Carlton Magazine

A MAGAZINE FOR ALL CARLTON SUPPORTERS

KRUZER

“I LOVE THE CLUB”

PLAYER STATS OF

2017

CARLTON’S FIVE YEAR REBUILD

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RISING STAR NOMINATIONS

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DISCLAIMER: THIS MASGAZINE WAS CREATED SOLEY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES - WAS CREATED AT TAFE FOR A GRAPHIC DESIGN DIPLOMA.

CONTENTS HITTING THE DRAFT

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PICK 1 - WEITERING

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OLD DARK NAVY BLUES

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WINNERS ARE GRINNERS SKIPPER

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OUR DREAM DEFENCE INJURIES .

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OUR REBUILD

JACK SILVAGNI

THANK YOU

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GOALS WIN GAMES PRE SEASON

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THERE IS NO I IN TEAM

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PLAYING WITH PASSION

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HITTING THE DRAFT

in the rookie draft at pick No.5, a player Buckenara had rated in his top 50 prospects available from the entire draft crop.

ARLTON list boss Stephen Silvagni says the Blues won’t put a ceiling on what the team can achieve next season after bringing another batch of fresh talent to the club including a rookie steal.

In a column for the Herald Sun in the lead-up to the national draft, Buckenara had LeBois rated at No.22.

The Blues took six players in the national draft on Friday night — Sam Petrevski-Seton (pick No.6), Zac Fisher (No.27), Harrison Macreadie (No.47), Cam Polson (No.59), Tom Williamson (No.61) and Pat Kerr (No.65) — and added two more fresh faces — Kym LeBois and Alex Silvagni — in Monday’s rookie draft, while also relisting small forward Andrew Galluci.

When asked who he’d take with pick No.1 in Monday’s rookie draft, the ex-Hawthorn recruiter replied without hesitation: “I’d be swooping on Kym LeBois. That’s if he doesn’t get taken in the pre-season draft.”

“LeBois is a left-footer with tremendous goal sense, so he’ll be that small forward that quite a few clubs are on the lookout for,” Buckenara said before the draft.

Under first-year coach Brendon Bolton Carlton surprised many by winning seven games in 2016, including defeating Geelong in a massive upset in the middle of a run that saw it win five out of side games between Rounds 5-10.

Carlton Football Club are excited to welcome these new players to their club.

Silvagni has completely overhauled the list since returning to the club as recruiting and list manager and hopes Carlton supporters will approach season 2017 with a renewed sense of hope.

“We really haven’t put a limit on anything. We are a young team,” Silvagni said.

Kym LeBois is a steal at pick No.5 in the rookie draft to Carlton. Picture: Dean Martin “We want to win games, there’s no ceiling in terms of what we want to do but I think the players we’ve brought in, you’ll see some real speed.

“We’ve brought in who can actually kick the ball and make good decisions.

“We’ve reset the club and it’s exciting in terms of that young talent.

“I think when the Carlton people walked away from this season they saw some glimpses of hope and I think you’ll see that once again throughout our next season.”

Draft expert Gary Buckenara rated Carlton as one of the big winners of the national draft, while the Blues also swooped on LeBois 2

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PICK 1 - WEITERING

he 19-year-old was the youngest of seven Blues to feature in every game in 2017, taking his overall tally to 42 out of a possible 44 matches. Used primarily in defence in his debut season, one of the big talking points heading into Round 1 was which end of the ground he’d line up at.

best for marks (14), contested marks (three) and rebound 50s (five).

With Carlton’s defence under siege, Weitering’s superb first half ensured the Blues headed into the main break just 12 points down.

The No.1 pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft lived up to the hype last season, finishing third in the NAB AFL Rising Star award being named Carlton’s best first-year player.

Weitering ranked third at the Blues for contested marks (62) and fourth for onepercenters (87).

Those questions were answered when he spearheaded the Blues’ attack against the Tigers, booting three goals and taking three marks inside 50.

Producing his best month at the end of the season to finish in Carlton’s top five for intercepts, one-percenters and contested marks.

Played mainly in defence, but showed he could be used effectively in attack. Elite runner, excellent decision-maker and reads the game well with an uncanny ability to take intercept marks. Oozes leadership qualities and is cool under pressure.

