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PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 10:06 am 
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Bruce Comben

Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:28 pm
Posts: 5
Location: Melbourne
Thought you'd want to check out our new site's 2015 season preview for the Blues.

Genuinely after the thoughts of Carlton fans and interested in feedback, as well as what the realistic aims for the season from you guys are.

I've posted the whole thing here, sans images, to show that I'm not spamming for clicks; hopefully that's okay for the mods. I'll let the author know I've posted it here so he can respectively engage, and if you want to see the version on the site you can by clicking here.

2015 season preview: Carlton

By Ryan Mason

LAST CAMPAIGN

After a last-minute, shock finals entry in 2013 – and a victory over arch-rivals Richmond that was nearly as shocking – Carlton fans had high hopes ahead of their 2014 campaign.

But the Blues had a horror start to the year, losing their first four games, including a demoralising capitulation to lowly Melbourne. From there it was a one-step-forward, two-steps-back sort of year for Mick Malthouse’s men.

The round five clash against the Western Bulldogs summarised their year. While the Blues finally managed to break through for their first win of the season, superstar veteran Chris Judd’s much-anticipated return from injury was nothing more than a painful cameo as his troublesome hamstring gave way, consigning him to the sidelines for another significant chunk of time.

But unlike Richmond and Essendon*, who also made slow starts, Carlton never rose to compete for a finals spot. The Blues managed only one win and a draw against teams that would make the finals, and finished 13th, two and a half games behind Gold Coast who placed directly above them.

There were bright spots amongst the gloom, however: Bryce Gibbs took a leading role in a team bereft of experienced heads and had his best year to date, winning the John Nicholls Medal as Carlton’s best and fairest; Levi Casboult showed he could have a future as a strong-marking key forward in the navy blue; and the likes of Troy Menzel and Dylan Buckley continued to gain valuable exposure and experience at AFL level.

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER

Clearly, Mick Malthouse has decided he has neither the time nor the patience for a repeat of 2014’s underwhelming performance. The Blues lost a number of their bigger names in the 2014 off-season, most notably forward Jarrad Waite, utility Mitch Robinson, and small forward Jeff Garlett – all of whom tested the coaching staff’s collective resolve in one way or another over the past few years.

The Blues recruited Bulldogs forwards Liam Jones and Jason Tutt, plus Giants backmen Kristian Jaksch and Mark Whiley. This represents a changing of the guard of sorts; only Jones could be considered a known quantity at AFL level.

At the draft table, the Blues’ raft of youngsters was headed by talented midfielder Blaine Boekhorst, who’s already learned a difficult lesson about the fishbowl existence of an professional footballer.

THE CHALLENGE

Given the rollercoaster ride of 2014, most bluebaggers would be content to see 2015 deliver some measure of consistency in Carlton’s performances; there’s a veritable chasm between their best and their worst.

Last year the Blues defeated preliminary finalist North Melbourne, drew with Essendon*, pushed Geelong to the wire twice and put in strong appearances against Hawthorn and Fremantle (the latter in hostile territory at Subiaco). Yet there were too many occasions where they simply didn’t show enough fight.

Part of that consistency will come when the Blues manage to keep their best players on the park. Carlton have a lengthy list of talent that suffers from chronic injury issues. Chris Judd is the obvious one, but ensuring Dale Thomas, Michael Jamison and Matthew Kreuzer are fit and firing will be a priority.

THE COACH

With his current contract coming to an end this year, Mick Malthouse will be acutely aware that there’s no guarantee of a job at Princes Park in 2016.

In off-loading under-performers over the summer, Malthouse will be aiming to demonstrate to the Carlton board that his young list has the capacity to challenge for finals again within two years, and that he’s the man to steer the ship. He desperately needs to recapture the sense of innovation and risk that made his name for that to happen.

Inspiration may come when Malthouse breaks Jock McHale’s long-standing record for most games coached in round five against his old club Collingwood.

THE STAR

With the sun setting rapidly on Chris Judd’s illustrious career, Bryce Gibbs needs to back up his breakout 2014 and become the team’s lynchpin.

An in-form Gibbs takes pressure from the often overloaded Marc Murphy and gives Carlton the leadership and skill it so desperately needs. There has always been plenty of critics for the way Gibbs goes about his football, but two strong seasons back-to-back will go a fair way to silencing them.

ON THE RISE

There’s plenty of exciting young talent at Princes Park: Patrick Cripps, Dylan Buckley, Sam Docherty and Nick Graham all look capable of being solid contributors in the years to come.

But it’s emerging midfielder Troy Menzel that has many Carlton fans salivating. He’s quick, a good reader of play, uses the ball well, and looks to be a star in the making. This year should see added responsibility in the midfield rotation.

IN THE GUN

Dale Thomas has had a wretched run with injury since his emergence as a genuine matchwinner in Collingwood’s black and white stripes, but with great pay packet comes great responsibility. He’s too talented and too well paid to just be a role-player; 2015 must be the year he shows why Carlton splashed the cash to lure him over in the first place.

BEST 22

B: Zach Tuohy – Michael Jamison – Sam Docherty
HB: Chris Yarran – Sam Rowe – Kade Simpson
C: Ed Curnow – Marc Murphy – Andrew Carrazzo
HF: Jason Tutt – Levi Casboult – Dale Thomas
F: Troy Menzel – Lachie Henderson – Andrew Walker
FOLL: Matthew Kreuzer – Bryce Gibbs – Chris Judd
INT: Dylan Buckley – Robbie Warnock – Liam Jones – Andrejs Everitt

THE VERDICT

The Blues are in transition. This will be the year that makes or breaks many players on their list who are surviving on potential alone. They still lack a dominant forward, and with a lot of experience walking out the door between seasons, they haven’t yet built a squad capable of challenging the best teams in the league on a consistent basis.

There’s a lot to like about their future prospects, but the dividends from those investments will take a bit longer to come to fruition.

OUR PREDICTION

Carlton have too much talent and class to slide too far down the ladder, but there’s too many weaknesses for them to make much of an impact in 2015. We have the Blues finishing 14th.


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PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 10:12 am 
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Alex Jesaulenko
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Thanks for coming.

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dane's trolling again


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PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 10:59 am 
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Bruce Doull
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If anyone's interested, they can follow the links.

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY


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