The Herald Sun's Sam Landsberger puts the Blues' recent recruiting under the microscope. Story courtesy News Limited.
If Carlton’s recruiting wasn’t already perceived as a total bust, it was yesterday as powerbroker Bruce Mathieson smashed it as the worst in the AFL.
The last eight to 10 years was “appalling”, Mathieson said, labelling the Blues an embarrassment.
But what exactly have the Blues got wrong?
You could mount a case that when the talent thins, the Blues are right up there at jagging late diamonds in a space Fremantle has led the way in.
Two months after Chris Judd left the west for Visy Park, Carlton plucked Dave Ellard from the same state late in the rookie draft. He was close to its best in Sunday night’s loss to Port Adelaide.
The next year the Blues found Jeff Garlett in the same draft and the small forward is poised to play game No. 100 against Richmond next week.
In 2009 then-chief recruiter Wayne Hughes took Jaryd Cachia, Levi Casboult and Zach Tuohy — who looks star material — as rookies.
In the next two seasons the Blues unearthed Ed Curnow and Tom Bell in December, with all of those bargains except Casboult featuring against the Power and already combining for 254 AFL games.
When you toss those workhorses in with top-three selections Judd, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Walker and Matthew Kreuzer, the hole in the list can be traced to a three-year blackout of prized talent.
Carlton supporters would have hoped early selections from 2009-11 would be around the 50 games mark and set to transform into some of the league’s best players.
Instead Kane Lucas (pick No. 12), Matthew Watson (18) and Josh Bootsma (22) have combined for just 66 games with only Watson featuring in Round 1.
They appear stuck in the wilderness. The Blues still reckon Watson will make it and Bootmsa’s raw talent is undeniable, even if he polarises the fan base.
Almost all of those follow-up selections — Marcus Davies, Rohan Kerr, Luke Mitchell and Pat McCarthy — have since been axed.
It was a tough time for recruiters, with the expansion clubs picking the eyes out of those drafts with the best dozen 17-year-olds before it began and then hogging the early picks. Watson at pick 18? Closer to 35.
Richmond enjoyed opposite fortunes in that window, but while the Blues played finals four of the past five seasons, the Tigers only crashed into September last year — falling to Carlton.
The Tigers, benefiting from earlier selections, jagged Dustin Martin, Reece Conca and Brandon Ellis as their top picks from 2009-11.
The Blues’ haul since 2012, when Shane Rogers was put in charge, is too early to judge, but is regarded by talent experts as very strong.
Troy Menzel was a top-three talent stolen at No. 12, Nick Graham is a blond ball magnet with enormous drive and last year’s first pick, clearance specialist Patrick Cripps, is fresh from a sizzling maiden summer and pushing for a fast-tracked debut.
Rogers said last year a key forward is now on the menu and he is building towards a plan with Mick Malthouse.
Matthew Lloyd might have declared the Blues in “no man’s land”, but the worst recruiting in the AFL? No way.
They nailed their No. 1 selections, landed some beauties late but misfired on a handful of key picks a few years ago.
Things always look worse after a big loss, but on closer inspection Carlton fans should find cause to feel a little less blue.
