The Carlton Football Club came into season 2024 as one of the premiership favourites. This, after they came within 16 points of a grand final last year.
They have started the season with two thrilling close wins, a stunning one-point win with a 46-point comeback against the Brisbane Lions to break an 11-year drought at the Gabba. Then grinding out a gutsy five-point win against Richmond.
They managed to do this without some significant players being in the side, such as Jacob Weitering, Sam Walsh, Sam Docherty (against the Tigers). Plus key forwards Jack Martin and Jesse Motlop.
Michael Voss is starting to create a winning culture as the Blues have held out their last six victories with less than a goal. Whilst they might not have expected to be 2-0, the impressive thing is that they won both games without a fully fit squad. It is now time for the Blues to start becoming ruthless.
The bye has come at a good time. After two wins, that were close and hotly contested, it will allow some time for some of the best 22 to recover from their injuries. Having Weitering down back will help the Blues massively in structure, and hopefully, Walsh will be fit enough from his back issues to return shortly after the bye, with games coming up against sides considered to be considerably lower than them in expectations for 2024 (North Melbourne and Fremantle).
These two games are a chance for the Blues to start playing some clinical footy, to really start boosting their percentage and get some significant winning margins. Plus, if they can perform well in these two games, they also have some very reasonable drawers coming up with the Adelaide Crows and GWS Giants games both being played in Melbourne.
