2011
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2011 Summary
After successive years of finals action, but early dismissals, and without the constant disruption of off-field distractions like the 2010 Pre-Season, Carlton set out to make some real inroads in 2011. With the sales pitch of 'No Passengers' ringing in our ears, Carlton would take on the year with much the same list but with some late mature picks in Duigan and Twomey to see if we could finally achieve a Top 4 finish......something we hadn't done in our Decade of Shame.
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| Illustration: http://www.samcrook.com |
As with prior years, the season began with a win over Richmond, before a stunning 119 point win over the Gold Coast away provided some real excitement - albeit with limited competition in what would become an AFL theme in 2011. A tight loss to the reigning Premiers, Collingwood, ensued, before a draw and 3 strong wins saw Carlton rise to the Top 4 and our hopes for respect if not glory rise with it.
A close loss to the super-impressive Geelong stopped the run of wins, before 4 wins on the trot cemented the Top 4 spot. The 4 wins was the first time we'd had such a run since 2009, and only the second time since 2001, in a sign that perhaps the memories of the previous decade could finally be binned. We were back! Or so it seemed. A mid-season trough of 3 losses in 4 games - and one surprising loss to the declining Bulldogs - saw us risk the Top 4 spot to the resurgent West Coast Eagles. Another 4 wins on the trot stabilised the season, but as the season approached the Finals, Carlton remained on the precipe of finishing 5th. As the weeks counted down, the pressure mounted, and late losses to Hawthorn and St Kilda ensured we would finish 5th. With 15 1/2 wins it was still a great improvement year on year...
And so Carlton faced a third consecutive Elimination Final, but one at home - our first final in Melbourne since 2001!. Despite dire weather conditions and an Essendon-loving media (Oh the Messiah!), a beautiful Melbourne day greeted a stunning 62 point victory over our old / recent enemy, and Carlton was set for a Semi Final - again for the first time since 2001.
The Semi would be away to the Eagles. A strong year was at risk in front of a massive crowd and the Top-4 Eagles. Gibbs, Kreuzer, Waite were all missing, but the ragtag Blues would venture to Patersons to take on last year's cellar dwellars. In a heartbreaking but breathtaking game - and let's be honest, our forward line injuries meant we had minimal structure but we just kept on scoring - Carlton would lose by 3 points in the West, with our Season 2011 finishing on both an emotional low but a pure effort high.
Midfielder Marc Murphy finished the year with the AFLCA Player of the Year Award after breaking the club record for most disposals in a season finishing with 699.
Despite the finish, throughout the year, we had stayed at 5th or above - for the first time since 1995 - and had our highest number of wins since 2001. The team was emerging but just couldn't knock off any of the top teams.
Season 2012 could not come soon enough. The Blues set to work on a breakthrough year...
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | For | Against | % |
| 1 | Collingwood | 20 | 0 | 2 | 80 | 2592 | 1546 | 167.7 |
| 2 | Geelong | 19 | 0 | 3 | 76 | 2548 | 1619 | 157.4 |
| 3 | Hawthorn | 18 | 0 | 4 | 72 | 2355 | 1634 | 144.1 |
| 4 | West Coast | 17 | 0 | 5 | 68 | 2235 | 1715 | 130.3 |
| 5 | Carlton | 14 | 1 | 7 | 58 | 2225 | 1700 | 130.9 |
| 6 | St Kilda | 12 | 1 | 9 | 50 | 1891 | 1677 | 112.8 |
| 7 | Sydney | 12 | 1 | 9 | 50 | 1897 | 1735 | 109.3 |
| 8 | Essendon | 11 | 1 | 10 | 46 | 2217 | 2217 | 100.0 |
| 9 | North Melbourne | 10 | 0 | 12 | 40 | 2106 | 2082 | 101.2 |
| 10 | Bulldogs | 9 | 0 | 13 | 36 | 2060 | 2155 | 95.6 |
| 11 | Fremantle | 9 | 0 | 13 | 36 | 1791 | 2155 | 83.1 |
| 12 | Richmond | 8 | 1 | 13 | 34 | 2069 | 2396 | 86.4 |
| 13 | Melbourne | 8 | 1 | 13 | 34 | 1974 | 2315 | 85.3 |
| 14 | Adelaide | 7 | 0 | 15 | 28 | 1742 | 2193 | 79.4 |
| 15 | Brisbane Lions | 4 | 0 | 18 | 16 | 1814 | 2240 | 67.0 |
| 16 | Port Power | 3 | 0 | 19 | 16 | 1718 | 2663 | 64.5 |
| 17 | Gold Coast | 3 | 0 | 19 | 12 | 1534 | 2726 | 56.3 |
People of 2011
Captain: Chris Judd
Coach: Brett Ratten
Leading Goal-Kicker: Andrew Walker - 56 goals
Best and Fairest Winner: Marc Murphy
Milestones
Debuts: Ed Curnow, Nick Duigan, Matthew Watson, Zach Tuohy, Rhys O'Keeffe, Wayde Twomey
Debuts (Carlton): Jeremy Laidler, Andrew Collins
200 Games (Carlton / AFL): Ryan Houlihan
200 Games (AFL): Heath Scotland, Chris Judd
150 Games (Carlton): Heath Scotland
100 Games (Carlton / AFL): Jordan Russell, Bryce Gibbs
50 Games (Carlton / AFL): Aaron Joseph, Jeffery Garlett
50 Games (AFL): Robert Warnock
Retirements: Ryan Houlihan
Interesting Fact: Carlton behinds before 1934 (between 1897 and 1933, when the behind scorers were not listed) and rushed behinds from 1934 to 2011 equalled 9,999 points of Carlton's total of 30,162 points.
