IT’S REFLECTION time for the Blues after their 2024 season came to an end in Brisbane on Saturday night in disappointing fashion.

After being held scoreless in the first term, Carlton struggled to get the game under control until the third quarter, but by then, the margin was too great to claw back. 

Co-vice captains Sam Walsh and Jacob Weitering lamented the slow start in the elimination final and the lack of consistency shown by their side throughout the year but were adamant that the correct lessons will be taken and applied in their 2025 campaign.

“It’s not what you want happening in a final and I think everyone was pretty flat after the game, but hopefully that can fuel our hunger for next year,” Walsh said. 

“We got ourselves a bit into it but we left it too late which I think is relative to the way we went about the season,” Weitering said. 

“We want to be a consistent football Club and we probably let an opportunity slip and it’s pretty frustrating and disappointing, to be honest.”

Walsh was quick to defend the team selection decisions, noting that the next-man-up mentality that the Blues have adopted over the past three years held them in good stead over the year when the injury toll was mounting. 

Referencing the opportunities that younger players received through these periods, the 24-year-old said that everyone on the list needed to be ready to play when called upon. 

“Those boys put their hands up and trained the house down for a couple of weeks, the selection was made through their preparation and showing that they’re ready to go,” Walsh said. 

“When you don’t have [continuity], you have guys putting their hands up, which we had, but there were some guys that good opportunities through that. 

“It’s just the message to the group that everyone has to stay ready and from there you can build a strong culture.” 

Weitering admitted Senior Coach Michael Voss was strong with his message post-game, with the defender pointing out that the season hadn’t gone the way they planned even before finals. 

Wanting to be a formidable side, Weitering stated that having consistency would be a key factor for the Blues if they were to challenge again in 2025. 

“[Vossy] was pretty pointed about it – we want to be a good Club and a consistent football team and that’s probably not 13 wins and eighth place,” Weitering said. 

“We want to play finals and we want to give ourselves the best opportunity and that’s playing a consistent brand of footy across the whole year, that’s being available, that’s 18-20 guys turning up as well. 

“It’s very frustrating to be in a similar position as last year where it all finished and we’ve got a bit to work on and the next couple of days will be about that.”

One bright spark in an otherwise disappointing outing was the return of Sam Docherty, who hadn’t run out in the Navy Blue since Opening Round. 

Both Walsh and Weitering were quick to laud his hard work and preparation, and their sense of pride in having such a valuable player - and person -  return to the fold. 

“It was great to see 'Doc' back out there, the work that he put in and the mental toughness that he’s shown has been a lesson we can all learn from,” Walsh said. 

“To get back out here, performing on a big stage and doing a job for us is massive, credit to him, got the reward with a snag but he’ll be just as disappointed as all of us and want to go around again,” Weitering said.