AFL Media's Jason Phelan takes a look at Carlton in 2012 in this preview of the season for www.afl.com.au.

Draw assessment
The Blues travel interstate five times, with four of those trips in a busy first half of the season that also contains most of their six-day breaks. The flip side of that is they only travel once in the back half of the season leading into the finals. They play three finalists from last season (Collingwood, St Kilda and Essendon) twice. It's a testing draw, but not a horrendous one.

Pivotal match
Carlton last defeated Hawthorn back in 2005 and hasn't beaten Collingwood in two years. The Blues obviously need to address this situation if they are to achieve the kind of success they crave. The first opportunity to do that comes in round three against the Pies.

Injury list
The Blues will enter the season with question marks over several key players. Michael Jamison (back), Andrew Walker (quad), Nick Duigan (thigh), Jeremy Laidler (knee) and Robert Warnock (shoulder) will all miss the season opener against the Tigers, with Laidler and Walker likely to miss even longer.

Track specialist
Matthew Kreuzer's track work over the summer has Blues fans buzzing. The super-talented big man was unable to reach peak fitness last year as he returned from a knee reconstruction, but he's had a clear run at this pre-season and looks poised for big things.

Dream Team special
Kane Lucas copped a decent dose of the second-year blues in 2011, but showed some signs of recovery in the NAB Cup. The 12th overall pick at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft is a classy midfielder who is modestly valued at $206,000 and looks set to do much better than the two games he managed last season.

Draftee watch
The Blues added three players - Josh Bootsma, Dylan Buckley and Sam Rowe - at the last draft and the mature-aged Rowe looks set to have the biggest impact in 2012. He was slowed by a shoulder injury late in the pre-season, but the 24-year-old forward will be given the chance to follow the path beaten by former Norwood teammate Duigan.

Needs a big year
Brock McLean, Paul Bower and Jordan Russell have all had teammates go past them in the pecking order in their respective positions and they need to rectify that quickly. Injuries have been an issue for all three at various times, but that is an excuse for only so long.

Best and fairest tip
Marc Murphy broke Chris Judd's stranglehold on the John Nicholls Medal last year and the pair will likely fight it out with Bryce Gibbs for this year's award. Gibbs' star has been rising along with Murphy's in recent seasons and a three-way battle for the best and fairest looms.

The Blues will have a good year if…
Jarrad Waite plays 20 games or more. He doesn't have to kick 70 goals - although that would be nice - but it's absolutely essential that the tall forward plays his part in the Blues' attacking structure. Injuries and suspension have been an issue over the past three years and Brett Ratten needs Waite to repay the faith shown when the club signed him up to a new three-year deal in the off-season.

The big issues
Jamison's health - the full-back is a vital cog in the Blues' defence and Ratten needs him to feature regularly. First-round draft pick Matthew Watson isn't ready just yet and the club will be hoping the back stress reaction that has slowed Jamison in recent weeks doesn't linger.

Three talls?
Ratten has three talented ruckmen in Kreuzer, Warnock and Shaun Hampson and his ability to fit them into the same side will play a big part in the Blues' success or otherwise this season. Kreuzer's versatility and athletic attributes could be the key here.

Top four or bust?
Ratten's assertion that the Blues must finish inside the top four after finishing fifth last season makes sense, but lofty goals made before the season starts have a history of back-firing. The coach has backed his players in and now it's up to them to show the mental strength required to deliver on the field as he knows they can.

Best 22
B: Chris Yarran, Michael Jamison, Jeremy Laidler
HB: Nick Duigan, Lachie Henderson, Andrew Carrazzo
C: Kade Simpson, Bryce Gibbs, Kane Lucas
HF: Andrew Walker, Jarrad Waite, Mitch Robinson
F: Eddie Betts, Shaun Hampson, Jeff Garlett
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Judd, Marc Murphy
I/C: Heath Scotland, Ed Curnow, Rob Warnock
Sub: Zach Tuohy

AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: 5th

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