For that to become reality, the young player in question, key defender Matthew Watson, would need to conquer a personal Everest.
Rarely has so much appeared to rest on such an inexperienced player with so few credits at AFL level, but the 21-year-old says he is up to the challenge, telling AFL.com.au that he is determined to show the football world just why the Blues selected him at No. 18 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
The general consensus is that if Carlton is to challenge next year, Watson must step up and establish himself as a regular member of the club's back six.
The critical element isn't Watson's own performance – he needs only to be competent rather than dominant – but the profound effect his presence can have on the Blues' line-up, and in particular their main area of concern: their key forwards.
If Watson can stand firm in defence, he will give coach Mick Malthouse the chance to use Lachie Henderson exclusively in attack. This would in turn take considerable pressure off mishap-prone veteran Jarrad Waite and developing big men Levi Casboult and Sam Rowe.
It worked a treat during Watson's five appearances this season from round 16-20 – a period in which Watson was solid and Henderson was brilliant in bagging 15 goals and as many contested marks.
Alas, this decisive sequence was broken during the Blues' round 20 loss to the Western Bulldogs when Watson suffered a season-ending fracture in his lethal left foot. He has since recovered and has been training fully since pre-season training started for Carlton's younger players on November 18.
The big blond's efforts were timely in many ways, not least of all from a personal perspective as they earned him a new two-year contract.
It's more a hope than an expectation that Watson will sustain it for a full season in 2014. It would require a quantum leap in performance, with Watson's first three seasons at Carlton having netted three, eight and five games respectively, and none in the opening 15 rounds this year as he bided his time in the VFL.
The 195cm and 99kg Watson is well aware of the high hopes for him and doesn’t shy way from them, largely because they tally with his own goals.
"I want to cement my spot and play most of the year so that Hendo can go forward and give us another option," he said. "And hopefully we play finals again because I obviously missed out last season.
"I built some confidence, played a few good games and even the coach said, 'You’re starting to improve.' Hopefully I can carry that into the start of this season.
"I see it as a challenge. I was brought into the club to hold down a key position and hopefully this year I can show them what they drafted me for. I just want to repay the faith they've shown in me."
The example of another Malthouse defender, Magpie Ben Reid, isn’t lost on Watson.
After starting as a forward, Reid spent a season in the VFL learning key defence before becoming an integral part of the Pies' 2010 premiership team.
"He was in his fourth year, like I am now, and he was able to stamp his authority on the competition. That's what I'm looking to do this year – put my name up there and show not just the club but the football world that I can play footy to a good level," Watson said.
But first he plans to have a big pre-season, with his focuses including general fitness, acceleration off the mark to avoid being tackled, and continuing to develop his aerial and body work.
Virtually a one-sided player, Watson also plans to work on his right-foot kicking.
"It's not up to scratch yet, and I don’t think I've ever used it in a game," he said with a laugh. "Even at training it's a lot more natural turning onto my left because that's a strength of my game. I like to drive it long and either hit a target or get it into space for my teammates to run onto."
Watson's father Neil was a local footballer in Melbourne's north-western suburbs who married Manuela Alessio, the sister of former Essendon ruckman and now football operations manager Steve Alessio and Coburg VFA/VFL great Anthony Alessio.
Uncle Steve has privately joked about luring his nephew to the Bombers, but Watson plans to stay put.
"They've always tried to help me succeed," Watson said. "I just hope I can repay them a bit too."
Twitter: @AFL_BenCollins
