The Carlton Blues are in a hole. We examine their list, including Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering and Jagga Smith and where to from here
Carlton do not have a coach, list manager or national recruitment manager and just a decade after undergoing one of the wildest rebuilds the tournament has seen, the Blues are facing a list revamp once again.
Instead of being ranked 16th, they are playing with teams with the age profile that should compete for the championship. In Michael Voss’ final game as Carlton coach, the Blues ran into the Gabba with more players who had played more than 100 games than the Lions and with a team only slightly younger. They had seven players aged 30 or over.
Football boss Chris Davies has the task of overseeing Carlton’s roster management until they find a replacement for Nick Austin, who left the club on Tuesday.
Destiny dealt the Blues a cruel blow. The tightening of draft rules means their prized selection of Jagga Smith, Harry Dean and Cody Walker will cost them six first-round picks. Tasmania’s arrival will dilute the pool.
Blues chief executive Graham Wright said the club wanted more selection in this year’s draft, the last uncompromised draft before Tasmania’s entry, but how they could find their way out of the hole they were in.
This imprint spoke to sources in list management at the AFL who discussed the Blues to talk about the opposing side on condition of anonymity.
Which Blues have a trading currency?
After losing Charlie Curnow, Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni at the end of last year, the Blues are short on players with significant value on the trade table.
With Sam Walsh locked in a long-term deal signed in March, key defender Jacob Weitering is shaping up as the Blue player who could command the highest price.
Weitering is contracted until the end of 2031, so the Blues hope to at least meet the West Coast haul for Tom Barrass, who will return to Hawthorn at the end of 2024 with a future first, a future second and a future third, with a future fourth returning to the Eagles.
He could be an attractive proposition for North Melbourne, who are looking for a defender of his quality. The Western Bulldogs could also do with Weitering, but they will need draft capital for Zak Butters.
Weitering is having a bad year by his own high standards, but at his best he is one of the best backmen of his generation. The Blues cannot afford to lose a player of his quality and Weitering has insisted this week that he wants to stay.
Life will also be easier for Harry Dean and Harry O’Farrell if Weitering can protect them as they improve their game.
2021 Coleman medalist Harry McKay has been among the league’s leading forwards but his life as the No.1 man has become difficult following the departure of Charlie Curnow. His performance against Brisbane was excellent. But as the previous week showed, at his worst he can be substandard and his self-confidence fragile.
As one rival list boss said, it is vital that the Blues have solid bookends as they enter the rebuild/reset/renewal process.
That leaves captain Patrick Cripps, who, unlike Weitering, speaks like a man keeping his options open. Few can match Cripps when it comes to racing and clearing, but at 31 and with a strong suit that is no longer as valuable after recent rule changes, he won’t get a king’s ransom.
If sentimentality is put aside (not easy when you’re talking about a player who has given so much to Carlton), this could be a win-win for both sides. Cripps can return home to Western Australia if he so chooses, free from the burden he has carried throughout his career at Ikon Park.
This would allow Sam Walsh to own the midfield, allow George Hewett to fulfill the inside bull role at a much lower price, free up salary space and give opportunities to youngsters Cooper Lord and Ben Camporeale.
The Blues will also be able to choose from two first-round picks from the 2027 draft acquired through the Curnow trade.
untouchables
These are the players who should form the cornerstone of Carlton’s next challenger team: Smith, Dean, O’Farrell, Walsh and Walker.
In Walker and Smith the Blues have two midfield aces who can burst out without hesitation. Neither are elite kickers, but as the opposing roster manager said, their ability to accelerate through traffic allows them to pick easier options. Together with Walsh, he forms a strong start to the new generation of midfielders.
Dean was impressive in his first year, as was O’Farrell in 2025 before injuring his knee. The duo have the potential to hold key defensive positions for the Blues for the next decade.
Contrary to many opinions in the industry, the Blues are “not a complete train wreck because the good ones are so good,” as one source in recruiting and roster management put it.
Those without a contract
The Blues have 20 players out of contract. Some will be simple calls, but many still involve players running a regular game and, in Mitch McGovern’s case, being a strong contributor. Making the right decisions could speed up the Blues’ recovery.
Voss’ departure gives the Blues more freedom to explore their roster going forward. Interim coach Josh Fraser needs to get information on those remaining on the sidelines.
Billy Wilson deserves more than half a game to prove he has the physicality to carry his VFL form to AFL level.
Flynn Young was the Blues’ best in the VFL, but can he thrive as a diminutive half-forward who is good on the ball but doesn’t have great pace? The jury is still out on the Camporeale twins. Could Ben be a prolific ball winner in these races?
Adam Saad, Jordan Boyd and Lachie Fogarty were named in Carlton’s 2023 qualifying final squad but have fallen out of favour. Nick Haynes is doing well but will turn 34 this month, while Zach Williams is 31. The Blues need to get past them.
Lewis Young fills the same role as Wade Derksen and provides key position depth. There will be no room for both.
Ollie Hollands has been maligned by some sections of the Blues’ support base for his kicking, but he is a strong runner – an area the Blues are lacking. Nic Newman remains a key defender and is in good position for another year barring injury. McGovern is the Blues’ goalkeeper leader but, at 31, he is nearing the end.
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