A remarkable comeback season came to an end on Saturday night, as Carlton fell short to Brisbane in a heartbreak preliminary final loss.
Second-year coach Michael Voss proved to be the right man for the job, while a star forward produced the best season of his career.
Letter Grade: A-
The Sporting News takes a look at Carlton's 2023 season.
Did Carlton over/under achieve in 2023?
An A- grade may seem harsh for a team that defied all expectations to reach a preliminary final, but in reality, the Blues should have sealed a top-four spot this season.
The list, which includes superstars Charlie Curnow and Patrick Cripps, is poised to be a perpetual contender and needs to build consistency.
There's no doubt it could have been a smoother year for the Blues, however, there's also no denying the dominance the club showed in its nine-game win streak and two finals triumphs.
It was very much an overachieving Carlton season, thanks to that brilliant late-season form.
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What worked?
When the Blues were firing, it was the on-ball brigade that provided the spark.
Star skipper Cripps got the ball moving with 6.75 clearances a game, while Sam Walsh was dominant in the finals series as he picked up possessions with ease.
Midfielders Adam Cerra and George Hewett were excellent contributors, too, in what has become one of the AFL's best on-ball units.
What went wrong?
Before the jaw-dropping late-season run of form came a six-game losing streak from rounds eight to 13 – a slump that sunk Carlton to 15th on the ladder.
Forward-line inefficiency haunted the Blues in the early part of the year, especially during their six straight losses.
The issue returned in the Preliminary Final, where Carlton scored from only 28.8 per cent of inside 50 entries.
Maybe there is something to be said about the pairing of Curnow and Harry McKay.
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Carlton Blues best player
While Cripps, Cerra and Jacob Weitering had outstanding years, there are few in the AFL who can match the dominance of Curnow.
The Coleman Medal winner booted 81 goals this season and rightly took his spot at full forward in the All-Australian team.
At 26 years of age, the sky is the limit for Curnow, who could yet find himself among the greats of the game.
Who should Carlton target in the AFL trade period?
There aren't many weaknesses in Carlton's side, although an elite small forward would be an excellent addition underneath the tall timber.
St Kilda's Jade Gresham attracted interest from the club, but appears headed for Essendon.
Through the draft, the Blues could look at Subiaco's Lance Collard or South Adelaide's Jack Delean, who present as strong ground-level attacking options.
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