After it was revealed on Thursday the Blues would be without forward Jack Silvagni for the entirety of the 2024 season due to a ruptured ACL, devastation was justifiably the reactionary sentiment.
It's indubitably a cruel blow for the 26-year-old father-son gun, who earned a two-year contract extension late last year to remain at Princes Park in the medium term.
Albeit, after the initial despondency within Carlton Football Club headquarters, the next point of focus should regard the Blues forwards, who subsequently need to step up in place of Silvagni.
Irrespective of the fact that he sometimes fell out of coach Michael Voss' favour last season amongst a forward-line already containing juggernaut spearheads Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, at his best, Silvagni was a member of the Blues' optimal squad.
Thus, whether it's as an immediate starter in Voss' Opening Round squad, as a 12-to-14-game fringe option, or even as an infrequently-appearing depth piece, here are five Carlton forwards who could see increased opportunities in 2024 as a result of Silvagni sitting on the sidelines.
While a considerable emphasis has been placed on Martin's health in the past, it arguably doesn't compare to his required availability this year.
The 28-year-old medium forward missed 12 games last season after suffering a calf injury against Richmond in Round 1, and even upon his return to AFL action, he was substituted out of consecutive games against the Bombers and Suns.
When fit and firing, though, Martin was instrumental in large portions for the Blues last season, particularly during their finals run.
Martin's two goals and pair of critical intercept marks in the waning stages of the Blues' victory over Sydney were monumental and symbolic of his wide-ranging impact.
The Geraldton product is eight centimetres shorter than Silvagni, though his impact among Carlton's forward mix as a de facto third tall can't be understated and shouldn't be underestimated.
To the relief of the Blues faithful, De Koning solidified his medium-term future at Princes Park when he signed an extension in July last year, shunning a host of very interested rivals.
His positional versatility is tantalising, and he refuses to limit himself with regards to where he plays – and that's important because sole ruckman Marc Pittonet doesn't possess De Koning's capability to go forward and impact the scoreboard.
Hence, if required to play as a third key forward alongside Curnow and McKay, De Koning is a legitimate option – even if the Blues are better served long-term deploying him as a predominant ruckman.
Fantasia isn't close to Silvagni's – or even Martin's – height, but he's still relevant to the discourse around Carlton's 2024 forward line.
The 28-year-old's recruitment this off-season, if for no other reason, suggests Carlton's list management powerbrokers see a deficiency somewhere that he can compensate for. And, even if he can't play in Silvagni's third-tall-mould, Fantasia fits in the Blues' holistic forward-line picture as a havoc-wreaker and scoring threat.
However, the former Port Adelaide and Essendon forward's problem in recent seasons has been his availability or lack thereof.
Persistent soft-tissue ailments have meant Fantasia has played a combined four AFL games across the past two seasons and hasn't registered a 20-game campaign since 2017.
The Norwood product will need to stay healthy and re-substantiate himself at the AFL level if he desires to play a part in Carlton's likely finals assault this September.
An untried key forward out of West Adelaide, Lemmey's chances of bursting onto the senior-level scene this year may have improved.
The 201-centimetre key-position asset was taken with Pick 47 at the 2022 National Draft by the Blues and, as a starting point, shaped as a developmental forward project.
Through 17 VFL games last year, Lemmey returned 12.12 as a goal-scoring option for the club's reserves side.
The 19-year-old has spoken of his bond with prolific goalkicker McKay and will be hoping to emulate some of the Coleman medallist's exploits this year in a bid to earn a debut senior opportunity.
"Me and 'H' are really close. We get along so well, I look up to him as a mentor," Lemmey told Carlton Media last November.
"I always ask questions of him, and he's happy to share. He's a Coleman medallist who's got so much knowledge of the game and is so professional off the field as well.
"For me, it's about learning as much as I can from him. The more I can take from him to put into my game, the more I can pick his brain, the better footballer I'm going to become."
Realistically, the 19-year-old is unlikely to get a look-in this year despite Silvagni's injury. In the longer term, though, his importance to the Blues' cause will likely enhance, particularly once Silvagni's and De Koning's current contracts near their expirations.
However, unless he can demonstrate he belongs at the professional level, that won't matter.
Listed at 188 centimetres and 85 kilograms, Moir is the closest mould to Silvagni of this quintet.
The South Australian draftee slipped in consensus rankings last year, falling to the Blues at the end of the first round, a slot much later than what might have previously been anticipated.
None of that matters now, though, with the athletic and speedy left-footer having displayed tendencies on tape that could convince the Blues' coaching cohort to trot him out as a third or fourth tall forward.
The former Glenelg forward has an opportunity to prove that he belongs at AFL level in his first season, with Silvagni's absence opening the door to that juncture.