GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 24: Patrick Cripps of the Blues leads his team out onto the field during the round 23 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Carlton Blues at GMHBA Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
What could have been? Carlton had their finals hopes in their own hands before losing key games in the second half of the season and missing out on a maiden finals appearance since 2013.
The Blues showed genuine improvement last year and were much more competitive then they had been in past seasons. Other than their loss to Adelaide they were very competitive in most matches they played and may well have made finals had they been able to prevent multiple runs of 5+ goals against.
Those runs cost the Blues on far too many occasions. In nine of their 17 games the Blues conceded a run of five goals or more, and while they were able to win some of those games, most of those runs turned out to be the difference between winning and losing.
A season of close but not close enough for the Blues.
Ins: Zac Williams (GWS), Adam Saad (Essendon), Lachie Fogarty (Geelong), Corey Durdin (national draft), Jack Carroll (national draft), Luke Parks (national draft).
Outs: Hugh Goddard (delisted), Matthew Kreuzer (retired), Darcy Lang (delisted), Harrison Macreadie (delisted), Callum Moore (delisted), Finbar O'Dwyer (delisted), Fraser Phillips (delisted), Cameron Polson (delisted), Ben Silvagni (delisted), Kade Simpson (retired).
A
The Blues got their guys, they identified their targets and they went about getting them through the door. Zac Williams is a brilliant acquisition, he will add outside pace and polish to a midfield in need of it.
Adam Saad joined from arch-rivals Essendon and will provide more creativity which is something Carlton has been lacking, His run and drive have seen him become one of, if not the game's best small defender. He is a great ball user and can shut out the games best small forwards as well as launching attacks off half-back.
The Blues didn't invest in the draft as they have in the past, but what they did get seems to have filled some areas they were otherwise lacking in.
Corey Durdin looks like a real chance for round one in the small forward slot while Luke Parks has impressed in match simulation.
Rounds 1-4 loom as pivotal to Carlton's finals hopes, they open their season against Richmond and while not many people will expect them to beat the reigning premiers, they can certainly send an early message.
The Blues take on Collingwood, Fremantle and the Gold Coast in must-win games to round out their opening month. They must be pulling in three wins from their opening four before matches against Port Adelaide and Brisbane.
Any slip-ups will see the Blues playing catch up from the get-go, if they manage to upset one of the aforementioned premiership contenders it could set up their season from the onset.
B: Lachie Plowman, Liam Jones, Caleb Marchbank
HB: Sam Docherty, Jacob Weitering, Adam Saad
C: Marc Murphy, Sam Walsh, Sam Petrevski-Seton
HF: Jack Martin, Charlie Curnow, Zac Fisher
FF: Jack Silvagni, Harry McKay, Eddie Betts
FOLL: Tom De Koning, Patrick Cripps, Zac Williams
INT: Ed Curnow, Will Setterfield, Levi Casboult, Tom Williamson
There's no doubt Carlton's strength lies in their defence. Jacob Weitering was very unlucky to fall short of a maiden All-Australian blazer in 2020 and he has formed a formidable partnership with Liam Jones.
Lachie Plowman had an outstanding year playing both big and small and the arrival of Adam Saad will make his life a lot easier, as it will for Sam Docherty who won't have to carry the load of launching attacks from defence with Saad now taking over that responsibility.
They have plenty of depth their as well, where they don't have as much depth is their midfield. While it isn't a bear-boned as it has been in the past it is still the area the Blues lack in the most. The addition of Zac Williams is a huge plus but they need the likes of Paddy Dow, Lochie O'Brien, Sam Petrevski-Seton and Matt Kennedy to take the next step and share the load.
If they don't get that lift, the load could again be too much for too few and see the Blues lose touch with the top eight.
8th
The Blues will break their finals drought. They have a good draw and seem to have the list to take a significant leap up the ladder. The time for waiting is over and now is time for the Carlton rocket to launch, if not now, when?