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

https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/1206200/cook-hurt-motivation-and-leadership

You're wrong. We will take the next step.

I actually do believe that.

I have had several people message me today asking if I was ok.
It is really nice of them to do so as they know how much I love footy.
I will get over it, as we all will.
Just feeling a bit fragile at the moment.

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:



I guess making Finals would have rated our year as an A.

But as Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd said on Monday morning, the Blues believed they were good enough to make an impact THIS September.

How often do you hit finals with two key forwards in such dominant form, with Patrick Cripps in beast mode, in a finals series that still appears open, despite the quality of Melbourne and Geelong?

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With All Australian candidates including Cripps, Sam Walsh, Adam Saad, Sam Docherty and Curnow, Carlton knew it could beat the best in the competition.

There were wins this year over 2022 finalists Richmond, Western Bulldogs, Sydney and Fremantle, plus losses from winnable positions against Collingwood (twice) and Melbourne last week.

You're wrong. We will take the next step.

I actually do believe that.

5 AA squad nominees - same as Geelong, only Melbourne had more (6).

Coleman medalist.

Potential Brownlow smokey in Cripps after his strong start and finish.

Yet we haven't made finals, it's incredible how much we are underachieving.

Yes, the bottom half of our playing list isn't up to it, but we should still be playing finals.

I want to be positive and as my posts on here show I had been all week even after the Dees loss, but this loss yesterday has broken me.

I am petrified of sliding back to 12-14th next year.

Please god tell me I am wrong and we will take the next step. Please.

4. Jacob Weitering just wasn’t the same player when he returned from his shoulder injury

in a team already short-on for intercept markers
In his seven games back, Weitering had four games without an intercept mark and took only nine in total.

He averaged only 61 ranking points, 11 disposals and one intercept mark, losing 31 per cent of his one-on-one contests.

That one-on-one stat is the 10th worst of the top 50 key position defenders.

He is a star and a full pre-season will re-establish as an elite defender, but can Marchbank get there after four games averaging 1.5 intercept marks and 9.3 possessions?

5. For all of Carlton’s late-game brain fades, the defence held up exceptionally well across the season

The Blues were fifth for points scored pre-bye, but 13th post-bye.

But they had a rock solid defensive profile and remained sixth for points against post-bye.

From round 13 onwards, despite the scoring profile dropping away, they were the fourth-hardest team to score against.

They will allow Liam Jones to leave for the Dogs so can McGovern play 15-plus games as an intercept marker?

Lachie Plowman played 15 games this year but Voss needs to decide if he has moved past him.

Lewis Young held up very well across 19 games and, after being secured for the loss of Sam Petrevski-Seton, it was a massive list management win.

But the best sides have at least two quality interceptors – Jeremy Howe and Darcy Moore (Collingwood), Jake Lever and Steven May (Melbourne), Dylan Grimes, Nick Vlastuin and Noah Balta (Richmond), Sam Taylor and Nick Haynes (GWS) — and the Blues still rely on McGovern’s durability to round out their back six.

7. Carlton ranked 11th for goals from small forwards this year, which gives Michael Voss huge room for improvement next season

Jesse Motlop (12 debut-season games) is a baby in football terms but averaged a goal a game, Matt Owies (31 games) is a high-pressure player averaging only 0.8 goals a game and Durdin (23 games) averaged two tackles and 0.7 of a goal.

Zac Fisher plays a different half forward role, but the small forwards need to develop synergy and increase their goal power.

They all have time on their side with Motlop’s form after being taken at pick 27 another big win.

We have been doing the same with all our Carlton mates. Everyone is the same, we will get over it but right now we're all a bit wobbly.