EVERYONE has had their say on Carlton in 2018.

The Blues are languishing on the bottom of the AFL ladder, destined for their fifth wooden spoon in 17 years after a season that has produced just one win so far.

So, should supporters have a right to feel anxious about Carlton's nightmare season? Or have Brendon Bolton and Stephen Silvagni sold the message well enough to those in the know?

AFL.com.au surveyed an ex-player, a few list experts and a couple of diehard supporters to get their take on where the club is heading – and what it should do at season's end.

Here's what those who have watched the Blues closer than most think of the club's rebuild.

THE EX-PLAYER

David Rhys-Jones: Carlton premiership player and 1987 Norm Smith medallist

"I'm definitely happy with the direction they've taken. The one thing they've looked at is how we can get long-term success. It's not a matter of how we can get in the finals over the next two years by falling into eighth spot. I think Carlton people will be happy in two or three years' time when they realise these hard yards have had to happen and that they're going to sustain us for a long period of time. It's the first time it's ever been done at Carlton. When chequebook recruiting finished, Carlton was left lagging. They didn't know what to do. All they'd done previously was go and buy players. Even up to Chris Judd … while he was a great get for the club and at that particular time it was needed, it wasn't going to win us a premiership. We were a laughing stock to other clubs, because they'd had recruiting structures up well before Carlton did. A lot of it came back to the arrogance of going out and buying what you needed. Now I can see the future and I'm hopeful. Time will tell with these kids, there's no guarantee that they will come on, but I'm happy with the way the club has decided to do a full rebuild and acknowledge it too."

What the Blues should do with pick one: "The options are there. I wouldn't be stuck on one thing, I wouldn't be saying keep it or trade it. I think we've got a reasonable list at the moment, from the age of 22 down. That's not going to win you premierships or get you in the finals in the short-term, but long-term it can."



David Rhys-Jones with then president John Elliott after the 1987 premiership. Picture: AFL Photos



THE LIST MANAGER

Chris Pelchen: Former list manager at Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and St Kilda

"I'd say Carlton is on the right track, I actually do believe they are, there's just a natural impatience within their supporter base and the wider football public. In an ideal world, my personal view is that they should try to maximise the return with more than just one draft selection this year. Ideally, if it was me, I'd be having the intention of turning pick one into several draft selections – especially in this draft. Every draft is different, but in this particular draft … it is strong in the top 20 and, while it may not have the depth of some drafts, the top-end is as strong as any in recent years. Carlton's side lacks overall talent at the moment. We can talk about specifics, whether they are talls or midfielders or certain age demographics, but they've basically got gaps in pretty much every line from a list management point of view. But they're making progress."

What the Blues should do with pick one: "First, they should turn pick one into three selections inside the top 20 and two inside the top 12. Second, they should basically secure one very good player – not necessarily an Andrew Gaff – but one very good player through free agency. Third, they should aim for five picks inside 35, as well as the three inside 20 and the two inside 12. Then, the fourth priority should be to recruit through trading."

THE INSIDER

List expert: Currently involved in the game, speaking off-the-record

"I think they are on the right track. They've got what is hard to get, which is star players. We can establish that Charlie Curnow is a star, we can establish that Patrick Cripps is a star. Getting those A-Grade players in is what a lot of clubs can't do. You look at St Kilda, they went down the bottom and never found one. Carlton has already got two and they've got a few more that might still surprise. But the sheer fact that you've already got those two guys means that once you start getting pieces around them, you're going to be OK. If I was Carlton, I'd be looking to spend their pick in the 20s and try to find another recycled player with that because they need support. But one player is not going to solve every problem. They have so many areas that need attention, they're better off trying to get multiple players (in this year's draft) to contribute."

What the Blues should do with pick one: "The dream scenario is a club comes to SOS and says 'we have to have pick one'. That way, they can get a mature-aged player in, plus another first-round pick in, plus maybe a later first-round pick in."