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Gallery
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2011 - No Passengers. -
2011 - Jeremy Laidler at training. -
2011 - Andrew Collins. -
2011 - Ed Curnow. -
2011 - Zach with parents Noel & Marie. -
2011 - Ex Blue Glenn Manton; Albion's playing coach. -
2011 - Tuohy & Ratten at jumper presentation. -
2011 - Irishmen O-hAilpin & Tuohy. -
2011 - Jordan Russell in front of his locker. -
2011 - Rhys O'Keefe. -
2011 Intra-Club Player Lists. -
2011 - Ex Blue Iggy Vallejo. -
2011 - Wayde Twomey. -
2011 - Will Tomlinson - IBO Super Featherweight Champion -
Chris Judd Carlton Football Club -
Garlett Snaps For Goal. -
Heath Scotland 150 Games For Carlton. -
Judd And Watson Salute The Crowd. -
Mitch Robinson 2011 -
Shaun Hampson And Megan Gale 2011 -
\'Sky\' Walker Soars Against The Crows -
Thornton Crashes Through A Brisbane Lion\'s Tackle. -
Walker Comes Over The Top 2011 -
Walker Takes A Speccy Against Geelong 2011 -
Zac Tuohy And Andrew Walker 2011 -
2011 Carrazzo Beats Roo Brent Harvey To The Ball -
2011 - Nick Graham. -
2011 Practice Match - Jarryd Cachia. -
2011 Rookie - Jaryd Cachia. -
2011 Assistant Coach John Barker -
Alan Richardson Assistant Coach 2011 12 -
2011 - Sam Docherty. -
Warnock Wins A Tap Semi Final 2011 Vs West CoastImage courtesy of AFL Media. -
Warnock Tackles Docker Ryan Crowley Semi Final 2011Image courtesy of AFL Media. -
Judd Flies High Against Essendon Elimination Final 2011Image courtesy of Fox News. -
2011 Aaron Joseph Looks For SupportImage courtesy of Carlton Football Club. -
2011 Chris Judd Leads The Blues Out At The MCG.Image courtesy of Carlton Football Club. -
2011 Dennis Armfield Breaks AwayImage courtesy of Carlton Football Club. -
2011 Mitch Robinson Really Wants The Football!Image courtesy of Carlton Football Club. -
2011 T Bird Marks On The Lead.Image courtesy of Carlton Football Club. -
2011 Training Indoors At Princes ParkImage courtesy of Carlton Football Club. -
Chris Judd 2011Image courtesy of Carlton Football Club. -
Fans At Princes Park Watch The 2011 SF Vs West Coast.Image courtesy of Carlton Football Club. -
Michael Jamison 2011Image courtesy of Carlton Football Club. -
2011 - Bendigo Pioneer & Future Blue Sam Kerridge. -
2011 Rd 18 - An airborne Tex Walker. -
2011 - Future Blue Jack Newnes. -
2011 Rd 10 - Jeff Garlett celebrates a goal. -
2011 Rd 15 - Jeff Garlett takes a big grab. -
2011 Rd 19 - Jeff Garlett hooks the ball in one-handed. -
2011 Elim. Final. - Jeff Garlett about to mark. -
2011 Elim. Final. - Jeff Garlett leads Mark McVeigh to the ball. -
2011 Rd 19 - Ryan Houlihan's 200th game banner. -
2011 - Former Blue; Port Melbourne's Adam Bentick. -
2011 - Former Blue; Port Melbourne's Jake Edwards. -
2011 - Former Blue; Max O'Halloran Merit Award for services to QLD Footy.
