Squad Breakdown: Carlton SC roster analysis

Carlton will be hoping to climb the ladder and make the finals this season, something that has eluded the club since 2013.

The Blues are looking healthy on the injury front, with just a few long-term injuries on the book.

Liam Stocker is nursing an ankle injury, whilst David Cuningham and Caleb Marchbank are on the comeback trail from respective ACL injuries.

Sam Walsh suffered a pre-season injury and could miss up to the first month of action.

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A host of other players have missed match simulation sessions in the past fortnight, including Ed Curnow, Jack Martin and Paddy Dow, but all should be ready for official pre-season matches.

Sam Docherty is back at training following his cancer treatment last year, which is music to the ears of all football fans.

Docherty has stepped down from the co-captaincy position to focus on his health and own football and the Blues are yet to put a timeline on his return.

However, he is progressing well and has been out on the track on a modified program.

TEAM

FB: M. McGovern, J. Weitering, S. Docherty

HB: A. Saad, C. Marchbank, N. Newman

C: Z. Williams, P. Cripps, P. Dow

HF: J. Silvagni, C. Curnow, Z. Fisher

FF: J. Martin, H. McKay, L. Fogarty

R: M. Pittonet, A. Cerra, G. Hewett

I/C: E. Curnow, L. Stocker, T. De Koning, W. Setterfield

EMG: M. Kennedy, L. Plowman, B. Kemp, J. Honey

Injury concerns: David Cuningham, Caleb Marchbank, Sam Docherty, Liam Stocker, Sam Walsh

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LIST CHANGES

The Blues are always active in the trade period, and it was no different in 2021.

They brought in two quality midfielders in Adam Cerra and George Hewett, who will add another dimension to the Blues on-ball brigade.

Cerra oozes class and has silky skills, whilst Hewett is strong defensively and is a great two-way runner. They also picked up Lewis Young as key position depth.

Club stalwarts Eddie Betts and Marc Murphy retired after the 2021 season, Sam Petrevski-Seton was traded to West Coast and a host of names were delisted, headlined by Michael Gibbons and Levi Casboult.

Perhaps the most surprising off-season move however, was the sudden retirement of defender Liam Jones.

Jones walked away from the game following the AFL’s COVID vaccine mandate, leaving a hole in the defence.

Caleb Marchbank is eyeing a round 1 return from an ACL injury.

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Top Priced Guns

The main guy at the Blues has got to be Sam Walsh ($637,100 | MID). Walsh played every game last year, scoring over 100 in 15 matches for an average of 117.

He broke out into one of the game’s best SuperCoach midfielders, ranking 8^th overall for total points for all midfielders.

He probably has to deal with a tag more often this season, but his elite endurance means he should be able to still score well.

Update: Unfortunately injury will see Walsh miss up to the first month.

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Cheapies

My sources inside the four walls at Ikon Park say Jack Carroll ($123,900 | MID) could be poised to get a run at it this year.

Carroll is a great decision-maker, with classy foot skills and clean hands. He might not be there Round 1, but if not will loom as a solid downgrade option throughout the year.

Jesse Motlop ($117,300 | FWD) will be popular as well, but he might be a bit raw early in the season.

Whilst he’s not a debutant, look for Charlie Curnow ($224,300 | FWD) to provide good value this season.

Severely under-priced following a wretched run with injuries, Curnow could be the Joe Daniher of 2022.

Curnow’s best SuperCoach season was 2018, where he averaged 77.5 and tonned up in 25% of games played that season.

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Daniher started last year at a similar price point and went on to average just under 80, something that isn’t out of the question for the dynamic Curnow.

Liam Jones’ departure leaves a vacancy in the back half and my money is on Mitch McGovern ($256,000 | FWD) getting first crack at the role.

He hasn’t really lived up to expectations following his move from Adelaide ahead of the 2019 season but could 2022 be the year he goes to another level?

There’s an interceptor role there and McGovern could just be that guy. Huge question marks remain over his fitness given injury history, but if he can beat former Dog Lewis Young to the Jones role, McGovern could be value at just $256k should you be game to take on his wretched run of injuries.

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Avoids

Most other Carlton players? Bar Walsh, the value picks in Curnow and McGovern and maybe a sneak rookie or two, the Blues are largely irrelevant SuperCoach wise.

Patrick Cripps ($454,800 | MID) is said to be in the best shape he has been in a while, but to be honest we have heard that old chestnut a few times of late.

He was one of the competition’s best players in 2018-19, however, injuries and feeling the weight of the entire Carlton Football Club on his shoulders has seen his SuperCoach output decline since. Steer clear, he is no longer a premium option.

Sam Docherty ($533,000 | DEF) has been good in the past but the timeline for his return to the field remains unclear.

Zac Williams’ ($461,100 | DEF) positional versatility crosses him off too, whilst we need to see more from the new recruits Cerra and Hewett before considering them.