The Carlton Football Club began the first leg of its journey under senior coach Brendon Bolton in 2016.

After notching up seven wins for the season – three more than last year – the Blues ended up finishing 14th on the ladder.

With the team now on a break, we’re taking a look back at each player’s year in statistics. Here’s the review for Carlton’s No. 48, Matthew Korcheck:     

VFL GAMES

Season 2016: 17

Career: 17 

VFL GOALS

Season 2016: 4

Career: 4 

KEY VFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets)

Disposals: 68 (4.0)

Marks 18 (1.1)

Contested possessions: 41 (2.4)

Clearances: 6 (0.4)

Tackles: 23 (1.4)

Hit-outs: 256 (15.05) 

OVERVIEW

Matthew Korcheck arrived at the Blues towards the end of last year as a Category B International rookie.

The American, who hails from a basketball background and stands at 208cm, instantly boosted Carlton’s ruck stocks and provided a tall target for the Northern Blues.

After making his Aussie Rules debut for Northern in Round 1 against Footscray, Korcheck managed to play 17 games in his first season as a ruckman.

In a sign of his development, the big man kicked his first goal in Round 7 against Coburg at a very windy Preston City Oval. He booted a long-range goal from outside 50 in the first term after taking a solid mark.

Off the field, Korcheck was thrilled to meet US Vice-President Joe Biden at Carlton’s Round 17 match at the MCG. Korcheck, along with fellow American player Mason Cox, sat next to Biden during the game and explained the rules as the game was played.

HE SAID IT

“Once the game ended it was time for him to leave, he thanked us and we thanked him. I shook his hand, we both smiled and he told me ‘you better come back home someday’. I nodded and told him ‘I’ll be back’. His secret service walked him out and I walked back to my car trying to process the day.

It was unbelievable!” 

– Korcheck penned a letter detailing his experience sitting alongside US Vice-President Joe Biden.


Matt Korcheck explains the intricacies of the game to US Vice-President Joe Biden.

THEY SAID IT

“He works pretty hard, Matty, and he works hard at training on his ruck craft and his goalkicking…to his credit he composed himself, went back through his routine and knocked it over – that was certainly a highlight of the day.”  

– Northern Blues coach Josh Fraser congratulates Korcheck after slotting his first goal in the navy blue.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

In the Northern Blues’ gutsy six-point win over Footscray in Round 16 at Ikon Park, Korcheck took a huge contested mark in the forward 50 in the dying stages of the game. He calmly went back and slotted the goal, sealing victory for his team.