I'm still suffering from what Des English aptly called it "Stockholm Syndrome".
I have been quite positive about our year having achieved nearly all the milestones we wanted the club to achieve, but I want to call this year a failure for the team, because we are not in a position where we can accept mediocrity.
Injuries and Umpires were on my radar as the main culprits of our failure. But I need to have a good think about the year that was, and if it has set us up to springboard into the Top 4 in 2023.
Here's Foxsports view:
Quote:
9. CARLTON (12-10, 108.3%)
Three word analysis
Voss’ resurrection ruined.
What went right
Frustratingly, so much, especially at the start of the year. Michael Voss has turned out to be an inspired choice as coach, uniting a talented playing group on paper and getting them playing a tough, brutal brand of footy, particularly at the coalface where they ranked second for contested possession and clearance differential, as well as fourth for points from stoppages. They showed terrific maturity under Voss, who helped implement an effective defensive system. Charlie Curnow couldn’t have had a better return after missing two-and-a-bit seasons with knee injuries, winning the Coleman Medal with 64 goals. Just as importantly, he worked superbly in tandem with Harry McKay, who also booted 45 goals. Superstar duo Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh led from the front as they repaid the faith the Blues placed in them after they signed bumper extensions, while the moves to sign George Hewett and Lewis Young were shrewd ones. Adam Saad will be an All-Australian contender after a career-best season, while Sam Docherty’s resurgence – primarily as a rebounding defender then a midfielder later in the season – was one of the best footy stories of the season.
What went wrong
The final month. More specifically, the two final quarters of the final two games of the season. When the Blues twice had the chance to secure a finals berth and break a nine-year September drought, they conceded last-gasp goals to Demon Kysaiah Pickett and Magpie Jamie Elliott, leading to consecutive weeks of heartbreaking scenes. But the Blues will look back on that ugly 29-point loss to 15th-placed Adelaide in Round 20 and cringe. Win that game and the Blues would’ve been playing finals. Instead they had to find an upset win over top-six sides Brisbane, Melbourne and Collingwood in the final three rounds – a task they couldn’t complete. Injuries didn’t help, with George Hewett, Matt Kennedy and Nic Newman all significant absentees in the final few games. Harry McKay, Mitch McGovern, Marc Pittonet, Oscar McDonald, Zac Williams, Jack Martin and Caleb Marchbank also missed various chunks of time during the season. The Blues’ scoring declined after their bye too, averaging 77.3 points — ranked 13th in the competition during that time. Overall, the fact the Blues missed finals with 12 wins and a percentage of 108 proved how tough the competition was this season, but also how big an opportunity that went begging.
What they need
Luckily not too much, which is why they should attack the draft – as has been reported throughout the year – and focus on re-signing players after years of being active at the trade table. Yet the Blues have the salary cap space to add talent to their well-set list – both via the free agency and trade periods – after this season. Some speed and class on the outside would be handy. According to Champion Data, all three of Carlton’s wingmen — Jack Newnes, Lochie O’Brien and Will Setterfield — finished the season rated ‘below average’.
What time is it on the premiership clock?
8pm: There’s a lot of ‘what if’ about Carlton’s 2022 season, so the natural reaction for Blues fans will be to lament another wasted season. They should’ve played finals, but the Blues still took significant strides this year under Voss. If it wasn’t for the in-season expectations they’d built up then the dramatic drop-off in the final month, you would’ve given the Blues a pass mark for this year without hesitation, considering the disarray and turmoil they were in 12 months ago.
Season grade
B
I guess making Finals would have rated our year as an A.