Despite falling agonisingly short on the penultimate weekend of this season, the Blues bound into 2024 with a serious injection of hope and promise.
Following an unspectacular middle portion of their 2023 campaign, Michael Voss' squad rallied tremendously to cement itself in the post-season conversation by the close of the home-and-away calendar.
After Carlton's 2022 off-season addition of Blake Acres paid off in spades during the club's spirited finals effort, the Princes Park dwellers will hope this year's gain of Elijah Hollands โ who will be sidelined for the opening portion of next year as a result of an illicit substance-related indiscretion โ from the Suns will add another dynamic element to an already-formidable engine room combination.
We assessed Carlton's list and produced our projected best 23 for the Blues heading into next year.
3. Forwards
Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay will again lead Carlton's forward line; the Blues' triple Coleman Medal-winning two-headed monster, while Jack Silvagni and Jack Martin remain as ample medium-sized complements.
To aid their prominent key-forward duo, the Blues snapped up Orazio Fantasia as a delisted free agent this off-season; a move that could produce low-risk-high-reward dividends for the Princes Park outfit.
South Australian draft slider Ashton Moir was also acquired by Carlton just this week, demonstrating a targeted off-season approach to bolstering its small-forward brigade.
Does Jesse Motlop have any reason for concern? Whilst having flashed signs of brilliance in front of goals, the second-year Blue has succumbed to inconsistency in portions.
Next year also presents an opportunistic campaign for 18-year-old Jaxon Binns (zero AFL games), who's yet to burst onto the senior scene. 21-year-olds Sam Philp (zero AFL games in 2023) and Josh Honey (six AFL games in 2023) were delisted, along with Lochie O'Brien.
