2022

The Blues were licking their wounds after a disappointing 2021 - we had loaded up with talent for the year in Williams and Saad, but couldn't penetrate through the year and fell away at the end. A new Coach in Michael Voss and a new CEO in Brian Cook, and a full pre-season for a long injury list beckoned. Most notably from the list, Sam Docherty again fell foul of cancer, but amazingly returned to training post Christmas and found himself in the Round 1 team. He would relinquish the joint captaincy, but the inspiration that is Captain Sam seems to be something of a talisman for the Blues.

So with minimal list change but a complete Coaching change of roster, we set out to make amends. A slow start against the Tigers in Round 1 gave way to a smashing last quarter, before successive 'good' wins against the Dogs and Hawks saw us 3-0 to start the year. For history buffs - Blueseum caters for you - this was the first time since 2012 and then before that 1995 we would be 3 and 0! Go Blues! A disappointing loss to the Suns would follow, before the Blues nailed 4 in a row between Round 7 - 10 to see us firmly in the 8. Would our finals drought be broken?

The Blues would take some hits however; a steady run on injuries to defenders such as McGovern, McDonald and Marchbank would see us go tall in the mid season draft in Sam Durdin.

These runs would contribute to some mid season troubles without long runs of wins, most notably the 'WLWLWL' succession mid year. As this trend unfolded, other teams started to surge and the Blues fell away to the bottom tier of the 8. A disastrous loss to the Crows before a tight loss to the Dees, would see us in a finals faceoff against the Pies in Round 23, 2022). A full 'G, a longstanding historical opponent, a fine day in Melbourne..... and a taste of finals SHOULD we have won...

Alas, despite a massive third quarter, the Blues went down by 1 point and missed the finals by less than 1%. So close, and so far ahead at 8-2, yet so far. An off season of licking wounds and regathering under Vossy...

People of 2022

Coach: Michael Voss
Assistant / Development Coaches: Aaron Hamill, Ashley Hansen, Tim Clarke, Luke Power
Captain: Patrick Cripps
Leadership Group: Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering - Vice Captains
President: Luke Sayers
CEO: Brian Cook

Debuts

Round 1, 2022: Adam Cerra*, George Hewett*
Round 3, 2022: Lewis Young*, Jordan Boyd
Round 7, 2022: Jack Carroll
Round 9, 2022: Jesse Motlop
Round 14, 2022: Sam Durdin*
Round 17, 2022: Will Hayes*
Debuts (Carlton): Adam Cerra, George Hewett, Lewis Young, Sam Durdin, Will Hayes

Milestones

Debut Coach (Carlton): Michael Voss
Debut Coach: Ashley Hansen
Rising Star Nominees: Corey Durdin
Coleman Medal: Charlie Curnow
50 Games: Matt Kennedy, Lochie O'Brien, Nic Newman, Will Setterfield, Jack Newnes
50 Games (AFL): Caleb Marchbank
100 Goals: Charlie Curnow
150 Games: Patrick Cripps
150 Games (AFL): Adam Saad
150 Goals: Harry McKay
200 Games (AFL): Jack Newnes
400 Games Father / Son: Jack Silvagni (88) and Stephen Silvagni (312)
400th Game as a Player or a Coach (AFL): Michael Voss
AFLPA 22 Squad: Sam Walsh, Adam Cerra
All-Australian Initial 40 Man Squad: Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow, Adam Saad, Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering
Brownlow Medal: 2022 Brownlow Medal Patrick Cripps

Retirements:
Traded Out: Will Setterfield
Delistings: Will Hayes, Oscar McDonald, Jack Newnes, Luke Parks, Liam Stocker, Tom Williamson

Ladder