Despite being less than a month until the start of theย AFL Draft, almost all of the league's 18 clubs will believe their starting line-ups are close to complete

But irrespective of this confidence, every roster still has holes.

Due to the nature of the league, it is almost impossible for two sides to be in exactly the same place, so some of these gaps may be chasmic, whilst others may be wafer-thin.

However, if left unattended, those of any magnitude could lead a side to ruin.

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Following their exceptionally busy hour at the trade table on October 7, it was clear that Carlton were keen on continuing to fill in their listโ€™s potholes with pace.

While the Bluesโ€™ roster isnโ€™t quite the finished article at the present, there should be no doubt in the minds of any former detractors that the 16-time premierโ€™s carriages are much closer to rejoining the tracks than they have been for decades.

Although it may be harsh to unequivocally state that incoming head coach Michael Voss should be steering the Baggers back to September in his debut season, but as the clubโ€™s latest conspicuous president, Luke Sayers, has already laid the marker, the narrative of 2022 is already outside of my control.

Still, if the boys in navy are to shed their business end cobwebs to run with the big dogs this year, parity at centre bounces is a requirement.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 25: Marc Pittonet of Carlton and Todd Goldstein of North Melbourne challenge for the ball during the round 8 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Carlton Blues at The Gabba on July 25, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Despite the current Coleman Medallist, a generational defender and a fleet of household midfielders currently calling Carlton home, the Bluesโ€™ ruck stocks are the relative weak link in their line-up.

Irrespective of the fact that both Marc Pittonet and Tom De Koning have proven more than competent at the level with seasonal means of 29.1 and 16.8 hit-outs respectively, their injury-hit campaigns exposed the Bluesโ€™ Achilles heel to the rest of the competition.

As both members of this duo only laced the boots on 13 occasions across 2021, and mid-season recruit Alex Mirkov never made it onto the park, ex-coach David Teague was forced to find coverage from further afield.

While third-generation Blue Jack Silvagni played out of his skin when asked to don the shin guard within the centre circle, if the same practice is forced to be put in place for any serious length of time next season, then September may still be a period for partying rather than playing for those at Princes Park.

Given this potential pitfall, it was particularly rankling that Carltonโ€™s name wasnโ€™t raised at all during the rucking merry-go-round of the recently concluded trade period.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Tom De Koning of the Blues marks infront of Aaron Naughton of the Bulldogs during the round 22 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on August 19, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Another point of contention for Voss will be his new sideโ€™s inability to score from the boots of their mosquito fleet.

Across the course of Carltonโ€™s last 22 games, only one genuine small forward that remains on the clubโ€™s list managed to reach double digits in the goal column, Matthew Owies with 15 from 13 contests.

A rise in this department will be expected from Jack Martin in 2022, as the former Sun has only managed a disappointing return of 20.17 from his 36 matches in a monogrammed guernsey.

AFL Rd 2 - Carlton v Melbourne
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 13: Jack Martin of the Blues in action during the 2020 AFL Round 02 match between the Carlton Blues and the Melbourne Demons at Marvel Stadium on June 13, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

With his void now permanent, the race will be on to find Eddie Bettsโ€™ full-time successor within the forward 50, as even at 34, the offensive arc wizard still managed to slot more than 10 per cent of Carltonโ€™s majors in his final year.

Having been bolstered with talent for both the present and the future, Carlton appears likely to break their finals drought by the end of next season.

However, if these aforesaid ills are to extend, a prolonged September run is unlikely to be on the cards.

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