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2020 Summary
The Blues entered 2020 with renewed hope after a strong end to season 2019 & the hoped for development of our emerging stars. Surely now was the time to start to rise to places unknown...In parallel and amazingly (if not terrifyingly), the world changed dramatically in the lead up to the season proper, when the global health crisis known as COVID19 took hold of the country and the code and a whole new fixture was created. Amazingly, a crowd of 0 was allowed to see the Round 1 clash against the Tiges; a game where we were smashed early given their superior intensity before a medium term recovery - plus 4 goals from Jack Martin on Blue debut. We were excited about our 'close' loss against the Brilliant Tigers, before...
COVID saw the whole season suspended until further notice. Footy aside, the country - and the world - went in to various lockdown regimes, causing great economic dislocation and at the time of writing over 300,000 lives. Thankfully our country was able to avoid the worst notwithstanding the start of a new economic depression, and the code began again with a new fixture some 3 months later.
The game was scheduled to recommence June 13, with a reset Fixture opening up again against the Dees. A poor but close loss followed and the Blues were staring down another zip and three start, before strong - but close - wins over the Cats and Bombers saw some hope & faith restored. A close loss to the top of the table Port in Round 7 showed just how good we could be if we put it together....
Back to back wins including an after the siren stunner against the Dockers saw the Blues 6 and 6 (at 100%!) heading in to the last 5 weeks. A massive game against the Pies beckoned for a chance to make the 8, but a tough second half, and deflating losses to the Giants and then the lowly Crows saw the Blues bow out in 11th position for the year.
Two key features of the year were 1) our inability to stop opposition runs of goals and 2), our failure to score goals during those periods - to 'maintain scoreboard pressure' so to speak. In eight games, the Blues failed to register a goal in at least one quarter (Rounds 2, 4, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18), with Round 14 seeing us goalless in both the third and fourth quarters!
An improvement, some great signs, but some bad habits would need to be ironed out...
Note: The Richmond Football Club won their 13th flag in 2020.
People of 2020
Coach: David TeagueAssistant / Development Coaches: Henry Playfair; Assistant Coach (Forwards) – Cameron Bruce; Assistant Coach (Midfield / Stoppages) – John Barker; Assistant Coach (Midfield / Transition) - Brent Stanton; Assistant Coach (Defenders) – Dale Amos; Luke Power; Josh Fraser; Jason Davenport, Daniel O'Keefe; Hamish McIntosh; Saverio Rocca; Greg Williams
Captain: Patrick Cripps / Sam Docherty
Leadership Group:
President: Mark LoGiudice
Milestones
Debuts: Sam Philp, Matt Cottrell, Josh Honey, Matt OwiesDebuts (Carlton): Jack Martin, Jack Newnes, Marc Pittonet, Callum Moore
Rising Star Nominees: Nil.
3rd Highest Number of Games Played by a Carlton Player: Kade Simpson
50 Goals: Patrick Cripps
100 Games (AFL): Jack Martin, Lachie Plowman, Sam Docherty
AFLPA 22Under22 team: Jacob Weitering (VC), Sam Walsh
AFLPA Best Young Player: Sam Walsh
Retirements: Matthew Kreuzer, Kade Simpson
Delistings: Hugh Goddard, Darcy Lang, Finbar O'Dwyer, Ben Silvagni, Cameron Polson, Harrison Macreadie, Callum Moore*, Fraser Phillips*
Ladder
| Pos | Team | W | D | L | Pts | For | Agn | % |
| 1 | Port Adelaide | 14 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 1185 | 869 | 136.4 |
| 2 | Brisbane Lions | 14 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 1184 | 948 | 124.9 |
| 3 | Richmond | 12 | 1 | 4 | 50 | 1135 | 874 | 129.9 |
| 4 | Geelong | 12 | 0 | 5 | 48 | 1233 | 901 | 136.8 |
| 5 | West Coast | 12 | 0 | 5 | 48 | 1095 | 936 | 117 |
| 6 | St Kilda | 10 | 0 | 7 | 40 | 1159 | 997 | 116.2 |
| 7 | Western Bulldogs | 10 | 0 | 7 | 40 | 1103 | 1034 | 106.7 |
| 8 | Collingwood | 9 | 1 | 7 | 38 | 965 | 881 | 109.5 |
| 9 | Melbourne | 9 | 0 | 8 | 36 | 1063 | 986 | 107.8 |
| 10 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 0 | 9 | 32 | 1007 | 1053 | 95.6 |
| 11 | Carlton | 7 | 0 | 10 | 28 | 1017 | 1078 | 94.3 |
| 12 | Fremantle | 7 | 0 | 10 | 28 | 866 | 924 | 93.7 |
| 13 | Essendon | 6 | 1 | 10 | 26 | 938 | 1185 | 79.2 |
| 14 | Gold Coast | 5 | 1 | 11 | 22 | 996 | 1099 | 90.6 |
| 15 | Hawthorn | 5 | 0 | 12 | 20 | 1004 | 1194 | 84.1 |
| 16 | Sydney | 5 | 0 | 12 | 20 | 890 | 1077 | 82.6 |
| 17 | North Melbourne | 3 | 0 | 14 | 12 | 858 | 1205 | 71.2 |
| 18 | Adelaide | 3 | 0 | 14 | 12 | 826 | 1283 | 64.4 |
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