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!
Rowan Marshall
The ruck room of Marc Pittonet, Liam Reidy and Flynn Riley does not make an AFL premiership side.
That is said with the utmost respect to "Brad", who has given his all across 90-odd games in the crest, and the two recent depth acquisitions in Riley and Reidy.
Rowan Marshall, with his craft, scoring ability and follow-up work, would reinvent this side at stoppage - and this is a side with strong stoppage prowess as it is.
The Saint has been linked with a move to Princes Park in recent times, despite the Cats being odds-on favourites to land the 30-year-old after coming oh-so-close to doing just that last trade period.
Marshall is contracted until the end of next season, and with Carlton's aforementioned focus on fielding enough draft index points to match an early bid on Cody Walker, a potential trade would likely centre around a player or players, and auxiliary draft capital, as opposed to a raft of first or second round selections.
