Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning is on the verge of becoming the Blues’ next superstar. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

CARLTON
2024 record: 13 wins, 11 losses (8th)

THE INS
Nick Haynes (GWS), Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers), Harry O’Farrell (Calder Cannons), Ben Camporeale (Glenelg), Lucas Camporeale (Glenelg), Harry Charleson (GWV Rebels), Matt Duffy (Longford – GAA)

THE OUTS
Jack Martin (delisted – Geelong), Matt Owies (West Coast), Jack Carroll (delisted – St Kilda), David Cuningham (delisted), Caleb Marchbank (delisted), Alex Mirkov (delisted), Domanic Akuei (delisted), Sam Durdin (delisted)

THE STRENGTHS
Look no further than Patrick Cripps. The inspirational captain has now won two Brownlow Medals in three years, and clinched his second one last year emphatically by smashing the votes record (45) and finishing seven clear of Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos (38), who incredibly also broke the previous record (36). Cripps has truly become an elite of the league and is now one of Carlton’s greatest ever players. The Blues also have the AFL’s best key forward duo in Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, whose combined 106 goals played a big role in the Blues having the fourth-ranked attack in the comp. They also ensured their team were sixth for contested marks. But Carlton’s star power doesn’t end with that electrifying trio. Jacob Weitering, Sam Walsh, Tom De Koning, Adam Saad and Blake Acres are all super talents as well, so it’s little wonder that the Blues started all guns blazing last year with an 11-4 record, including wins over premier Brisbane, preliminary finalists Port Adelaide and Geelong, as well as top-six GWS, to be second on the ladder after Round 16. Key midfield quartet Cripps, George Hewett, Walsh and De Koning were the main reasons why the Blues finished second for contested possessions and fifth for clearances last year.

THE WEAKNESSES
If 2023 was any guide, Carlton appears to have a list that is ready to contend for a premiership, which made the way they ended 2024 so infuriating. Their second half of the season was disastrous, as they lost seven of their last nine games to plummet from second spot to eighth. They made the finals by the skin of their teeth after being given an 11th-hour reprieve from Fremantle who lost the last game of the season to Port Adelaide. But the Blues might as well have let the Dockers play in their elimination final because Michael Voss’ men failed to score against Brisbane until the 24-minute mark of the second quarter, by which time they were already down by 60 points. Carlton’s midfield might look sparkling on paper, with some big individual names, but concerningly, after spreading the load in 2023, they reverted to their unhealthy over-reliance on Cripps. They struggled to protect their backline adequately, and it played a big part in them finishing the year with the 14th-ranked defence. Carlton could only manage a measly 10th placing for inside 50s while, alarmingly, they were 14th for tackles as their commitment to pressure the opposition ball carrier nosedived. The flow-on effect of that saw them turn into a bottom-five side for marks inside 50, which is an indictment when you have a pair of Coleman Medallists in Curnow and McKay screaming for the ball up forward. They were also ravaged by injuries last year again with De Koning (six games), Saad (six), Adam Cerra (11), Sam Docherty (22), Mitch McGovern (six), Matthew Cottrell (10), Jack Silvagni (24) and the ultimately delisted trio of Jack Martin (21), Caleb Marchbank (21) and David Cuningham (19) all missing huge chunks of the season. The Blues will be hoping changing their head of high performance will help them have a cleaner run at it this season. However, they haven’t got off to a good start with important backman Nic Newman already ruled for 2025 due to a serious knee injury.

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ONE TO WATCH
At 25, and with 78 games under his belt, De Koning looks primed to explode this season and become one of the game’s top players, let alone ruckmen. Fresh from producing the best year of his career to date, one can understand why St Kilda is reportedly offering the out-of-contract gun a $12 million seven-year deal.

UNDER THE PUMP
It might be a bit harsh to nominate a third-year player who missed just one game last year, but Ollie Hollands is a No.11 draft pick and he seemed to stagnate a bit last season after being so impressive in 2023. After averaging 14 touches in each of his first two seasons, he would like to boost that up to around 20 at least in 2025.

BEST 23
B: Jordan Boyd, Jacob Weitering, Jack Silvagni
HB: Adam Saad, Mitch McGovern, Sam Docherty
C: Blake Acres, Sam Walsh, Ollie Hollands
HF: Elijah Hollands, Charlie Curnow, Zac Williams
F: Lachie Fogarty, Harry McKay, Brodie Kemp
R: Tom De Koning, Patrick Cripps, George Hewett
Inter: Adam Cerra, Lachie Cowan, Matt Cottrell, Nick Haynes, Jesse Motlop
Emerg: Marc Pittonet, Alex Cincotta, Ashton Moir

Yes, there is no Jagga Smith in the line-up at the moment, but that is in keeping with Footyology’s general rule of not including first-year players, unless absolutely necessary (like struggling North Melbourne last year). Suffice to say, the exciting No.3 pick will probably find his way in the best 23 sooner rather than later. The loss of Newman is a big blow, but on the bright side, fellow knee injury victim Silvagni is back in 2025 and the utility will move down back. That shift will see Brodie Kemp spend more time in attack to help out Curnow and McKay. The likes of Ashton Moir, Jaxon Binns and Cooper Lord will all be pushing for regular senior selection.

*all team stat rankings mentioned are based on differentials, not totals (apart from overall offence and defence).