A good fast surface for the northern team would help development.

I think even if you consider our ex- GWS players as 2nd and 3rd rounders or rookie quality, I think we have decent depth.

It's all down to Bolton and his team.

This is something that comes up each year, but I think it warrants a single point of discussion.

So what can the Carlton Football Club learn from the Western Bulldogs (or previous Grand Final winners, for that matter)?

To me, what it shows is (and what steps we've taken):

- The importance of the draft. Not just your first round picks, but your 2nds, 3rds and rookies. Use it to build one key area of the ground (in their case, the midfield) and build around that.
Last year was a good start, trading to move our position further up the list. Actually having a list manager who can see the long-term strategy (and not the panicky, ad hoc approach of yesteryear)

- Player development: Plenty of the Dogs' players were late picks, rookies or cast-offs. We have been atrocious in this area for so long, so much so that looking back on what has become of players of our last few drafts is a horror movie for the ages.
A work in progress, but Bolton's presence is a start.

- Make that big trade (ie Boyd) ONLY when you're at the point that only 1-2 gaps remain.
We've held off on this (for now)

- Don't be afraid to move on "favourite sons" (Griffen, Ward, Higgins) if the rewards are there for your future.
Moving Menzel on was a brave move, but looks to be coming off. We've given up players previously (Jacobs, Waite, Betts, Laidler, Garlett, Robinson) but for next to no return because we let the situations become untenable.

- Make yourself a destination club that people want to play for and can believe in, not somewhere they will get another 3-year overpriced deal for runs not yet on the board.
Again, Bolton is critical here. And Levi's 1-deal for $300k would've previously been 3-5 for $500k under previous regimes.

- Focus on players that can actually use the ball.
Yet to really start.

- Recruit a coach that is not only astute on game day, but has the total faith and trust of the players.
Bolton's done everything right so far, and the rest of our panel appear solid.

Based on this, we're at least moving in this direction. But obviously a LOOOONG way to go.

Agree with most suggestions here, we have the right man as coach now and are doing things right off the field.

Just need to keep it going and not worry about external noise.

We won't copy the dogs, the lesson is to have a plan being works best with the personnel you have and get everyone going in the same direction.

It will take a while for us, our list isn't good, but if we do everything right we could see finals by 2019


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PS............now that the Dogs have a flag i reckon Dalrymple is gettable.He has seen the fruition of his work and may now be looking for another challenge.

Become a darling of the AFL and get umps on side and you are home.
80 frees to 48 over the finals series they even got more frees over in the West which is un heard of.
And these are the raw stats dont take into account all the one handed hand balls the tunneling the diving in on legs and the 103 tackles laid with only 3 Holding the ball decision.

That's what we can learn

Mick,

It is never going to happen. Come November SOS will have his BFF in place and that will go on for as long as SOS has his Job.

Carlton's next 3-5 years will live and die by the SOS/Brodie team.

Regards Cazzesman

In your opinion Cazz, regardless of the friendship with SOS, do you rate Brodie as a quality recruiter?

Mick,

It is never going to happen. Come November SOS will have his BFF in place and that will go on for as long as SOS has his Job.

Carlton's next 3-5 years will live and die by the SOS/Brodie team.

Regards Cazzesman