What Did We Learn? March 2024
Written by Josh Gulabovski
Just like that, March has drawn to a close for the Carlton Football Club. It was a month marked by two exhilarating wins, one dominant victory and, most importantly, an unblemished record. Carlton’s perfect start to the season has not lent itself to Blues supporters keeping the lid on and, as such, anticipation and optimism on Lygon Street has surged from tentativity over summer to a firm belief that the Blues are destined for something special in season 2024. March saw the emergence of new talents in Jack Carroll and Elijah Hollands, while the Blues showcased their adaptability in securing wins in a different ways against the Lions, Tigers, and Kangaroos.
However, as the Blues continue their early season charge into April, fresh challenges loom on the horizon, with a set of difficult opponents poised to test the Blues legitimacy as a top four team. But before we look too far ahead, it’s important to reflect and understand what we learned from our opening three games of the season.
Cardiac Carlton and the Bullying Blues. March unveiled two contrasting facets of Carlton’s gameplay, being the cardiac-arrest-threatening, edge-of-the-seat thrillers and the imposing, dominant display of a bullying and bruising side. While narrow triumphs over the Lions and the Tigers kept supporters' pulses racing, a commanding performance against the Kangaroos on Good Friday demonstrated Carlton's sheer force and potential to dominate teams in 2024. The display against North Melbourne hinted at a potentially trademark style for Carlton in 2024, showcasing both its depth and resilience in tight encounters, which saw several of our players ranging in experience and skill stand up and be counted for.
One of the clear standouts from the first month of football has undoubtedly been our big forward, Harry McKay. The big man has seemingly brushed away the inconsistent and, at times, questionable form of 2023 and has been able to finally find a rhythm that works in front of goal. In this rich, new vein of form, Harry has chalked up eleven majors in the first three games of the season, to silence any doubters both in the stands and in the media.
Harry has been instrumental to all three of Carlton’s wins, most notably with his match-winner against the Brisbane Lions in Opening Round and his impressive five-goal haul against the Roos, where he also collected 19 touches across all areas of the ground. It’s clear that another dimension has been added to Harry’s game so far this season, with time spent in the ruck as well as on the wing to create an option for the Blues when working out of the back half. The change in Harry’s game and, most importantly, the lift in his confidence, has been clear for all to see, but the test now is to carry this form into April as the Blues look to build on their strong start and stamp themselves as genuine contenders.
In April, the Blues face a daunting run of games, including against the Dockers, Crows, Giants, and Cats—tests arguably far more difficult than March's fixtures. While hopes remain high for our perfect record to continue, a realistic outlook suggests that three victories would be considered the ‘pass mark’, propelling the Blues to a formidable 6-1 record and solidifying their position as a top-four team this season.