Contracted until at least the end of 2021, Weitering looms as a crucial piece of Carlton’s future. Weitering was one of the Blues’ best in their final game of the season.

Despite the heavy loss to Sydney, he set new career-highs for kicks (19) and goal assists (two), while matching his personal

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OLD DARK NAVY BLUES

arlton’s theme song has several different people who claim to have written the song. The one arguably with the strongest claim is that it was written

by Agnes Wright and her cousin Irene McEldrew (Agnes mother was Dan’s Minogue sister Dorrie, so her uncle was Dan Minogue) the then coach of Carlton (1929-1934) and was written around 1929 to 1931 when Lily of Laguna was again a popular song in Australia. Agnes lived in Middle Park/Albert Park and did have several Carlton players boarding with them like Soapy Vallence and Eric Huxtable etc.

were naturally jubilant, and flags were waved, and football song to the air of “Little Annie Rooney,” was sung by an ethusiastic crowd.”

One day after training/or a good win these Carlton players “demoaned the fact that Carlton didn’t have a theme song”. So Agnes and Irene composed the Old Dark Navy Blues (with these players?). Another claim is it was written by Jeffrey and Anne Hales.

This is a song written and performed by Oscar Swarv. It was distributed to the members in 1991 on Cassette. It was an attempt to help the membership drive, as the membership was declining.

Little Annie Rooney was an English music hall tune made popular in 1890.

In the late 1970’s, early 1980’s an alternative club song was used, namely ‘Blue is the Colour’ (The Chelsea (UK soccer) theme song).

The words were rewritten for Carlton, and it was released on cassette sung by the players.

“We are the Navy Blues” was released in 1994, but we have not been able to locate a copy.

The football Record in 2004 went with the Dan Minogue’s link.

There is some controversy with regards to the use of the word ‘up’ or ‘us’ in the line ‘They like to send ...

‘We are the Navy Blues We are the Old Dark Navy Blues

Items of memorabilia from as early as the 1960’s have both us and up as options. Also, before the 2003 season at an open day at Princes Park, they had music sheets with Carlton theme song words and again it was “With all the champions they like to send us”.

Us is also the option written in the wall in the players change rooms at Princes Park.

We’re the team that never lets you down We’re the only team old Carlton knows With all the champions They like to send us (up - see below) We’ll keep our end up

However, many other items including records and annual reports have ‘up’ as the option.

And they will know that they’ve been playing

Lily of Laguna is a song written in 1898 by Leslie Stuart and performed by Eugene Stratton. It was a popular tune in the early part of the century and was even said to be on the playing list of the band on the Titanic.

Other Club Song

Against the famous Old Dark Blues’

The match report in The Argus of the Carlton - Essendon game on June 27, during the half time interval when the Blues were leading; “At this time the supporters of the Carlton 4

PHOTO CREDIT: AFL.COM & THEIR PHOTOGRAPHERS

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WINNERS ARE GRINNERS

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very time a coach comes under scrutiny or a team underperforms we are reminded of how football is a “win-loss industry”. On that basis the question has been raised as to whether Carlton have gone backwards in 2017.

The Blues showed real promise early, passing the half-way mark with five wins.

They had managed success against arch rivals Essendon and Collingwood as well as a couple of impressive scalps – last year’s grand finalists Sydney and 2017 favourites Greater Western Sydney.

But they certainly haven’t gone backwards.

Even in this ruthless industry there are times where there can be far more significant wins than those that earn you four premiership points. Carlton are in the midst of one of those times and Bolton’s Blues have had a number of other victories. I’ve found them another four and think a nine-win season better reflects what they have achieved in 2017: One of Carlton’s biggest successes this year is that they have gotten valuable experience into their exciting group of young players.

They might register fewer wins than last year, but in 2016 holes were being filled with competition journeymen or waning veterans who were never going to take Carlton forward in a meaningful way. Unveiling seven debutants this season, Bolton has had the courage to play his kids and accept the vulnerability of inexperience.

They have had five NAB Rising Star nominations this year, the most of any team in the competition – the kids can play. Charlie Curnow and Sam Petrevski-Seton have shown glimpses to suggest they will be genuine stars.

