The direction of Carlton has come under fire after their 109-point loss to Melbourne on Sunday afternoon put the exclamation point on a 1-8 start to the season.
It’s a fair question to ask and SEN lead broadcaster Gerard Whateley was the harshest critic.
Gerard on Carlton: "I think the list build is wrong. They are at rock bottom. They aren't where they should be. I can't see it."
— Whateley (@WhateleySEN) May 21, 2018
Carlton is three years into its rebuild and many would expect the third to be the year where things start to trend upwards, but that’s simply not the reality with this list.
Recruiting manager Stephen Silvagni, head coach Brendon Bolton and CEO Cain Liddle all seem to be on the same page saying this is a five to seven year rebuild and it’s easy to see why when you look at Carlton’s projected team for 2020.
Most of the pieces are there and of the players in that 2020 side, only four are currently 24 or older – Marc Murphy (who mightn’t be there), Ed Curnow, Matthew Kreuzer and Sam Docherty (who’s 24 now).
That means the core players to that 2020 side are all still in their footballing infancy. The talent there is undeniable however.
Breaking down the side, it’s clear a lot rests on former number one draft pick Jacob Weitering to become the full-back the team needs.
Sam Rowe will be 32 come 2020 and predicting where Liam Jones will be in two years requires a degree in quantum physics and that puts a tonne of pressure on Weitering.
The 20-year-old has spent the last few weeks in the VFL after missing time with a quad injury.
Key defensive depth will be something Carlton needs to keep an eye on.
Ex-GWS duo Caleb Marchbank and Lachie Plowman have become staples in Carlton’s backline, though the jury is still out on how good the latter is.
Based on what we’ve seen so far in the Bolton era, Sam Docherty, Tom Williamson, Zac Fisher, Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow, Matthew Kreuzer, Ed Curnow and Paddy Dow all pick themselves and will be the spine that holds the team together.
Lochie O’Brien looks a player, but we haven’t seen enough to stamp him in just yet.
The Blues saw enough to take him with pick 10 in the 2017 National Draft however.
Darcy Lang has looked good in his two games for the Blues, while Harry McKay and Jarrod Pickett are in a similar boat to O’Brien – all three have massive ceilings.
Matthew Kennedy has struggled so far this season, but is still only 21 himself and will be in that Carlton 2020 side barring anything going substantially wrong.
On top of all of that will be Carlton’s top three pick in this year’s draft – where they should once again grab the best midfielder – their top pick in 2019 and whatever they do with their considerable salary cap room.
Carlton fans seem to realise this too as without fail, every caller into SEN’s Whateley this morning discussing the issue were positive and defended the club, despite the 109-point defeat.
That 2020 side isn’t perfect and there are a few speculative selections in there, but there is enough talent for Blues fans to take a breath, bide their time and wait for their moment.
Players not in the 2020 side that will still be around: Ciaran Byrne, Levi Casboult, David Cuningham, Jack Silvagni, Matthew Wright, Harrison Macreadie, Liam Jones, Sam Kerridge, Cameron Polson, Patrick Kerr, Tom De Konning and Angus Schumacher.
Players that might be there: Jed Lamb, Dale Thomas, Sam Rowe, Andrew Phillips, Nick Graham, Jarrod Garlett and Kym LeBois.
Players likely to be retired/delisted: Kade Simpson, Alex Silvagni, Matthew Lobbe, Matt Shaw, Aaron Mullett, Cameron O’Shea and Jesse Glass-McCasker.