3:20pm | Richmond | MCG |
| 22 | Saturday 17 Aug 1:45pm | St Kilda | MCG |
| 23 | Sunday 25 Aug 12:00am | Geelong | GMHBA Stadium |
Games played on
Thursday: 1
Friday: 0
Saturday: 9
Sunday: 12
Teams played twice
Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney, Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs
2019 Preview and premiership odds
The bad news is Carlton is starting a $151 outsider for the flag - actually change ‘outsider’ to ‘no-hoper’ - but the good news is they’re not the bottom-ranked side thanks to Gold Coast’s wretched life.
Another devastating ACL injury to star halfback Sam Docherty will do nothing to help their cause, while they'll also be without Jarrod Pickett for much of the season.
To add salt to the wounds, new trade arrival Mitch McGovern won't enjoy his Christmas break as much as others after he sustained a back fracture.
And while there may have been some rags-to-riches stories in the past three AFL seasons, 2019 will not be the Blues’ fairytale year, but there’s a good chance it will be the opening chapter.
It would want to be.
The rebuild is heading into season four (or five depending on who you talk to) and it’s all been going backwards so far, but the bigger the tower, the bigger the hole you need to dig first, right?
The midfield is full of young stars plus a couple of handy veterans, Curnow, McKay and Weitering have had time to find their feet in the key positions and there’s enough small forwards and backs to fill a Kombi van, so it’s time for more wins and less excuses.
And if those green buds don’t start pushing through the manure and reaching for the stars it won’t be the playing list that gets pruned with a pitchfork this time next year.