At this stage in their rebuild getting games into their youth was as important as winning matches.

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SKIPPER

The skipper was starting to produce his best last season when he severely injured his ankle against Geelong in Round 10. Despite a valiant effort to return late in the year, he decided to concentrate on having a full pre-season for 2017. Played a crucial role in the Blues’ first win of the season against Fremantle in Round 5.

In his fifth season as captain, his experience and guidance will be vital with so many young players around him.

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fter an injury-interrupted 2016, Murphy returned to his best this season in his fifth year as captain.

Murphy did it all against arch-enemy Essendon in Round 3, recording 32 disposals, 10 tackles and two team-lifting goals in adverse conditions.

He was one of seven Blues to play every game in 2017, finishing ninth in the competition for effective possessions.

His performance helped steer the Blues to their first victory of the season, earning him a perfect 10 in the AFL Coaches’ Association votes.

He also led the Blues for disposals, contested possessions, score involvements and inside 50s.

Murphy’s moment of magic against the Bombers was simply stunning.

Carlton v Melbourne, Murphy was involved in more scoring chains than any other Blue in 2017. Despite turning 30 in July, there appears to be no slowing down for the hardrunning midfielder.

In wet conditions, he threaded a perfect checkside from the boundary, earning the fans’ vote for Carlton’s Goal of the Year.

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PLAYING WITH PASSION

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hile the Blues won one fewer game than last season, there is strong evidence to be bullish about the future with the plethora of talented youngsters on the list.

The Blues would be pleased with the output of their more experienced players. Murphy, Docherty and Kreuzer were most consistent, Gibbs put in several outstanding performances.

We missed Cripps and Ed Curnow desperately late in the season with their grunt in the midfield.

The Blues needed their better and more experienced players to have injury-free seasons. Skipper Marc Murphy, Levi Casboult, Sam Docherty, Bryce Gibbs, Kade Simpson, Jacob Weitering and Matthew Wright played every game and Matthew Kreuzer and Lachie Plowman missed only one, but they could not cover the losses of Patrick Cripps and Ed Curnow in the midfield.

Where would the Blues have been without Kruezer. He carried a heavy responsibility in the ruck and produced the most consistent season of his career. Should be All Australian ruckman.

“I love the Club and I love playing here,” Kreuzer told 3AW on Monday.

The resurrection of Liam Jones as a key defender was one of the feel-good stories of the season.

“I’ve been here (at Carlton) since I was 18.

They’ve done a lot for me over the years and I’m just looking forward to the future now.”

Caleb Marchbank proved a solid acquisition in the back half and Kreuzer thrived on the workload of carrying the Blues’ ruck division.

The development and improvement of youngsters such as David Cuningham, Charlie Curnow, Zac Fisher, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Jack Silvagni and Tom Williamson was most pleasing.

“It’s been great seeing the young boys, what they’ve been able to do for the Club this year and last year, it really means a lot and to get those wins, it’s pretty special.”

“I’ve had some OK years in the past but this has probably been one of my most consistent years, it’s just nice to be able to play some consistent footy.”

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OUR DREAM DEFENCE ARLTON coach Brendon Bolton says his young side is headed in the right direction.

While the baby Blues made their mark in 2017, Carlton’s leaders delivered in “driving high standards”, according to Bolton.

While the Blues fell one short of their seven victories in 2016, they were competitive for longer this season with a more inexperienced side.

Sam Docherty became the Blues’ first AllAustralian since 2011, leading the competition for marks and kicks and finishing second for metres gained.

In comparison to 2016, Carlton blooded three more AFL debutants (seven), with players aged 18-20 combining for 121 more games (160).

Evergreen defender Kade Simpson defied his years to play every game, moving into sixth on Carlton’s overall games tally.

“The philosophy we live by is to give them (youngsters) a little bit of a spell during the week and allow them the best learning in a game,” Bolton told RSN on Tuesday.

An excellent team is created around a great defence and midfield. Now that Carlton has the dream defence, they have their eyes set on some amazing mildfielders.

“Some people do it the other way, but we think games give you great learning experiences, be that success or failure.

