Carlton has been forced into a defensive reshuffle following the sudden retirement of Liam Jones.
New Blues coach Michael Voss will use the pre-season to find a replacement for Jones, who chose to retire after reportedly refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The 30-year-old was a mainstay in defence for the Blues, forming a solid partnership with Jacob Weitering down the spine of Carlton’s team.
David King thinks Jones is an “unbelievable loss” for Voss and the Blues as they look to break an eight-year finals drought in 2022.
“I think we’re going to learn a bit about ‘Vossy’, aren’t we?” King told SEN Breakfast.
“Does he load up forward and try and kick a score? Or does he throw some assets down back and try and defend?
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“The Jones one shifts the whole back six – it’s an unbelievable loss, isn’t it? Jones and Weitering last year – you could mount a case at points through the year where they’re nearly both All-Australian, where they could be centre half-back and full-back in the All-Australian team.
“They were just under siege, and they weren’t protected at all under the Carlton defensive game plan, they were left to rot there in one-on-one battles.
“It’s a big loss.”
Jones walked away from the final year of his contract worth a reported $500,000.
The now ex-Blue finished eighth in the club’s best and fairest in 2021, ranking in the top three at Carlton for intercepts, one percenters and contested marks.
New recruit Lewis Young and Mitch McGovern are two candidates to replace Jones in defence next season.
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