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!
Will McLachlan
The Brisbane Lions' incredible depth should be the envy of the competition, especially at the small-to-medium forward position.
The play of exciting match-winners and premiership heroes like Kai Lohmann, the likely-to-re-sign Zac Bailey and former first overall draft pick Cameron Rayner has relegated the likes of 2024 mid-season draftee Will McLachlan to the magoos.
That is despite stellar form. McLachlan kicked a bag of eight majors in a recent VFL victory over the Kangaroos, and has notched 28 goals from nine outings in the twos this year, after 33 from 15 matches in last year's VFL campaign.
The Geelong Falcons product is out of contract in the River City come season's end, and would cost the Blues little, if the Lions did play hardball. He could be walked to the pre-season draft, à la Luke Ball.
