This year:11 wins, 11 losses, 108.07 percentage
This year's grade: B
Positives from this year: The recurring question during the pre-season was where Carlton's goals would come from following Brendan Fevola's move to Brisbane. As it turned out, they were shared around effectively to the extent that only four teams scored more total points in 2010. The Three Amigos played their part, Lachie Henderson took huge strides as the season advanced and Jarrad Waite - when he wasn't cracking heads - made a safe return as a floating forward from a knee reconstruction. Skipper Chris Judd enjoyed another All-Australian year, rookies Simon White and David Ellard showed plenty and ruckmen Sam Jacobs and Robbie Warnock, by and large, grabbed their opportunities. Jordan Russell had plenty of ups and a few downs, but his standout performance in the elimination final loss to Sydney showed that he's made of the right stuff.
Negatives from this year: The Blues were thinking top-four after reaching mid-year at 7-4, but one win from the next five games prompted them to reassess their goals. Not once all season did they achieve more than two wins in succession, so they were never able to generate any winning momentum. Only two of Carlton's wins were achieved against top-eight rivals. The loss of Matthew Kreuzer with a ruptured ACL in Round 13 didn't help. The highly rated Brock McLean failed to live up to expectations in his debut season, Paul Bower struggled with soft tissue injuries and Setanta O'hAilpin faded into oblivion after a bright start.
Likely departures: The Crows have declared their interest in Andrew Walker and Sam Jacobs. If the terms are right deals will be done. The Blues may be looking to unload Bret Thornton who spent from Round 15 onwards in the VFL. Brad Fisher is likely to depart on 99 AFL games and retirement beckons for Simon Wiggins.
Next year:
Type of Players needed: Brett Ratten has made the acquisition of a key defender his top priority. Drafting a youngster such as Calder's Under-18 All-Australian Matthew Watson is a long shot and he couldn't possibly be ready to go at AFL level, anyway. So what about the VFL? As it happens, the CHB in the VFL team of the year is a former Carlton rookie, Sam Pleming. Can a souffle rise twice when it failed to rise the first time? Chris Tarrant is available but, at 30, he's a stopgap at best. Josh Drummond reportedly wants out of Brisbane but he's rising 28 with fitness issues and coming off LARS surgery. Bomber David Myers is a potential target. He's only 21 but at 190cm may not be quite big enough to do the real dirty work. How about Tyson Goldsack? Matt Spangher? Mitch Thorp? Matthew Warnock? The Blues may need to think laterally or be prepared to part with something of value to fill the breach.
Likely improvement: Carlton's 2010 list was the fourth-youngest in the competition and 11th overall in terms of average games played. Improvement will come with experience. Rhys O'Keefe and Levi Casboult are untapped talents and the best is yet to come from Lachlan Henderson, Shaun Hampson, Kane Lucas, Robbie Warnock, Chris Yarran, Jordan Russell, Paul Bower, Matthew Kreuzer and Jeff Garlett. After a four-year apprenticeship now's the time to let Bryce Gibbs loose in the midfield to do what he was born to do, win heaps of ball and use it well.
Finals next year? The Blues did better than most expected by making the top eight in 2010. They fell short of their goal of winning a final, but they're entitled to regard that as next year's bottom line. Top four is a realistic target. They'll be thereabouts.
