Carlton 2024 Predictions / Expectations

[DJC]

I'm glad I don't have to pick a side for round 1. Barring a couple of serious injuries (SOS and Weiters), everyone appears to be  "flying" in the pre-season training. There are going to be so many spots/positions being competed for by multiple players. Several  positions have players who make it their own:
C: Cripps
FF: Charlie
CHF: H
Ruck: TDK Cerra Walsh
Wing: Acres owns one wing
HFF: Martin (one HFF is his)
FP: Motlop (one fwd pocket is his)
HBF or CHB: Gov as the intercepting defender
BP: Saady owns one back pocket

The remaining positions have multiple plays fighting for the spots. Starting from the back:

FB: Young or S Durdin
BP: Newman, Cincotta or Cowin
HBF: Williams or Boyd
CHB: Marchy or Kemp
The other wing: Ollie, Cotts or Doc
The other HFF: Cunners or Fog
The other FP: Durds or Razzle Dazzle

The bench becomes a nightmare, I Assume Pitto takes up one spot. That leaves three and the sub for all the mulitples mentioned above plus blokes like Jack Carroll, Binnsy, the newbys.

I have a headache.

And it's going to get even harder when Weiters is back, Hollands, E is available and the newbies start pressing for a spot!

It's virtually set in stone that we'll go with two rucks and De Koning will rest forward as a third tall or giving Harry or Charlie a breather.  It's also clear that Docherty will play forward and in the midfield and Cottrell will play mainly as a forward ... and I expect that he'll be picked before Cuningham and Fogarty. 

I think that Newman has cemented a place in defence and, in Weitering's absence, Young has to play (unless he has a shocker of a pre-season).  That gives us Saad, Young, Newman and McGovern pencilled in and Kemp, Williams, Marchbank, Cincotta, Durdin, S, Cowan, and Boyd fighting for the remaining three spots.  Apparently young Binnsy is earmarked to play in defence this season so that's another one to add to the mix.