We rate Carlton’s disappointing 2014 AFL season.
CARLTON
(13th: 7 wins, 1 draw, 14 losses)
What went right:
Not a hell of a lot.
It was a bitterly disappointing year for the Blues, and wins over North Melbourne and Gold Coast on the trot were the highlights of the season.
There’s no doubt the Blues put in some excellent performances against top eight sides, and lost six games by two goals or less.
The performances of Bryce Gibbs, Troy Menzel, Marc Murphy, Dylan Buckley, Sam Rowe and Levi Casboult give Blues fans something to be excited about for the future, though.
What went wrong:
The Blues were 4-10 after 15 rounds and looked completely out of sorts as a group.
Malthouse lost his cool on a number of occasions in press conferences, while the poor behaviour of Mitch Robinson and Jeff Garlett could see them both out the door.
Jarrad Waite was yet again far too inconsistent, and the frustration for Blues fans was there for all to see when he virtually won the game off his own boot against North Melbourne.
“Why can’t he play like that every week?”
Star performer:
Bryce Gibbs.
The 25-year-old finally came of age as a gun midfielder and quietened a lot of his critics who questioned his physicality and effort.
He averaged 14 kicks and 25 disposals this season, but it was his influence on matches that turned heads.
In what was a dark year for the Blues, Gibbs was a shining light.
The future:
It seems Carlton will use Mitch Robinson as trade-bait, while the future of Jeff Garlett at the Blues remains equally unclear.
Jarrad Waite has openly admitted if a good offer came along he would consider leaving the Blues, and despite all his talent, fans won’t miss his inconsistency.
The emergence of youngsters such as Troy Menzel and Dylan Buckley have given the club’s long-suffering supporters a glimpse into the future, and if Chris Judd can stay fit and play near the level he is capable of, the Blues are an outside chance of September football in 2015.
Score: 4.5/10
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