Carlton Supporters Club

Quote from: kruddler – on December 20, 2025, 03:29:35 pm

Potentially....but our previous one...

...was long gone.

The list position we found ourselves in was a combination of the efforts of both.
You can't have one without the other.
And two injury hit and disrupted seasons later you want the one left gone.

Crash mentioned 2002 but there was another injury hit season in 2014 when many of our best players including Judd and Kreuzer missed big chunks....and Robinson and Garlett went off the rails.
The brains trust at the time decided we needed a rebuild and the incoming list manager cut the list and sent the club into oblivion.

Quote from: Lods – on December 20, 2025, 11:20:06 am

So are you saying our list manager had built a side capable of winning a flag  

Potentially....but our previous one...

Hang on!
You can't have it both ways.
You can't say 2023 is SOS's team and then in the next breath say Austin has had six years.
The only one moving  goal posts around is your good self.

All list managers build on their predecessors list to some extent.
Cripps and Docherty were part of that for Silvagni so was Ed Curnow
You can't just dismiss the players that Austin added for 2023.
And the real fruits of Austin's tenure are yet to hit their peak.

I note that we were rated as third most affected by injury to senior players in 2025, as just posted on afl.com.au. That in a season where we were a quantum leap better than what we were in 2024.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1443396/essendon-bombers-horror-run-greater-western-sydney-giants-rise-which-clubs-were-unlucky-with-injuries

Now, if we can improve by the same amount in 2026, then maybe we'll have enough ammunition to argue about our list management properly. Certainly, we should play closer to our potential with a fitter list.

In the draft and trading period, Silvagni, TDK, Durdin and Curnow left, Docherty retired and Fantasia, Binns, Lemmey and Cinotta were delisted as well as either E.Hollands or White. This means ten players went out of the playing list and they were replaced by Ainsworth, Florent, Hayward, Reidy and Chesser, with Dean, Ison and Byrne Drafted. On top of this Smith and Newman were unavailable due to injury and are available this season.
The question is, "Are the ten players who are available this year better than than ten players who have left?" To my mind at the top end, losing TDK and Curnow will be a loss, but overall I think this year's list is in better shape than what it was last year. What we won't know until the season starts proper is who has improved, who has dropped off and what injuries we ill have.
I think we did alright  in this years draft and trade period considering the hand we were dealt, And at this point of time we have ,our draft capital available for next year is greater what we would normally be entitled to. This the first time I can remember this happening. In the past we have always traded away future draft picks so next year we will be in a position to make a real charge at the draft.
The challenge for us is to get out of that dead zone of finishing seventh to twelfth.

Quote from: Blue Moon – on December 23, 2025, 11:48:48 am

In the draft and trading period, Silvagni, TDK, Durdin and Curnow left, Docherty retired and Fantasia, Binns, Lemmey and Cinotta were delisted as well as either E.Hollands or White. This means ten players went out of the playing list and they were replaced by Ainsworth, Florent, Hayward, Reidy and Chesser, with Dean, Ison and Byrne Drafted. On top of this Smith and Newman were unavailable due to injury and are available this season.
The question is, "Are the ten players who are available this year better than than ten players who have left?" To my mind at the top end, losing TDK and Curnow will be a loss, but overall I think this year's list is in better shape than what it was last year. What we won't know until the season starts proper is who has improved, who has dropped off and what injuries we ill have.
I think we did alright  in this years draft and trade period considering the hand we were dealt, And at this point of time we have ,our draft capital available for next year is greater what we would normally be entitled to. This the first time I can remember this happening. In the past we have always traded away future draft picks so next year we will be in a position to make a real charge at the draft.
The challenge for us is to get out of that dead zone of finishing seventh to twelfth.

TDK aside, the others all had to go. Curnow's attidude stunk the joint up, SOS wanted a pay and Daddy was waiting to give it to him (probably to help out with legal fees). Doc and Orazio were finished, Durdin is injury prone, Lemmey lacked the drive to be an AFL player, Binns is a VFL player, Hollands needed a kick in the ass and I do he wins another crack. Ive heard Cincotta's hip was a lot worse than was made out. White is unlucky but his position is overstocked.
I think we are better structurally with the ins.

Quote from: Gointocarlton – on December 23, 2025, 07:00:09 pm

TDK aside, the others all had to go. Curnow's attidude stunk the joint up, SOS wanted a pay and Daddy was waiting to give it to him (probably to help out with legal fees). Doc and Orazio were finished, Durdin is injury prone, Lemmey lacked the drive to be an AFL player, Binns is a VFL player, Hollands needed a kick in the ass and I do he wins another crack. Ive heard Cincotta's hip was a lot worse than was made out. White is unlucky but his position is overstocked.
I think we are better structurally with the ins.

GTC old son, I've said it before and I'll say it again... you have an ability to carve it to the bone. Spot on.

Yep, we are structurally better with the ins... but the proof of the pudding still remains in the eating. Bring on 2026.

Quote from: Baggers – on December 23, 2025, 08:11:29 pm

GTC old son, I've said it before and I'll say it again... you have an ability to carve it to the bone. Spot on.

Yep, we are structurally better with the ins... but the proof of the pudding still remains in the eating. Bring on 2026.

Perhaps I could have added "on paper" after structurally better. As you say, proof is in the pudding but I have this  optimism about about 2026.

Perhaps I could have added "on paper" after structurally better. As you say, proof is in the pudding but I have this  optimism about about 2026.