Carlton Supporters Club

For the first time in many years I await the start of the season with a sense of true excitement. I think we may be in for a bit of a treat but we must try to temper this and keep expectations within reasonable bounds. 

NOT too many years ago if you were looking for cult heroes at Carlton the options included Ricky Mott, Micky Martin and Simon “Chief” Wiggins.

As Carlton unveiled its leadership group for the upcoming season, the horse flesh on display resembled the barriers at the Golden Slipper.

In the last days of January everyone is burning up the track, and in fact one official was heard to remark: “Liam Jones is flying”.

But if Carlton’s green shoots are still yet to burst into full bloom, the kids on display made you ponder a key choice for younger members of the Carlton faithful.

If you were a Blues fan replacing Bryce Gibbs’ No. 4 on the back of your jumper next week, who would you choose from.

Would it be the Great White Hope in Charlie Curnow, on Wednesday taking soaring leaps in match simulation then hurtling along the boundary as the back marker against midfielders in running drills?

Or the AFL’s great resurrection story in Liam Jones, who Marc Murphy described as “an absolute bull” having built on last year’s gains this summer?

While Curnow was taking flying leaps on the tackle bag, Harry McKay, potentially his foil for the next decade, was hauling in marks with a frame now well over two metres.

He has bulked up, is over last year’s turf toe and about to start winning his own Carlton fan club.

Recently, last year’s No. 10 draft selection Lochie O’Brien showcased his raw athleticism with a second placing in a club time trial, not bad for a kid who also has a cannon of a left foot.

If he or No. 3 pick Paddy Dow can make the same splash as the “Halls Creek Freak”, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Blues fans might forget about Gibbs quicker than they think.

The point is not to over-hype Carlton as January champions, especially given they famously failed to capitalise on three straight No. 1 overall picks this century.

And won only one of 10 games on the way home last season.

And yet as departing chief executive Steven Trigg said last year: “We are doing what we said we are going to do”.

As in take three full drafts of players, teach them the right way, then hope they have stockpiled enough star kids who will not only excite but turn into regular matchwinners.

Murphy says Carlton’s progress over the summer can be measured not only in the kids on show but the attitude of players like full back Jones.

“The way in which he played that second half of the year last season impressed everyone,” he said.

“But he has come back and trained the house down. He is looking forward to stringing a full season together and showing it wasn’t a once-off last year.

“The way he trains with his intensity is just unbelievable. I am not sure if you picked it up from watching today’s (match simulation) but he’s an absolute bull out there and you love playing with those guys.”

Time will tell if recruits Matthew Kennedy (easing back from shoulder surgery), Darcy Lang and the young mids can fill the gap left by the accomplished Gibbs.

Yet finally there is depth in most positions, with Cam O’Shea, Alex Williamson, Aaron Mullett and David Cuningham among the contenders to play half back alongside Lachie Plowman and Kade Simpson.

Where does it get them, after six wins last year and seven in 2016?

Hope only gets you so far, which is why the critics will justifiably look for higher scores, quicker ball movement and perhaps 8-10 wins in 2018.

But February is a time for dreaming, and at last for Carlton fans those flights of fancy are rooted in reality rather than wild fantasy.

I know exactly what you mean. The last couple of seasons I've been excited to see the kids debut, but have been realistic in the expectations of our likeliness to win games. This year is a little different, I think we're a real chance to be a competitive team and take some major strides forward. I don't think we'll make finals or anything just yet...but I don't think anyone will be making jokes about our playing list or premiership prospects moving forward.

Who's Alex Williamson?

Who's Alex Williamson?

Given the high number of young players on our list, a bigger leadership group is not an unreasonable approach to take. As the players become older, more experienced etc., I'm sure the leadership group will shrink.

I have given this a lot of thought and have gone from ebing excited to see a name like Plowman in there, to a little disappointed Carlton has named so many in the leadership group. I think it is more than double the size it should be when I give it more reflection.

I can't think of any situation I remember where there were 4 peers to 1 leader in any team of any size. It is too many.
I think it is incumbent upon a Plowman type to just spend his time acting like a leader and yeap, being groomed and called into some meetings as part of that grooming, but he shouldn't be there.

Simmo doesn't need to be there and ACOS doesn't either. These guys can still lead just through their actions and general seniority, without the need to make them part of the leadership group.

Murphy and 2 of Doc, Cripps, Kreuzer & Curnow.
As much as I see Doc as a potential future captain, I would leave him out this year and make the tough choice on the other 2, including getting them to present why they want to be a leader of the club.

Nothing wrong with making tough decisions, there are clubs with a lot more natural leaders in their teams that don't get picked for their leadership groups.