Carlton's finals aspirations for 2026

[Corn Cobbers]

Comparisons cobbsy. Be consistent , at least , if you are going down the path of replacing like for like players

Happy to admit we've gone backwards for 2026, might struggle to make finals

You?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Recruits huh?

Ok then Reidy? Not as good as TDK

Hayward? Not as good as Curnow

Florent? Regular sub, average footballer

Khamis? Oops didn't come across

Have I missed anyone? Oh Chesser, not a bad pick up but unaccomplished so far

Not sure any of these guys will make up for the losses in 2026 and bounce you back up the ladder into finals

I know you're probably just deliberately being obtuse, but surely you're not actually trying to claim Hayward has been brought in to replace Curnow lmao?

 

[carlton_99]

Nah, you're just spruiking the well-worn Pittonet as a new recruit or something, now that's bizarre

More lies. No where have I said that. All I've said is he will replace TDK as they weren't playing together for the vast majority of 2025.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Nah, you're just spruiking the well-worn Pittonet as a new recruit or something, now that's bizarre

Nope, just saying while TDK was a very good player, Pittonet has shown he's more than capable of playing as our number 1 ruck at a good enough standard in TDK's absence.

 

[Worm4]

Happy to admit we've gone backwards for 2026, might struggle to make finals

You?

Im bullish if the game plan doesnt primarily include long bomb and hope.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

I know you're probably just deliberately being obtuse, but surely you're not actually trying to claim Hayward has been brought in to replace Curnow lmao?

Of course not, Curnow has not been replaced, you wanted to to talk about the recruits

Not saying Carlton botched the trading period, time will tell, but for 2026 you're cooked

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Im bullish if the game plan doesnt primarily include long bomb and hope.

So starting from a low base you need a new game plan, with less talented personnel, gonna be tough going

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Of course not, Curnow has not been replaced, you wanted to to talk about the recruits

Not saying Carlton botched the trading period, time will tell, but for 2026 you're cooked

Curnow has not been replaced but other forwards in our forward line have been upgraded.

What else were we meant to do... Bring in Jeremy Cameron to replace Charlie? It's a sum of all parts approach.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Curnow has not been replaced but other forwards in our forward line have been upgraded.

What else were we meant to do... Bring in Jeremy Cameron to replace Charlie? It's a sum of all parts approach.

Don't worry it's not the Spanish Inquisition, we're just discussing Carlton's finals' aspirations for 2026, one season

My tip? The season will begin disastrously and Voss will be sacked around June

Voss needs his big chess pieces like Cripps, Charlie and TDK, you need a more modern coach for this squad

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Don't worry it's not the Spanish Inquisition, we're just discussing Carlton's finals' aspirations for 2026, one season

My tip? The season will begin disastrously and Voss will be sacked around June

Voss needs his big chess pieces like Cripps, Charlie and TDK, you need a more modern coach for this squad

That's been your prediction for Carlton every year that Voss has been coach there, including the years we played finals... So it really doesn't mean much.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

That's been your prediction for Carlton every year that Voss has been coach so it really doesn't mean much.

Not true, I tipped the Blues to finish 5th in 2024

 

[bungalow_bill]

Pies haven't replaced Hoskin Elliot, Mitchell, Cox, or Mihocek with 4 other premiership players. Looks like they're stuff as well hey ?

Pies are rooted, everyone knows that. It's why the fans are more toxic than usual.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Carlton’s biggest issue over modern times is handling pressure, fortunately we will start 2026 with little expectation, hopefully our games get hidden off spotlight in the Saturday night graveyard shift and we get to coast along under the radar..

FWIW I am quite bullish, we played horrifically this year and I don’t think it’s possible for us to be worse, Hewett was probably the only player who had a better season than in23/24.. Sure we lose Curnow, who averaged 11 disposals and 1.2 goals, I am hopeful a functional forward line with Ainsworth and Hayward will replace those and more.. The last time Harry played a season without Curnow he was All Australian Coleman medal winner..

I started this year thinking we could win the flag and copped a giant reality check, I am prob naive but despite the evidence I don’t think we are as bad as our results showed this year and would expect us to finish somewhere from 6-10 next year

 

[ZabsBlues]

Carlton’s biggest issue over modern times is handling pressure, fortunately we will start 2026 with little expectation, hopefully our games get hidden off spotlight in the Saturday night graveyard shift and we get to coast along under the radar..

FWIW I am quite bullish, we played horrifically this year and I don’t think it’s possible for us to be worse, Hewett was probably the only player who had a better season than in23/24.. Sure we lose Curnow, who averaged 11 disposals and 1.2 goals, I am hopeful a functional forward line with Ainsworth and Hayward will replace those and more.. The last time Harry played a season without Curnow he was All Australian Coleman medal winner..

I started this year thinking we could win the flag and copped a giant reality check, I am prob naive but despite the evidence I don’t think we are as bad as our results showed this year and would expect us to finish somewhere from 6-10 next year

Look out, the Collingwood trolls don't like it when Blues supporters are bullish about the upcoming season. They will try to belittle your post.

 

[Mr.X]

So starting from a low base you need a new game plan, with less talented personnel, gonna be tough going

The base is improved, and a new game plan likely to result in a boost

 

[Fadge]

The base is improved, and a new game plan likely to result in a boost

Please explain how the Carlton base, which I assume is the list profile, has improved?

 

[Piggy Smalls]

You keep going back 2-3 years for some reason. In 2025, it was clear Carlton shifted to a single primary ruckman. These are just facts.

Pittonet will likely get first shot as the primary ruckman in 2026. Reidy might surprise and put his hand up for that spot and O'Keefe is showing good signs as a forward/ruck. I'm also a massive fan of Harry taking some of the ruck duties if possible. He was great there when he played in 25'.

I just don't value the ruck position as highly as others. Don't think it is that critical to your success especially if your midfield is solid both ways. Teams like Geelong and Brisbane are great examples who don't have great rucks and excelled in 2025.

Reidy is miles off it mate

 

[Bagger72]

Please explain how the Carlton base, which I assume is the list profile, has improved?

Phase 1
Exits - Lemmey, Fantasia, Docherty, Cincotta, Durdin
Enter - Ainsworth, Florent, Chesser, Hayward, Reidy

Exits - Curnow, Silvagni, TDK
Enter - Dean, Walker, (Free Agent cos we now are flooded with cashola)

Exits - Binns
Enter - Ison

 

[Bagger72]

Reidy is miles off it mate

So how does he keep winning hit outs, win so many tackles and hit the score board?

 

[carlton_99]

Reidy is miles off it mate

I'm not expecting anything from him. In my eyes he's coming in as the 3rd ruck. But like I said he may surprise and with the rule changes might help him given his extra height compared to Pittonet

 

[LuckyBounce!]

Bottom 4

 

[Piggy Smalls]

So how does he keep winning hit outs, win so many tackles and hit the score board?

Because it's the WAFL?

When Luke Jackson got injured, we rushed Darcy back at about 30% fitness and played Voss as our second ruck. And every single Freo supporter agreed it was better than playing Reidy.

Happy to be proven wrong, but you might want to check out his AFL highlights if you can find any before spouting off his WAFL stats as some sort of evidence he's at the required level.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Likely battling it out with the Saints for a position around 11th - 7th

 

[Mr.X]

Please explain how the Carlton base, which I assume is the list profile, has improved?

More balanced list, and they’ve brought in some depth.

In netter shape now, and much improved draft hand

 

[pressurepoint]

Will improve from the 2025 performance
But still mid table
Will not get to the promised land with Voss