2019 could prove to be a year of memorable milestones for a number of Carlton's players.
Whether it's a landmark game, a debut or something on a bigger scale, there's no shortage of names who will make an appearance on the banner this year.
This year's potential milestones
Marc Murphy
Milestone — 250 games
This year’s season opener has extra significance for the two-time John Nicholls Medallist. When season No.14 ticks around in navy blue, Murphy will be running out for his 250th game in Round 1 against Richmond. He’s also expected to move into the top 10 for games played at Carlton: Alex Jesaulenko is currently 10th with 256.
A Carlton man through and through.@marcmurphy3 is intent on making an impact as he embraces a new role in 2019.#BoundByBlue
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) December 5, 2018
Dale Thomas
Milestone — 250 games
Taken the selection after Murphy in the 2005 AFL Draft, Thomas could bring up his 250th AFL game as early as Round 12 against Brisbane. He could also play his 100th game for Carlton against West Coast in Round 20.
Ed Curnow
Milestone —150 games
Currently on 143 games, the older Curnow is scheduled to play his 150th game when the Blues host North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium in Round 7. It’s likely to be the second of two milestones for the Curnow family in 2019.
Change has swept the halls of Ikon Park this pre-season, and Ed Curnow is excited by what's to come.#BoundByBlue pic.twitter.com/E3O6iHbgPC
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) December 3, 2018
Matthew Lobbe
Milestone — 100 games
Having ended the year in the AFL side and getting his tally to 98 games, Lobbe could play his long-awaited 100th game in familiar territory. The Blues head to Adelaide Oval to take on Port Adelaide in Round 2: Lobbe played 92 games for Port between 2010 and 2017.
Patrick Cripps
Milestone — 100 games
Ready to lead the Blues for his first season as joint captain, Cripps will also have his eyes on a milestone later in 2019. Without interruption, Cripps will play his 100th AFL game against reigning premiers West Coast in Round 20.
Mitch McGovern
Milestone — 50 games
With McGovern saying from the outset his eyes are on making his Carlton debut under Thursday night lights in Round 1, the following week still has significance for the new recruit. His first game back in South Australia (against Port Adelaide) could be his 50th AFL game.
Charlie Curnow
Milestone — 50 games
It’s easy to forget that Charlie Curnow is preparing for just his fourth season in the AFL, with 59 goals coming from his first 47 games. His 50-game milestone will potentially come against Sydney in Round 3: the same club which he made his debut against in 2016.
Liam Jones
Milestone — 50 Carlton games
After crossing from the Western Bulldogs over the 2014/15 off-season, a new home down back should see Liam Jones notch up his 50th game in navy blue early in the year. As things stand, that’s scheduled to come when Carlton travels to Metricon Stadium in Round 4.
Jack Silvagni
Milestone — 50 games
Silvagni could notch up his 50th game for Carlton against North Melbourne in Round 7, after making his debut for the Blues back in 2016. There could be another family milestone to come: six appearances between Jack and Ben will make it 600 Carlton games in total for the Silvagni family.
Sam Petrevski-Seton
Milestone — 50 games
The Halls Creek Cowboy has raced through his first 42 games of AFL football, having missed only two matches in total since his debut in 2017. As things stand, Petrevski-Seton will play his 50th game against Collingwood in Round 8: few will forget his three-vote performance against the Pies in just his seventh game.
Andrew Phillips
Milestone — 50 games
The 50-game milestone will be a long time coming for ruckman Andrew Phillips, having dealt with injury throughout his time at GWS and now Carlton. Phillips needs 14 games to reach the mark: he managed 16 in his first year at the Blues in 2016.
Caleb Marchbank
Milestone — 50 games
The impressive young defender could notch up his 50th AFL game and 50th Carlton game in the one campaign. Currently on 35 senior games, he could play his 50th against Melbourne in Round 16. A full home-and-away season would then see him notch up 50 games in the navy blue in Round 23 against Geelong.
Zac Fisher
Milestone — 50 games
With 17 games in each of his two years at Ikon Park, Zac Fisher’s 50th game is scheduled to come in Round 17 against Sydney at the SCG. The Swans would be a memorable opposition for Fisher: he enjoyed his first AFL win against them in Round 6, 2016.
Nic Newman
Milestone — 50 games
Speaking of Sydney, former Swan Nic Newman could play his 50th AFL game with a strong year at his new club, provided he plays 19 games. The earliest that can come is Round 20 against West Coast at Marvel Stadium.
Matthew Kennedy
Milestone — 50 games
Similarly to Newman, Kennedy currently sits on 31 AFL games and could play his 50th against the Eagles late in the year. After a 2018 season interrupted by injury, Kennedy — who showed his potential in his final six games of last season — will be looking to build on a big summer.
Potential debuts
Potential AFL debuts
Kym Lebois; Matthew Owies; Finbar O’Dwyer; Angus Schumacher; Ben Silvagni; Liam Stocker; Sam Walsh
Potential AFLW debuts
Chloe Dalton; Jess Edwards; Abbie McKay; Madison Prepsakis; Jayde Van Dyk; Brooke Walker; Rhiannon Watt; Emerson Woods; Charlotte Wilson
And one more…
Currently on 307 games, Kade Simpson could push to as high as third place in Carlton’s all-time games tally. He needs six games to pass Stephen Silvagni’s 312, while he’ll need a 22-game season to go beyond Carlton’s greatest ever player, John Nicholls (328 games). Simpson is no stranger to a full home-and-away season, having accomplished the feat on 10 previous occasions.