Carlton’s defence consists of, Sam Docherty, Lachie Plowman, Kade Simpson, Jacob Weitering, Caleb Marchbank, Liam Jones, Sam Rowe, Ciaran Byrne, Tom Williamson, Harrison Macreadie.

“You’ve got to endure, and provided it’s safe and their bodies aren’t at risk of injury, we’ve rolled them out there because we want to mentally harden our youngsters.”

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INJURIES

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arlton started the year in great shape, with their skipper Marc Murphy finally overcoming his ankle injury for 2017 and defender Ciaran Byrne returning in July 2017 But as the year progressed Carlton got hit with some bad injuries, losing defender Sam Rowe early in the season. Star Patrick Cripps played the first half of the season with a fracture jaw and broken ribs before fracturing his leg being ruled out for the rest of the year.

Ed Curnow’s 2017 season ended when he became the victim of one of Dusty Martin’s

famous ‘Don’t Argues’ to the neck. Injuring his larynx (throat).

Alex Silvagni injured his knee, leaving him out for 4 weeks, but his first game back resulted in him re- injuring his knee and removing him from the rest of the rounds.

Defender Caleb Marchbank hurt his shoulder towards the end of the season, he was unable to play the last few remaining games of the year.

Defender Lachie Plowman missed the last game in 2017 with a hip injury.

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OUR REBUILD “It’s a long time ago – metaphorically and literally. The difference is, you could go out and purchase these things [players] once – purchase what you needed but, these days, you have to wait in line, for the Blues, anyway,” said champion ruckman Justin Madden, a key cog of that 1986 side.

“The draft and the salary cap have probably had the biggest impact on Carlton more than any other club in the competition for a variety of reasons.”

New Blues coach Brendon Bolton is leading the ‘reset’ at Carlton.

As vice-captain Kade Simpson recently said, it’s simply about not wasting a minute in searching for improvement.

as the Blues have the second-worst winning record of any side in the past 20 years.

Under chief executive Steven Trigg, the Blues have made major changes to their executive ranks, and Kate Jenkins, the equal opportunity commissioner, has been brought on as a director. There is much this club, once the domain of influential Melbourne businessmen, has learnt.

The Blues now turn to young bucks like Patrick Cripps, Jacob Weitering and Charlie Curnow, all secured through the draft and without financial spoils, to help them provide a fresh chapter to their history. And to hopefully deliver the “checkmate” play.

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THERE IS NO I IN TEAM rendon Bolton is known for becoming the Carlton Coach in 2016 after the club sacked former coach Mick Malthouse.

that means they cannot give up on each other.

They rely on one other to get the job done.

The meaning ‘TEAM’ is ‘together everybody achieves more’ and that is what Brendon Bolton is trying to teach the players. If they work together as a group they will achieve more, such as win, an award, a special mention or just a PB.

In the first series of ‘The Journey’ Brendon Bolton talks about how there is ‘no I in team’.

The scene takes place at the end of the first episode. Bolton has taken the new recruits on a trip to Tasmania, they go on a boat and Bolton soon realises that Charlie Curnow had forgotton his yellow football, so he and Cunningham jump off the boat and swim across.

If the boys were to take one thing out of their trip away in Tasmania, it would have to be to work together and always have each others backs when something goes wrong.

At this Bolton makes a point to the others that when one person does something, they all have to do it. Because there is no I in team. So all the recruits, including Bolton jump off the boat and swim across the cold ocean in Tasmania.

team (noun) a group of individuals who are incentivized to work interdependently (together).

He likes to make a point that there is no individual, that a team is a team and therefore 12

GROWING UP HE WATCHED HIS DAD PLAY, NOW IT IS HIS TURN.

JACK SILVAGNI

JACK IS FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS DAD AND GRANDPA

HE IS THE THIRD GENERATION SILVAGNI TO PLAY FOR CARLTON.

FOLLOW HIS JOURNEY & PRE ORDER ‘GENERATION SOS’ NOW

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GOALS WIN GAMES

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ARLTON has knocked Greater Western Sydney off the top of the ladder, hanging on for a thrilling one-point win after leading for most of the second half on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

The Blues entered Sunday’s clash in 17th spot on the ladder, while GWS was heavily favoured to win and reclaim top spot from Adelaide.

