Carlton Blues v Richmond Tigers: Staying healthy is the key to Michael Voss’ men fulfilling their promise
They’re the sleeping giant that snoozed their alarms when it tolled for the finals.
But Carlton still have time to cash in on a list bursting at the seams with talent before some of their stars get nearer the end.
The Blues are Hollywood-calibre.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Their forward line boasts two Coleman medallists and their midfield is led by A-lister and two-time Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps. The lead man in their backline is Jacob Weitering, a full-back many regard as the best in the business.
Their 2023 was a slalom run through the finals that stirred one of the biggest — and of late, most patient — supporter bases in the country.
Their 2024 ended with an injury-depleted shell of themselves limping into the finals after losing in the last round and then losing again to be bundled out of an elimination final by the eventual premiers.
It’s much less than their list deserves.
Michael Voss’ midfield group is so good that Matt Kennedy was forced to leave the club for more opportunity and the future is also uncertain for George Hewett.
Cripps will this season run with Sam Walsh, who is one of the most damaging midfielders forward-of-centre in the competition and Adam Cerra — when he recovers from a hamstring injury. The new addition to that group will be comeback man Sam Docherty, who raced back from an ACL to play against Brisbane in September.
Then there’s a dash of Ollie Hollands, there’s a hint of his brother Elijah, with Blake Acres running a wing and Hewett as cover.
Curnow’s one-two punch with Harry McKay will be boosted this year by the man they discovered in their absence.
Voss threw defender Brodie Kemp forward in a clash with West Coast late in the season and he kicked four goals as part of a tossed-together forward line. He will be hard to nudge out now.
They need new recruit Nick Haynes and Mitch McGovern to support Weitering.
They need fitness guru Rob Inness — whom they snared from Sydney — to keep their most important chess pieces on the board.
And they need to handle the heat when it ramps up late in the year, because Carlton fans won’t accept another near-miss.
BEST AND FAIREST
Patrick Cripps
BREAKOUT PLAYER
Brodie Kemp
BEST 23
B: N Haynes J Weitering J Silvagni
HB: A Saad M McGovern L Cowan
C: B Acres A Cerra O Hollands
HF: Z Williams C Curnow B Kemp
FF: M Cottrell H McKay J Motlop
FOLL: T De Koning P Cripps S Walsh
I/C: S Docherty J Smith E Hollands G Hewett
sub: A Moir
