Carlton may have the equal most VFL/AFL premierships to their name, but a generation of fans have grown up knowing nothing but struggles.
The Blues spent the vast majority of the 2000s as a basket case, with the mistakes of the previous era leaving the team in a dark hole.
That pit led to years on the bottom of the ladder and ended in three successive number one draft picks between 2005 and 2007: Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer.
Today, Gibbs and Kreuzer announced their retirements. The former’s career has deteriorated since joining Adelaide, while the latter’s injury issues finally became too much to overcome.
Murphy is expected to go around again in 2021 and has earned that right, finishing this season in good form.
None of them wound up being the best player in their respective draft class. Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury was taken after Murphy, Geelong captain Joel Selwood shared the top 10 with Gibbs and Richmond captain Trent Cotchin went next after Kreuzer.
Despite that, the trio carried the hopes of a generation of Carlton fans and at their best, were all excellent players in their own right.
Gibbs started as a skinny half-back flanker and developed into a versatile weapon, capable of playing as a classy on-baller, on the wing, across half-forward or even as a tagger. Gibbs was often criticised, but lockdown roles on the likes of Adam Goodes and Brendon Goddard when at their respective peaks proved his discipline.
Kreuzer played 189 total games and missed close to 100 more with injury. At his best, he was as good as any ruckman in the competition at winning the ball at ground level and used his size and strength around the ground to insert his influence.
Everything came together for the ruckman in 2017, making the All-Australian squad and finishing third in Carlton’s best and fairest.
In fact, 2017 was the last year the trio were together in navy blue. Murphy won the John Nicholls Medal, while Gibbs won the eternal respect of all Carlton fans in his own way.
He finished fourth in the best and fairest and had arguably a career year, despite wishing to join Adelaide in the previous season’s trade period and his eventual move there feeling inevitable.
Gibbs left Princes Park as expected, but no Carlton person could say he didn’t give them his all. The midfielder finished in the top five of the club’s best and fairest in eight of his 11 seasons.
Ultimately, that will be the legacy of both Gibbs and Kreuzer. Carlton players who entered the club at its rock bottom and gave their all to leave it in a better place.