Why Carlton are locked in as Russell’s most disappointing team of 2024

Dwayne Russell has Carlton as his most disappointing team from the 2024 AFL season.

The Blues finished eighth and bowed out in last Saturday’s Elimination Final to Brisbane at the Gabba 99-71, a game they trailed 60-0 in the second quarter.

On the back of a Preliminary Final effort in 2023, Russell was disappointed to see the Blues fall in 2024 despite having two Coleman Medallists in Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, a Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps, last year’s Gary Ayres Medallist Sam Walsh and All-Australian defender Jacob Weitering on the list this campaign.

Carlton also lost seven of their past nine games and he thinks that an eighth-placed finish simply doesn’t add up to what their list is capable of.

Even if Port Adelaide drop out of finals in straight sets this weekend against Hawthorn, Russell has the Blues ahead of them in his disappointments given his expectations on both playing squads.

“If Port bow out in straight sets this Friday night, Port won't be the most disappointing team of the year,” Russell said on SEN Afternoons.

“If Port bow out in straight sets, they'll finish fifth or sixth on the ladder, which is I reckon about where their list says they should finish.

“I think the most disappointing team regardless of what happens in finals from here is still going to be Carlton.”

With the list seemingly primed to contend, Russell questioned the coaching of Michael Voss and in particular some moves he made during and in the lead-up to the Elimination Final loss to the Lions.

He pondered whether the side would have fared better this season with a different man at the helm.

“Let’s drill down a bit on Carlton for a second here,” Russell said.

“I still think a good coach is worth more now than it's ever been and I’m still surprised by the Tom De Koning starting as a sub decision from Voss.

“I think there needs to be a little bit of a focus on that as well.

“They’ve got a good coach with Vossy, but if they had a great coach, would they be better?

“They need to be accountable … De Koning as the sub and the long bombing to talls, I don’t get it.

“I wouldn’t have played Sam Docherty either, that smacked of desperation.”

The Blues haven’t won a premiership since 1995, haven’t made a Grand Final since 1999 and haven’t finished inside the top four on the ladder since 2000.

They’ll hope that changes in 2025.