As we head into the second bye, I thought it time to reflect on the positives [and occasional negative] of the 2014 season thus far.

Pro
Gibbsy re-committing to the Blues, which was great news as he’s been in sensational form this year. Plus, with the contract being five years, we get to see where that hairstyle is going.

Con
Losing Matthew Kreuzer to injury for an extended time. Because, apart from what he gives to the team in a structural sense, we’ve missed Kreuze’s personality in the media. Who could ever forget his famous quotes, like “yep”, “sure” and “yep”?

Pro
All players have now deleted SnapChat from their phones.

Con
The constant media harassment of Mick Malthouse. It’s been so unrelenting that it’s caused our great coach to appear angry on the odd occasion. It’s ridiculous that people think he’s grumpy – I mean, he was the King of Moomba. To me he’ll always be on a float, happily waving to the crowd and wearing a crown. That’s the Mick Malthouse I know.

Pro
Levi Casboult’s hands. Seriously, the guy can clunk anything. He’d be able to hold on to a wet piece of soap on a slip’n’slide in the rain in Darwin. Just kick it near him and watch him grab it.

Con
Levi Casboult’s feet.


Levi Casboult has taken 85 marks in 2014. (Photo: AFL Photos)

Pro
For all the dire talk it’s copped, our recruiting at the end of last year has actually been pretty good. Once Docherty got fit he’s slotted right in, Andrejs hasn’t missed a beat and has taught us all how to spell Andrejs, with a full pre-season I’m super confident Daisy can be great again, and Cam Wood showed that the best way to keep your hat in the ring is to just keep plugging away. And maybe know the coach from a previous job.

Pro
At our absolute best, we can match it with anyone. If it wasn’t for the umpires we would’ve beaten Geelong, we pushed Hawthorn and only a couple of rounds ago we almost rolled Collingwood.

Con
We didn’t win. And Collingwood beat us twi- I can’t even say it. 

Pro
The 150^th celebrations showed what a truly great club Carlton is. Having Sticks, Big Nick, Jezza, the Flying Doormat and SOS named as our five greatest showed what great players we’ve had through our history. Although how Mick McGaune missed out is still a mystery to me.

Pro
That win over West Coast. With four minutes to go I’d already set fire to my membership and was on hold at SEN ready to pay out on the team, when all of a sudden they came from nowhere to win. Good times [and I never really doubted them for a second].

Con
Injuries. Seriously, we cannot take a trick. Ed Curnow’s leg [don’t worry, I took care of the point post that broke it; it’s now at the bottom of the Yarra]; Juddy’s hamstring; Mitch Robinson’s brain. And just on Mitch: we love the aggression. We love that he punched a Collingwood player. But we don’t love the fact that he has a “bye” every second week. He needs to learn discipline. Or, even better, someone needs to show him where the camera dead-spots are on the field so he can get away with it.

Pro
Sam “The Fist” Rowe. He’s been a rock for us down back, and don’t you just love seeing him punch the ball fifty metres away. Even if it is at an Auskick clinic.