Carlton Football Club is gearing up for the 2024 season with renewed vigor and strategic focus, encapsulated by the motto ‘Speed and Power,’ introduced by their new high-performance boss, Rob Inness. Since his arrival last September, this mantra has been echoing through the halls of Ikon Park as players and coaches rally around the concept, hoping it will change their fortune after struggling with injuries last season.
Michael Voss, the head coach of the Blues, is on board and acknowledges the catchphrase’s growing traction among the team. Though he also has his own competitive motto of ‘Contest and Pressure,’ he recognizes the impact of the new focus. "Speed and power has come out a lot," Voss shared with AFL.com.au, reflecting on the positive reception and adaptation by players.
Health is at the forefront of the Blues' preparatory efforts, markedly different from the previous season when Voss frequently scrambled with limited player options due to injuries. This year, aside from the unfortunate ruptured patella of Nic Newman which will sideline him for most of 2025, the team appears to be largely healthy. Voss exclaimed, "Otherwise, everyone has had a form of pre-season and is doing OK," marking this as an encouraging sign going forward.
Key players such as Sam Walsh and Charlie Curnow, who faced setbacks earlier, are also managing their recovery well. Curnow recently had surgery to remove leftover hardware from previous operations, and Walsh is on track to participate in upcoming practice matches following hamstring concerns. Returning players like Jack Silvagni, Blake Acres, Corey Durdin, and Matt Cottrell have all been progressing, keeping the spirits high as the team prepares for its first matches of the pre-season.
Voss believes the work put in during the off-season has paid dividends, stating, "The big challenge coming back from last season was how do we raise the standard in everything we do?" He emphasized the importance of addressing both the major and minor details of player fitness, explaining, "Little things we need to be able to get at can show up sometimes when you don’t want it to. We need to be in peak condition to contend."
But the focus isn’t solely on established players; newcomers are making their mark as well. Nick Haynes, who recently joined Carlton, has shared his aspirations based more on personal well-being than traditional on-field goals. The former GWS star stated, "I’ve set a very basic goal - to be happy and healthy. If I can do ذلك, within myself, it’ll result in good things." He emphasized the significance of being settled both personally and professionally, benefiting both himself and the club.
Haynes' transition to Carlton has represented more than just physical change; it's also about integrating family life as he returns to Melbourne. Living closer to his family and building relationships with teammates is integral to his experience. He underlined the club’s environment by sharing, "The Club does very well to help out young families, and we’ve got so many at the Club under the age of two," indicating how the organization supports its players beyond the pitch.
His shift to Carlton is particularly symbolic as Haynes is now solely surrounded by Blues players, having previously shared his space at GWS with teammates. He noted, "It’s just a different feeling down here – it’s full on," expressing excitement about the passionate Carlton fanbase. The energy, as he describes, relates directly to building team chemistry and motivation.
A significant addition to the Carlton roster for the upcoming season is Maria Cannon, the talented Mayo forward who has recently signed with the team. Cannon, famed for her performance and prominence at her GAA club, has drawn support from Carlton, heralded as dangerous and impactful on the field by Ash McNulty, the Head of AFLW.
McNulty explained Cannon's transition, affirming, "She is an attacking forward and dangerous in front of goal. The raw speed and significant running capacity she possesses will make her a great asset to our team." This intersection of GAA talent and Australian Rules Football is rapidly becoming commonplace, with Cannon joining the ranks of several other Irish players now at Carlton.
The Burrishoole GAA club, recognizing Cannon’s contributions, also expressed pride and sadness at her departure but wholeheartedly supported her move to Carlton. They remarked on the growth of talent making its way to Australia and are excited about the positive developments for Cannon's career.
With this wave of fresh talent, alongside Voss and the Blues' strategic preparations, Carlton is hopeful about the 2024 season. The club’s emphasis on maintaining player health, nurturing personal growth among its members, and refining competitive standards should pave the way for enhanced performance and, potentially, greater success this coming year.