THE MEDIA

AFL.com.au's trade expert Nick Bowen and AFL.com.au's draft expert Cal Twomey

"They are tracking in the right direction, but more slowly than they would like. Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty and Charlie Curnow are young stars they can build their team around, while Caleb Marchbank, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Paddy Dow, Zac Fisher and Lochie O'Brien should be long-term players. The Blues will have some concerns about whether 2015's No.1 draft pick Jacob Weitering will reach his potential after two lean seasons, but it's worth remembering the key defender is still just 20. They still need a bit of everything, but the Blues' needs are greatest in the midfield and forward line. Cripps has carried a back-breaking midfield load this season and the Blues need to find more support for him. They're understood to be in the market for free agents Andrew Gaff and Mitch Wallis and uncontracted runner Jared Polec, while Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Anthony Miles are other potential uncontracted targets who could add inside grunt. Every year the club holding pick No.1 says it's available at the right price, but every year that club holds on to it for the simple reason it's too valuable to part with save for a Godfather offer. The Blues should dangle it in the hope of snaring a rival star, or of converting it into two early picks, say both inside the top six. But, that aside, they should bank it at the draft." – Nick Bowen

What the Blues should do with pick one: "Unless they can acquire a ready-made midfield gun who is 23 or 24 and already a star of the competition, then Carlton should hold onto pick one. From there, the decision becomes a little cloudier. Do they go for midfielder Sam Walsh or key forward Jack Lukosius? Walsh is the one I'd take if I was in Stephen Silvagni's shoes. He is as bankable as any player to come through in recent years. As a midfielder, he can find the ball himself, use it well and run all day. Plus, you add his leadership and exemplary character and he's a pretty complete package." – Cal Twomey



Sam Walsh with the Larke Medal for best player in the U18 Champs. Picture: AFL Photos



THE PERSONALITY

Tegan Higginbotham: Comedian, actor, writer and lifelong Carlton fan

"I've drunk the Kool-Aid. I believe in Brendon Bolton and I actually believe that we're going somewhere, which is why I was really looking forward to Patrick Cripps re-signing. Just, please, no more of these season-ending injuries. I get that the mission is to build the club and get these young footballers playing well together, but that's not going to happen if they're constantly on crutches. What's happened in the past is that we kept trying to bring in one magic person who would change the team, whether it was Chris Judd or Mick Malthouse. If we just threw everything at this one person, everything would get better. I feel like we've learnt from that. We know that we need to stick with our people. That's what I'm hoping for, at least. But I'd still love some form of time travel technology, so I can just skip this rebuilding bit and get to the Grand Final bit. That would be good."

What the Blues should do with pick one: "When you look at us, we do have all of these fresh faces and we are very young. So when it comes to the trade period, maybe we can afford to go for someone with just a little bit more experience. You look at the Murphys and the Gibbs', when they came in they were the next hottest things, but because they didn't have the infrastructure around them we haven't seen them reach their potential. Maybe targeting someone with a bit more experience could be a good move."

THE DIEHARD

Heath Buck: Carlton supporter and member since 1972

"I'm confident with what they've sold us and I always have been. From a fan's perspective, this is what we wanted. I'm pretty happy with what they've brought in and I don't think we can fully see the talent of some these kids right now. It's just too hard to tell because it's such an underdeveloped team and they've got so many injuries and no stability. As a fan, I'm just worried about the damage that's being done to these kids in terms of the beltings they're getting now. This is an all-time low. I don't think I've seen, in my time, the club at a lower point in terms of the on-field performance. In terms of where they're tracking, it's a lot better than what it was in that really dark period post-salary cap breaches. There was absolutely no future then. I can see the future now, but I'm just a little bit concerned about the damage that's being done. In saying that … if they traded pick one for a Dylan Shiel, I'd be devastated. As a supporter, I would see that as a complete panic. That, to me, is not what they've promised. That's not a rebuild. I know we need some quality in that midfield, but I think that would be a quick fix. As a fan, I'd feel really cheated if they did that."

What the Blues should do with pick one: "My dream scenario would be to somehow manufacture three picks inside the top 20 and maybe two inside the top 10. I'd love for one of them to be close enough to land Sam Walsh, then another quality midfielder. I think we need two quality midfielders and then a developing big man inside the top 20.