As Carlton supporters put together to mud off their navy blues for an additional season, there may be one urgent query on their lips – can this 12 months lastly be the one the Blues make finals?
The Blues missed out on a finals berth by the pores and skin of a Sherrin final 12 months, however there are heightened expectations in coach Michael Voss’ second season in cost.
Now armed with the reigning Brownlow and Coleman medallist, the highlight is on the Blues to finish their 10-year finals drought.
These are among the key speaking factors for the Blues forward of their 2023 marketing campaign.
NEXT STEP
Where does the development come from this season for the Blues?
Voss mentioned this week that the Blues had been “still growing” and consistency and performing beneath strain could be keys to taking the following step within the membership’s ambition of “sustainably playing finals”.
“We are still trying to increase our capacity in all areas, whether that is running, whether that is contested ball, whether that is playing offence, defence, we are still trying to add capacity into our group,” Voss instructed AFL 360.
“The main thing for us last year was our consistency. Any time we felt that we lost our way was because we just didn’t stick to the roles we were given and we just didn’t stick to the system that we are trying to implement.
“There are a lot of reasons for that, some of it is in our infancy in our first year (together).
“What we are about is not necessarily changing anything, what we need to do is make it stronger and we have to do it underpressure.”
Carlton midfielder Matt Kennedy mentioned the Blues had the idea their finest was adequate, however their progress would come from larger consistency.
“We’ve spoken a lot about raising our floor and just being more consistent with our habits,” Kennedy mentioned this week.
“That’s day to day with the way that we train and professional habits.
“So I think that’s where we’ll get a lot of growth. We know and we believe our best is good enough, but it’s just consistency at times that got us last year.“
Carlton great Mark Maclure was confident the Blues could crack the top-eight this season, saying they would have been stung – and learned – from their late-season fall last year.
“I watched them last year and saw some great improvement,” Maclure mentioned.
“The biggest problem they had was they just failed in the last two games. They would be upset with (that).
“You have got to have some character and you have got to stand up and you have got to do all those little things that make a difference and they just rushed everything instead of … doing it properly and all being on the same page.
“I’m sure that Vossy would have been able to give them a workout in that.”
FORWARD FORCE
Last season, Carlton followers lastly obtained a have a look at simply how good Charlie Curnow and his ahead partnership with Harry McKay may very well be.
After three injury-hit seasons, Curnow propelled himself to the highest of the objective kicking desk to say the Coleman Medal along with his 64-goal season alongside McKay’s 45.
Given he had performed a mixed complete of 15 video games within the earlier three seasons, Curnow’s rise pushed him proper to the highest of Herald Sun chief soccer reporter Mark Robinson’s pre-season predictive prime 50.
Maclure mentioned 26-year-old Curnow’s true expertise remained “untapped” and his partnership with McKay was each bit as sturdy because the Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron double-act.
But he mentioned the following step for Curnow was backing it up.
“He has got so much talent, you have got no idea … he is untapped at this stage, still,” Maclure mentioned.
“He would be a nightmare to play. He is quick, he is tall, he jumps, I’ve seen him do some things that I have never seen anyone do, kicking goals from the boundary on the turn and you go ‘What? Can’t be done’.
“So he has got a really good highlight reel but it’s about consistency and getting it done all the time.”
Voss mentioned humility could be the important thing to Curnow taking the following step in his sport.
“For him to be able to do what he did last year after the footy that he had missed, in some ways it was quite extraordinary,” Voss mentioned.
“He is an excitement machine and he ignites the crowd. He is obviously a very important player to us.
“For Charlie, the thing that will get him through this year in some ways is just humility, the reality is that it can be taken off you in a heartbeat. He should know that more than anybody.
“If he stays with that humble approach … and he knows that tomorrow ‘I can get beaten’ he will be a fantastic footballer as long as he maintains that mindset.”
BROWNLOW BEAST
If there was ever any doubt over Carlton captain Patrick Cripps’ standing as the most effective midfielders within the AFL, it was shattered when he claimed the league’s highest particular person honour final 12 months.
After some of the dominant begins to a season seen in latest reminiscence, Cripps additionally cemented his standing as the highest Blue along with his fourth membership best-and-fairest award.
Returning to his finest as a clearance animal, Cripps averaged an elite 7.7 clearances and 28 disposals a sport.
But Maclure is assured 27-year-old Cripps can nonetheless elevate his sport.
“I think he is getting better,” Maclure mentioned.
“I just think he has actually worked out how to play and how to do it properly and that there is an art in playing in the midfield and winning the ball.
“Don’t forget he is 6’5, he is not a small midfielder, he is a monster.”
RUCK N ROLL
There is ready to be loads of dialogue surrounding the way forward for the off-contract Tom De Koning on the Blues this season.
The thrilling 23-year-old 201cm ruck-forward looms as a sought-after signature within the AFL market.
Marc Pittonet, 26, is anticipated to be the Blues’ beginning ruckman this season, however Maclure backed De Koning to take over his put up because the No. 1 ruck this 12 months.
“De Koning …. he’ll play in the ruck I reckon,” Maclure mentioned.
“I think Pittonet is there to be used, but he is not a dynamic force. He tries his best.
“Tell me who is the greatest ruckman in the competition? Max Gawn. So he gets kicks all around the ground and all that sort of stuff.
“De Koning can do that, but he’s not quite up to that standard as yet with his age and size and weight.
“He might have grown again and I’m sure he would have put some weight on this year and I reckon in the next couple of years you will see a really good player.
“If you give him the top spot, I don’t think he wants to go anywhere.”
NEW LAYERS
The Blues added former Dockers wingman Blake Acres throughout final 12 months’s commerce interval and the impression he could make within the midfield will likely be essential early on within the season with younger gun Sam Walsh (again) sidelined.
Maclure mentioned the early-season absence of Walsh was a “huge” loss for the Blues, however mentioned the acquisition of the 193cm Acres was a constructive.
“It will be a good test for someone else to come in and take a role,” Maclure mentioned.
“They have got Blake Acres who will help. Acres is a good pick-up, another tall midfielder so that will help.
“You must have a powerful midfield if you are going to win a premiership.”
Carlton has wasted little time in bringing recent blood into the staff, naming the membership’s first two picks in final 12 months’s draft – Ollie Hollands and Lachie Cowan – to make their debuts in spherical one towards Richmond.
Kennedy mentioned the younger pair “definitely deserve” their early call-up.
“Ollie will bring that running game to us. He’s an extremely talented runner and is also tough when he needs to be so he’ll add a lot to our wing stocks,” Kennedy mentioned.
“Big ‘Cow’ is a very competitive guy and he’s been one of the most consistent performers out on the track.
“They know they just have to play their role. They don’t need to do anything special but they’re cog in the chain.”
Originally printed as AFL 2023 Richmnd v Carlton dwell rating spherical 1 groups, suggestions, odds
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
