2005

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2005 Summary

Season 2005 was one of extreme contrasts. It began full of promise, as the Blues would take all before them in the Pre-Season Wizard Cup, winning all 4 of its games, to secure its first Pre-season Championship in 8 years against eventual Grand Finalist West Coast. This would create a real sense of optimism amongst fans, after an improved 2004 and help lift membership to a record 33,534. Coach Denis Pagan was signed up for an additional 3 years off the back of the Wizard Cup win, offering experience and stability as the Blues truly looked to rebuild.

Early on in the real season, the Blues would be competitive, with close but not entirely convincing wins over Essendon and Hawthorn, an away draw against reigning premiers Port Adelaide and close losses to the Kangaroos, Fremantle and Collingwood, to be 2 1/2 wins from its first 6 matches. But it would seemingly never recover from its round 7 thrashing at the hands of Richmond. This would start a run of 11 straight losses, which would not end, ironically, until the return clash against the Tigers in Round 18. By this time it had plummetted to bottom place of the ladder. It would only win one further match, in round 20, against a depleted Collingwood but Carlton would end up with only its second wooden spoon at season's end. Injuries to key defenders Bret Thornton and Luke Livingston and a 2 match suspension to full forward Brendan Fevola would prove costly, followed by a prolonged absence for ruckman Barnaby French.

2005 would be a sad year for many long time supporters, with the final game played at Princes Park in Round 9 against Melbourne. This was the first year in which all but one of its home games would be played at either TD or MCG, with all home games to be played there from 2006.

Ladder

Pos	Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	For	Against	%
1	Adelaide	17	0	5	68	301.264.2070	219.203.1517	136.5
2	West Coast	17	0	5	68	328.293.2261	267.222.1824	124
3	Sydney	15	0	7	60	287.252.1974	245.226.1696	116.4
4	St Kilda	14	0	8	56	355.277.2407	268.198.1806	133.3
5	Kangaroos	13	0	9	52	301.247.2053	301.263.2069	99.2
6	Geelong	12	0	10	48	310.274.2134	281.220.1906	112
7	Melbourne	12	0	10	48	317.269.2171	328.298.2266	95.8
8	Port Adelaide	11	1	10	46	295.258.2028	300.266.2066	98.2
9	Western Bulldogs	11	0	11	44	352.273.2385	342.299.2351	101.4
10	Fremantle	11	0	11	44	304.217.2041	291.292.2038	100.1
11	Brisbane Lions	10	0	12	40	314.255.2139	313.286.2164	98.8
12	Richmond	10	0	12	40	294.258.2022	323.252.2190	92.3
13	Essendon	8	0	14	32	314.234.2118	337.280.2302	92
14	Hawthorn	5	0	17	20	280.224.1904	343.259.2317	82.2
15	Collingwood	5	0	17	20	270.264.1884	357.283.2425	77.7
16	Carlton	4	1	17	18	293.258.2016	400.270.2670	75.5

People of 2005

Captain: Anthony Koutoufides
Coach: Denis Pagan
Leading Goal-kicker: Brendan Fevola - 49 goals
Best and Fairest: Anthony Koutoufides

Milestones

200 Games: Matthew Lappin
150 Games: Nick Stevens
100 Games: Ryan Houlihan, Brendan Fevola, Barnaby French
50 Games: Ian Prendergast, Jarrad Waite
Debuts: Eddie Betts, Setanta Ó hAilpín, Chris Bryan, Jordan Russell
Debuts (Carlton): Callum Chambers, Troy Longmuir

2005 Pre-Season Round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 Playing List | Debuts | The Rookies | Stats Leaders | Brownlow Votes | B&F Votes Big Stories: Wooden Spoons Summaries: Wins and Losses: 2002 to 2007 2004 | 2006