The big Carlton question: Was it list health or something bigger that got the Blues in 2024?

Why did Carlton fall away so rapidly at the business end of the 2024 season?

That was the question pondered by SEN Breakfast’s Tom Morris and Nathan Buckley on Monday morning.

The Blues, under Michael Voss, lost six of their last eight home and away fixtures before going down to eventual premiers the Brisbane Lions by 28 points in the Elimination Final.

At one point Carlton was seen as a genuine premiership contender before what was a promising campaign fell apart.

But why was that the case?

Morris asked the big question surrounding the Blues: “Was it list health, or lack thereof, that got them this year or something bigger and more concerning than that?”

Buckley replied: “Well, I think they just they they weren't able to maintain continuity amongst their playing group.

“So the conditioning of their players was not to the point that they were able to maintain that continuity. They had to go too deep into their list, there were too many changes made too often in regards to availability.

“Right when Tom De Koning was coming hard and was ready to tear the competition apart, he got injured, which wasn't an overuse injury. So getting him right is going to be a really important part.

“They don't lack for talent at all. I’m really surprised and impressed that they've been able to handle their downturn in the back third of the season to end up getting bundled out pretty easily.

“In the first week of finals, the old Carlton would have had people coming from everywhere saying, ‘This isn't good enough’.

“So I think it's a credit to Brian Cook, it’s a credit to Luke Sayers and the board and the leadership at the top, and Vossy, to be able to calm the farm.

“I reckon they've been able to manage and the constituents have come into the fold. It gives them a really good chance in the next 12 to 24 months to have a crack at, and get a clean run at what they can make of what is a really talented list.

“Add to the mix a little bit and then see where they can go.”

Morris added: “They are perfectly stable.

“They have absolutely no excuses next year.”

Buckley concluded: “I’m very impressed with what they've been able to do off field as much as on field.

“There is some growth that we can see. As I said during the year, I think they can do the basics better.

“If I'm saying in the pre-season there are two focuses for Carlton - Do the basics really well.

“Do a heap at ground level, a heap of skills work, a heap of fundamentals and just do the basics really well.

“And the second part is get your players rock hard fit and ready to go so that they can endure the season and manage them well throughout.

“You do those two things and I think you can see them pop.”

Listen to Morris and Buckley discuss the Blues below: