Analysis 2025 Season Review

[Revenant1995]

Now that our 2025 campaign has come to an end, maybe it's time for some reflection.

My thoughts, post your own questions and responses.

For me, I'm thinking about what's 'the good, and the bad and the ugly' from 2025?
Where do I see improvement coming from for 2026?
What was a highlight (good thing) from 2025?

And for more points of possible reflection, last year's questions:
Which players improved?
Which players went backwards?
Which players are you excited about for next year?
Which players should we move on from?
What impressed you?
What disappointed you?

For me, the lows were the Sayers' fiasco together with Rd 1 losses, together with significant injuries at start of the year (such a bad start).
Highlight are the younger players coming on, plus Walsh returning at end of year (class).
Improvements from previous, plus better injury management, plus improvements in coaching, plus Wright.

2025 was not the year I hoped for or expected. And to be honest, whilst somewhat optimistic, I am a little uncertain. CFC, make me believe...

 

[David Sylvian]

Second half fade outs, lack of basic foot skills delivering i50, top 6 bar hewett below expectations.
Youth being developed in the vfl and making an impact when required.
We have the talent, do we have the game plan to match it in 2026?

 

[goreds]

Garbage

 

[BeijingBlue]

Second half fade outs, lack of basic foot skills delivering i50, top 6 bar hewett below expectations.
Youth being developed in the vfl and making an impact when required.
We have the talent, do we have the game plan to match it in 2026?

That pretty much nails it. A combination of poor skills and dreadful coaching.

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

A trainwreck of a season and one we're all happy to see the back of.

I have come to largely accept the decision to retain Voss but to me it does strike me that he is really being let off the hook due to a 'lack of support'. The thing that bothers me the most about Voss is that even if he isn't the best guy tactically and might get out-coached by more tactically-minded opposition at times, he failed badly in the basics, what I would loosely describe as 'the things he can control'.

Doing the right thing at match committee and dropping underperforming senior players (providing strong feedback both to that player and the broader group at the same time), setting basic standards around chasing/tackling/competing from forwards (and dropping people that don't meet those standards), bringing a team to game day that is dialled in and motivated.

It just seemed like we were a rudder-less rabble from top to bottom, discontent quickly swept through the playing group, and the result is one of the worst seasons we've had to endure in a long time.

If he needs people like Jimmy Bartel or Graeme Wright to tell him to implement those basic standards in 2026, then I'm not really sure why he is there to begin with.

 

[jungojungojungo]

A horrid season to have eyes and a desire to watch football, but going to be a really interesting off-season ahead.
We're either gonna bounce back with some clever list moves, or it's gonna be a dumpster fire resulting in another 7 years before we see September again.

 

[Michael Jezz]

The most disappointing season relative to expectation in following Carlton since 1978.
It was over round 1- amongst the worst losses in 50.yrs
The results ended the post 2015 era
The silver lining is 2025 put a knife into the dishonest club culture, hopefuly forever. The club has the chance to fully embrace modern AFL
Premierships are not guaranteed and I fear for next year but I truly believe.the Carlton Football club will end up in a better place.

 

[Ace69]

If we come out flying in the 1st month you wont hear anything about Vossy, but as soon as we start losing, there will be noise and pressure after every loss for his head. Media and from the supporters.

 

[Jell]

So much to lament from this season. It’s been discussed ad nauseam, but we need a new game plan. We need to be fitter and play 4 quarter football. We need better foot skills and better 15-23 players. Our depth is a joke.

Ultimately we’re not going to be a top 4 side whilst the likes of Fogarty, Durdin, Motlop and Acres are picked week in week out. They should be 25-35 players. Or better yet, not on the list at all.

Due to injuries we were forced to play too many kids. Some showed that they will be part of our future such as Carroll, Lord, O’Keeffe and Moir. Others like Wilson, Flynn Young and White, the jury is still out.

The fact that we don’t have a single player in the best 23 and under team in the AFL is alarming.

 

[Accidental genius]

Review only needs a one word description unfortunately...

Glad its behind us now..

Only positive for me is that we've got a fair few youngsters coming through that are showing real promise and enthusiasm.

I think its important to have a good balance of senior, mid/career and younger players within the team.

Young players with their enthusiasm and energy rubs off on the other players and probably drive the standards a bit too.

 

[ETET]

My reflections.

Can't have Hewett, Cripps, Walsh and Cerra in the same midfield.

Poor kicks, uncreative. Must have Cripps, Walsh, Smith and another person in next year.

Hewett may have had his best year but him getting it 30 times against top 4 sides is not going to do any damage.

I would prefer someone who can kick and who is creative get it 20 times instead.

Cerra/Hewett depth only.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Quarterly Review: End of season one-liners

It's the end of another familiar season at Carlton. We present our final instalment of the quarterly reviews for the season, ahead of a post-season list shake-up.

thegardinerstand.substack.com

 

[Franc de Borges]

 

[mochacinolatte]

 

[SurreyBlue]

If we come out flying in the 1st month you wont hear anything about Vossy, but as soon as we start losing, there will be noise and pressure after every loss for his head. Media and from the supporters.

Depends. Is he finally going to set the standards and adjust the game plan? If so, he is moving forward, if not - bye

 

[Faz 2000]

Zero (0) players in the AA squad is another indicator of how 2025 went. I’d have thought George and Weiters would have been our only faint hopes.

 

[ctwenty1]

not to expectation

but we will find out about the current club administrators and players through this off season

looking forwrad to a response in 2026

 

[Ace69]

Depends. Is he finally going to set the standards and adjust the game plan? If so, he is moving forward, if not

I dont think hes capable of coming up with a game plan, thats Hansen .. hes the so called brains

 

[Stamos]

An utter disaster, and our 5th completely wasted season since our rebuild started.

 

[Worm4]

 

[jj1978]

We're at a crossroads that could go either way but recent data suggests not likely positive.

Another year of injuries (physical, mental) hitting at the wrong time and impacting consistency.

Another year of players looking confused on field and not in sync at times, and lacking 4 quarters of consistency.

New fitness coach so far not tracking much better than his predecessor.

We retained Voss which was probably more risky than replacing him, potentially throwing 2026 out the window if we continue as we have for the last 1.5 seasons.

Wright has possibly put some players noses out of joint with his comment about our list not being good enough, possibly a reason why JSOS can use the line looking for success because internally there's thought we're not good enough.

Throw in the rareity of having 2 of your top draft picks do an ACL.

I sure hope we have some positives coming our way soon for it's been a pre-season and 24 weeks of the season of constant kicks in the nads.

 

[Gointocarlton]

We're at a crossroads that could go either way but recent data suggests not likely positive.

Another year of injuries (physical, mental) hitting at the wrong time and impacting consistency.

Another year of players looking confused on field and not in sync at times, and lacking 4 quarters of consistency.

New fitness coach so far not tracking much better than his predecessor.

We retained Voss which was probably more risky than replacing him, potentially throwing 2026 out the window if we continue as we have for the last 1.5 seasons.

Wright has possibly put some players noses out of joint with his comment about our list not being good enough, possibly a reason why JSOS can use the line looking for success because internally there's thought we're not good enough.

Throw in the rareity of having 2 of your top draft picks do an ACL.

I sure hope we have some positives coming our way soon for it's been a pre-season and 24 weeks of the season of constant kicks in the nads.

Tough times dont last, tough people do. Walsh, Crippa, Weiters, Haynes, Newmy, these blokes are made of the right stuff. The rest can either follow for **** off, dont care what their surnames are, how talented they are, draw the line in the dressing room and youre either in our out. Nuffs enuff.

 

[Moon]

Review only needs a one word description unfortunately...

Shocker