However, Brendon Bolton’s men continued round 12’s run of upsets, leading at every change on their way to a deserved 10.11 (71) to 9.16 (70) win.

Matthew Kreuzer led from the front in his 150th game, inspiring Carlton in a tense final term with a diesel-powered work rate that never wavered.

Carlton’s pressure and intensity meant the Giants never had the game on their terms, but the visitors looked set to snatch victory at stages during the last quarter.

Jed Lamb, playing his first senior game for the season, calmly converted a set shot from 40m to put the Blues back in front two minutes later, and Matthew Wright extended the margin to seven points at the 13-minute mark.

Kreuzer continued his outstanding 2017 form, taking a decisive decision over

GWS counterpart Shane Mumford with 21 possessions, 33 hit-outs, six marks and a goal.

21 disposals, 33 hitouts, eight tackles, a goal and a 150th to cherish.

Sam Docherty (35 possessions, nine rebound 50s and 12 marks) was a constant playmaker across half-back for the Blues and was ably supported by Kade Simpson (20 disposals and four rebound 50s), while Marc Murphy (30 possessions) was the Blues’ prime mover through the midfield.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton was pleased his team was able to hang on for the victory after working so hard all day.

“It’s pleasing that our guys dug deep and got a reward for effort. I’m really happy for them because they’ve been trying so hard … and it was great reward for effort to finally get one,” Bolton said.

“We’ve still got a lot of learning to do and we’ve got some improvement.”

“I thought we didn’t complete plays at times today that we should have. I thought we lost the ball a bit in congestion instead of securing it, so they’re some growth areas. But togetherness is a good thing to have as a footy club.”

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PRE SEASON

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ey Blues Patrick Cripps, Ed Curnow and Caleb Marchbank are set to return from injury on day one of preseason training, with Carlton confident of opening its 2018 preparations with close to a full training squad.

Cripps and Curnow were sorely missed in Carlton’s midfield in the latter part of this season, with Cripps sidelined after breaking his left fibula against Melbourne in round 16 and Curnow sidelined after suffering a small split to his larynx in round 14 against Richmond.

was strong before we let him play again.”

The only Blues expected to be on modified programs at the start of the pre-season are Jack Silvagni (shoulder), Harry McKay (toe), Sam Rowe (knee) and Cameron Polson (shoulder).

Andrew McKay told AFL.com.au both midfielders would be fit for the start of preseason training in November.

“Patrick is out of any sort of brace and off crutches and moving and running now. He’s got no problems with his leg, he’ll be 100 per cent at the start of pre-season,” McKay said.

“If the season went much longer Ed would have played. The larynx ended up having a little split in it, which the initial MRI didn’t pick up, but the follow-up showed a little split and the specialist said he couldn’t play until it healed.

“But Ed is fine now and will be right for the start of pre-season.”

Marchbank played the first 14 games of the season before a hairline fracture in his right shoulder and then a pinched nerve in his arm sidelined him for six of the final eight rounds.

“Like Ed, if the season had gone a couple of weeks longer Caleb would have played, but he’s fine now” “When you get a pinched nerve like that you lose a lot of strength in the shoulder.

We were just concerned because that was the shoulder he had reconstructed the year before, so we needed to make sure that it

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THANK YOU

o all the Blue Baggers who are members and fans, I'd like to thank you as well. Football Clubs can't survive without their members who are the corner stone to every club. It's been a rollercoaster ride over my journey and you have ridden every bump along the way with me. There has been some unbelievable highs we have shared; the cheer when I kicked my first goal in my first game and winning finals against Essendon & Richmond are memories I'll cherish forever. There has been some frustration at times but I know it's never personal. I understand how passionate you all are about your club, all you want is to see your players do well & for your team to have success. It does make me sad that I won't be around when that time comes but trust me..it's not that far away and you deserve it as much as anyone. I will always be a Blue Bagger. I will always continue to follow and support the Carlton Football Club and wish everyone involved the very best in the future.

Love you all, Gibba.

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BELONG TO CARLTON

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