2008

Despite another disappointing season on-field in 2007, the Blues would enter Season 2008 filled with supreme hope after not only securing another #1 Draft Pick in Matthew Kreuzer, but by luring one of the best - if not the best - players of the competition to Carlton in Chris Judd. This was nothing short of a coup in the AFL, and one that created impetus to all of the old rivalries - suddenly the Blues weren't pitied, but remembered as the foe of yesteryear. And didn't the Carlton fans know it as well, climbing on board with a massive new membership record of over 40,000, almost 5000 more than our previous record!

In the pre-season, Carlton set out to play some of our exciting kids (and new players) were not able to back up last year's NAB Cup win, but in a well attended pre-season practice match, about 10,000 people turned up to see Judd's first game in Navy Blue in another sign of the emerging force we hoped to be.

And then...the season proper. Expectations were high, but perhaps just for improvement given the arrival of Judd, Kreuzer and Richard Hadley from the Lions. Despite a surprisingly slow start, losing to Richmond, the Blues made it to 3 and 4 at the Round 7 Break with stirring wins against Collingwood, Melbourne and a fantastic away victory against the Eagles - only our second away win in 32 matches! Further wins against Fremantle, Port (in a stunning comeback) and then the Pies (again) had Carlton in the 8 for the first time mid-season since 2001.

From there on, Carlton faced three teams just on the cusp of the 8, and if we had beaten all 3, you'd feel as though we deserved to be playing finals. But losses to Essendon and St Kilda, despite a win over Richmond, and Carlton turned for the finals straight (last 7 games) a win outside the 8 and having to play 6 of the top 8 teams.

Despite another stunning win over Brisbane from a record 32 points down, Carlton would rue close losses to Adelaide and Sydney in the run home, narrowly missing out on finals action in a most welcome increase in output for the year. The Blues finished 2 games off 6th place in a year which had a group of about 7-8 clubs fighting out for the bottom spots in the finals. At year end we remained close to the 8 - but still of a significant distance away - but had shown tremendous improvement on our record of 2003-2007.

Off the field, in addition to the record Memberships, Carlton were able to celebrate a number of anniversaries; first, the 100th anniversary of our 3rd Premiership, second, the 70th anniversary of our 6th Premiership in 1938, and third, a full Spirit of Carlton function for the 40th anniversary of our 1968 Flag. It was indeed a year that Carlton got that glint in its eye back...

Perhaps it would be next year which would bring the reward so keenly sought by Carlton players and fans alike.

Ladder

People of 2008

Captain: Chris Judd
Vice Captain: Nick Stevens
Leadership Group: Andrew Carrazzo, Heath Scotland, Kade Simpson, Nick Stevens
Coach: Brett Ratten
Leading Goalkicker: Brendan Fevola - 99 goals
Best and Fairest Winner: Chris Judd
National Representatives: Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson

Milestones

200 Games (AFL): Nick Stevens
150 Games: Brendan Fevola
150 Games (AFL): Heath Scotland, Chris Judd
100 Games: Heath Scotland, Jarrad Waite, Simon Wiggins
50 Games: Marc Murphy, Jordan Russell

Milestones

Round 10: Dennis Armfield
Round 7: David Ellard
Round 6: Steven Browne
Round 3: Matthew Kreuzer
Round 2: Darren Pfeiffer
Round 1: Jake Edwards, Chris Judd*, Richard Hadley*
Debuts (Carlton): Chris Judd, Richard Hadley