The Carlton Football Club have been carrying out a highly publicised rebuild of the club's playing group since the end of season 2015.
This rebuild has seen mass culling of the playing list and a key focus on developing the best young talent in the competition.
Initially proposing the rebuild would take five years, the Blues are set to miss finals for the eighth straight season should they continue in their ways in 2021.
Following another week of being under the blowtorch for their disappointing season, Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton accused Carlton of being 'impatient' on SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“One thing I have to say about Carlton … they’re the most impatient group," Brereton said.
“I know they’ve been out of it for quite some time, but they decided to go for the great strip back and do it all again the right way."
Brereton pointed to the recruitment of Adam Saad and Zac Williams at the end of 2020, and Jack Martin during the 2019 pre-season draft as an example.
These players are reportedly earning a combined total of $2.5 million-per-season, the type of money you would expect to share across three key position or star players.
The recruitment of the three flankers is yet to prove successful, with the Blues sitting at a 4-8 win-loss record in the first half of this season.
“They’re flankers. They can be very good players … but you’re paying them money you pay to champion key forwards and key backs. Something is out of whack there," Brereton added.
Adam Saad from a looooong way out for his first goal as a Blue!#AFLDonsBlues pic.twitter.com/0MdJu8kcyZ
— AFL (@AFL) May 2, 2021
“Because of the impatience, to me looking in from the outside it says, ‘We’ve got to get better quicker than we’re expecting these kids to come on … we’ve got to get the best talent available."
Both Williams and Martin have struggled to maintain fitness in their time at Carlton, limiting their ability to have any consistent contribution whereas Saad has been unable to inflict his full impact.
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At the beginning of the 2021 season, Williams was set to play large midfield minutes, but has slipped back into his role as a half-back following the poor start to the season and has averaged 19.6 disposals for 2021.
The Carlton Football Club have announced a review of of their football department to be carried out in the coming months, while assistant coach John Barker has already departed the club.
