After a charmed run of form under interim coach Josh Fraser, Carlton's future looks markedly brighter in August than it did in early May.
The older souls in the engine room - milestone man Patrick Cripps and George Hewett in particular - have been reinvigorated. The baby Blues, Rising Star frontrunners Jagga Smith and Harry Dean look certain to one day be critical pieces of the club's 17th flag, such is their immediate and devastating impact around and behind the ball, respectively.
Still, there are holes in this list. Carlton's is one with a rather soft underbelly, so who are some acquisitions seasoned operators Chris Davies and Graham Wright could target, in the absence of an announced list boss?
Take a look!
Joel Amartey
Another unrestricted free agent is Joel Amartey.
Currently rehabilitating a partial achilles tendon tear, the Sydney key forward is out of chances before his imminent decision to plead his case for a contract in the Harbour City, or elsewhere.
Even when healthy, the arrival of Charlie Curnow, and the presence of targets Hayden McLean and Logan McDonald make for a very competitive forwards room at Swans HQ.
In Amartey's absence, McLean, another potential trade target for clubs this off-season, has shown an ability to provide the very same ruck relief that was previously a point of difference for the 26-year-old rookie draft success story.
Amartey may just go in the reverse direction to Curnow, in trading the red and white for the navy blue, such is the Blues' desire to partner Harry McKay with a secondary target up forward.
