Possibly, but we've been left at times where we literally have to select WAFL top up players just so we have enough numbers to compete.
There were periods last year when we had approximately 20 players on our injury list and these included players like Naitanui, Yeo, McGovern, Ryan, Sheed, Shuey, Barrass, Cripps etc... for large periods of the year (if not all the year).
There were games we went into in the last two years where we knew that we couldn't compete (no matter the endeavour of the players) due to lack of personnel.
Outside of Melbourne in 2021 teams do get injuries. However, you have managed to have sufficient players to be competitive last year and Friday night's game was excellent in light of the critical personnel you expect to return.
In 2015 we had some very important players go down with injuries early on in the season and still somehow managed to make a GF.
Then in 2018 we lost Sheppard and Naitanui (who was definitely our most important player in 2015 and arguably remained that up to his ACL against Collingwood later in the year). With Gaff having a spell on the sidelines I think most were prepared to write us off. I mean all three were All-Australians and key players. Thankfully our structures managed to overcome these deficiencies and the rest is history.
Whilst I won't go all Sam McClure (as nobody should go full Sam McClure) I think Carlton are set for a good year and hope they go all the way.
And commiserations again for Docherty. Nothing I've posted above should detract from the pain of losing a much-loved and luckless player.
