THERE is a sense of expectation about Carlton that hasn't been evident since the 20th century.
The Blues made it to the second week of the finals last year, with many tipping them to go at least one better in 2012.
And no one player seems to embody those public expectations than midfielder Bryce Gibbs.
Carlton captain Chris Judd has already tipped Gibbs as one to keep an eye on in his website column this week. And while football clubs are inclined to hose down public expectations of their players, Carlton midfield coach Mark Riley echoed Judd's sentiments, saying Gibbs' development was one year behind fellow former No. 1 draft pick Marc Murphy who enjoyed a superb 2011.
"If that's what the skipper says then that's what goes," Riley told carltonfc.com.au.
"Murph is a year-and-a-half older than Bryce and sometimes they get put in the same category but I think he has now given himself every opportunity to take the next step. He's played some very good AFL football but what Marc has been able to do in the last year and a half is become consistently top shelf and I think that is the next step for Bryce.
"It won't be guaranteed but the way he has trained and the way his body is and how fit he is should give him every opportunity to be very consistent and make that next step in his career. I've got no doubt he will, (he is a) wonderful young man and a supreme talent."
Gibbs' football education over his first five years in the AFL system has seen him used in a variety of positions.
He had spent much of his time in the back half, but Riley said the emergence of Jeremy Laidler, Nick Duigan and Chris Yarran meant the Blues could afford to give him a role that best suited his strongest assets.
"That enabled us to play him a little more forward. He gets shots on goal, he marks the ball and he is a beautiful kick," Riley said.
"By the nature of his size he will be a flexible player but I would have thought midfield/forward possibly could be Bryce's role going forward. It's only my opinion."
Another player the Blues have high hopes for is Jarrad Waite, whose interrupted season came to a premature end last year when he was forced to undergo hip surgery.
Waite was running laps at a brisk pace at Visy Park on Friday and Riley said he was confident he would be fit for the start of the season.
"They tell me he will be right by round one. He would have played out the program and the procedures he is going through says he would have played two full scratch matches by round one," he said.
"We all know how talented Jarrad is. It's getting him on the park, we're a much better football team when he is fit and playing for us."
Luke Holmesby is a reporter for afl.com.au. Follow him on twitter @AFL_LHolmesby
