The ‘f***ing uncomfortable’ reality ‘pretender’ Blues are in… but they’ve got big things planned

It is the off season of tough decisions at Carlton and the Blues getting brutal in their list management “will end up paying dividends” according to the Herald Sun’s Glenn McFarlane on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

Carlton are trying to pry two-time All-Australian half back Dan Houston out of Port Adelaide, are all but certain to sign GWS free agent Nick Haynes and are trying to maintain enough draft capital to land father-son selections Ben and Lucas Camporeale.

To free-up list spots – and valuable salary cap room – injury prone trio Jack Martin, David Cuningham and Caleb Marchbank were delisted, while Matt Owies, Matt Kennedy and Lewis Young are being dangled as trade bait.

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Michael Voss gave an apparent warning to the playing group in the final team meeting of the season that few were safe by telling his own story of how quickly AFL clubs move on as he “never went back” to the Brisbane Lions after 289 games as a player and another 109 as coach.

“Those conversations are going to be really f—ing challenging but step into it because the next level doesn’t come unless you’re uncomfortable,” Voss said.

“If you want to stay comfortable, stay where you are, doing what you’re doing and it’ll be maybe good enough to play finals, maybe not. But if you want to win and be the best, that’s a different conversation. That’s f—ing uncomfortable.

“I don’t care what seat you sit in – you’ve got to get better.”

That quest led them to Houston.

Carlton’s kicking efficiency is below AFL average and no Blue kicked the ball better than Houston who went at 81.5% by foot this season – but they may have to get creative to snare him.

The Blues’ first selection in this year’s draft is pick 11 and “they’re very reluctant to give that up – they’ve got some plans for that – but they just might have to” according to McFarlane.

Trading future draft picks appears to be the likely solution but things become more complicated if they are to pursue more players from rival clubs to fill their other needs.

Midfield speed is one which has led to Kennedy being told he can search for more inside midfielder opportunities elsewhere because Patrick Cripps and George Hewett require breakaway pace around them.

Another is a partner for Jacob Weitering in defence as the Blues have been unable to bed down a regular second 195cm or taller defender.

Kane Cornes believes he has found the answer, declaring in The Age that “Carlton need Sam De Koning”.

The premiership winning Cat was not selected for the qualifying final win against Port Adelaide and instead played VFL after a year impacted by injury, form and a period playing in the ruck – which included a mauling at the hands of his older brother, Tom.

“If the Blues are to advance from pretenders to true premiership contenders, they must put all their resources towards luring the Geelong defender to Princes Park,” Cornes said.

“Carlton desperately need a second key defender to support All-Australian Jacob Weitering. De Koning fits the bill perfectly.”

Haynes’ arrival will boost their intercept marking stocks down back alongside Brodie Kemp and Mitch McGovern, but Weitering needs a sidekick like how Harris Andrews has Jack Payne and Sam Taylor has Jack Buckley.

Young has been unable to nail down that position in his three years at Princes Park since crossing from the Western Bulldogs but the fact he has been told he is free to explore his options elsewhere hints that Carlton may have someone in the pipeline.

Likewise for Matt Owies.

The Herald Sun’s Scott Gullan was dumbfounded by Carlton not yet offering the former Category B rookie small forward a new contract on Midweek Tackle.

“Jesse Motlop, Lachie Fogarty – got re-signed during the year – Orazio Fantasia and Corey Durdin combined have nothing on what Matt Owies did. He kicked 33 goals this year. One of their best contributors and they’re hanging him out to dry,” Gullan said.

“Surely, he’s not asking for massive money? He’s a forward pocket, we get that, but why are they hanging him when they’ve got all these others on the list?”

The Blues have not been linked to another small forward but must be scouting their options in the background.

Otherwise, they will have to back-in who they already have if Owies does attract a better offer elsewhere.

Zac Williams was reborn as a small forward mid-year and was rated the eighth best player in the competition in that position by Champion Data before being struck down with injury once again.

Jesse Motlop was picked ahead of Owies for last year’s preliminary final but did not play until Round 19 this year because of injury.

Matt Cottrell and Lachie Fogarty are highly respected internally for the crucial defensive roles they play as half forwards, but both missed the back end of the season due to shoulder and collarbone injuries respectively.

The cupboard is not bare, but they do need to find more goals outside of key pillars Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.

They also need to lock in the other pieces of their spine.

“Jacob Weitering has potentially got a six-year deal coming up, Sam Walsh is not that far away, they’ve got Adam Cerra, Adam Saad as well and Tom De Koning is the one – he’s the player that they’ve got to clear the money,” McFarlane said.

“They have to make sure that they have enough money.”

De Koning’s injury woes closely mirrored Carlton’s fortunes this season.

When he was fit, firing and handed the sole responsibility for the ruck, the Blues were humming and humbled preliminary finalists Port Adelaide – by 36 points at the Adelaide Oval in Round 12 – and Geelong – by 63 points at the MCG in Round 15 – on their way to winning 11 of their first 15 games.

De Koning, who will become a free agent at the end of 2025, is a pivotal re-signing and so too are Weitering and Walsh.

Weitering finally earned his first All-Australian blazer this year after being regarded as one of the league’s best one-on-one defenders for several seasons, while Walsh was the player of the final series last year and while his 2024 season was hampered by a back issue – his best form coincided with Carlton’s strong first half of the season.

It has been much talked about this September that a team’s star players must fire on grand final for them to taste the ultimate success and that message must be ringing in Blues list manager Nick Austin’s ears.

McFarlane said Austin “does an outstanding job” and has the ability to pull off all their desired moves in the upcoming trade, free agency and draft period.