After an off-season list overhaul, which included dumping 12 players, the Blues are seeking to surge back into finals calculations in 2015.
Carlton will have invested in five recruits from rival clubs when it lands Jason Tutt from the Western Bulldogs in the pre-season draft, and added another four young players via Thursday night's NAB AFL Draft.
Blues blame poor form, fixture for $1.6m loss
Speaking at Visy Park at the unveiling of the Blues' new jumper, which has reverted back to the heritage logo after a landslide vote from members, Buckley said seeing the new recruits and particularly Kreuzer (foot) and Thomas (ankle) in pre-season training has boosted the playing group.
"It's a massive lift. 'Kreuz' is flying at the moment. He's looking really, really good and really fit and of course 'Daisy' is going to be better for the year last year," Buckley said.
"We're just really looking forward to getting those boys out on the park because we know when they're up and firing they're A-grade players."
Carlton has not finished in the top-eight – other than its elevation after Essendon was excluded from the 2013 finals – since 2011.
Pre-season injuries and an 0-4 start wrecked the Blues' campaign last season and Buckley, who joined the Blues via the father/son rule in the '11 draft, said there was huge scope for improvement.
"I think there's a lot of ways we're going to get back into the eight, we couldn't put it down to one thing," he said.
"Like we said before, Matty Kreuzer's going to be fit and Dale Thomas is going to be fit and then we've got a lot of young players now pushing up.
"(Recruits) Kristian Jaksch, Mark Whiley, Liam Jones – those sort of names are going to help us out and…we're going to continually improve and those players will help us get to the top.
"We're never going to use injury as an excuse, but we were definitely disappointed with our year last year and we've got to learn from the way we started.
"I'm sure once we get our opportunity again we'll definitely make amends for that."
Carlton moved on talented but controversial pair Mitch Robinson and Jeff Garlett this off-season, with skipper Marc Murphy saying this week they ran out of chances.
Buckley said the club, which has just unveiled a new strategic pathway, is working hard to become more professional.
"We're just trying to build on our culture now at the club and just keep a professional environment," Buckley said.
"Good luck to those boys because they're our mates, but obviously it just didn't work out.
"If you want to make the top-eight and top-four and go on to winning (premierships) then you've got to make a stand."
Buckley played eight games last season and earned a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination before his impressive progress was stalled by a hand injury.
The 21-year-old son of club great Jim said he is fully recovered and looking forward to wearing Carlton's new guernsey, which the Blues wore during their most successful period from 1927-1997 when they won 11 premierships.
"I love the jumper. Obviously the old man played a few games in this jumper and it's a rich part of our history, so we're really rapt to be wearing the jumper," Buckley said.
"But we know now it's time to make our own history. Hopefully we can get some more flags like they did."
Speaking at Visy Park at the unveiling of the Blues' new jumper, which has reverted back to the heritage logo after a landslide vote from members, Buckley said seeing the new recruits and particularly Kreuzer (foot) and Thomas (ankle) in pre-season training has boosted the playing group.
"It's a massive lift. 'Kreuz' is flying at the moment. He's looking really, really good and really fit and of course 'Daisy' is going to be better for the year last year," Buckley said.
"We're just really looking forward to getting those boys out on the park because we know when they're up and firing they're A-grade players."
Carlton has not finished in the top-eight – other than its elevation after Essendon was excluded from the 2013 finals – since 2011.
Pre-season injuries and an 0-4 start wrecked the Blues' campaign last season and Buckley, who joined the Blues via the father/son rule in the '11 draft, said there was huge scope for improvement.
"I think there's a lot of ways we're going to get back into the eight, we couldn't put it down to one thing," he said.
"Like we said before, Matty Kreuzer's going to be fit and Dale Thomas is going to be fit and then we've got a lot of young players now pushing up.
"(Recruits) Kristian Jaksch, Mark Whiley, Liam Jones – those sort of names are going to help us out and…we're going to continually improve and those players will help us get to the top.
"We're never going to use injury as an excuse, but we were definitely disappointed with our year last year and we've got to learn from the way we started.
"I'm sure once we get our opportunity again we'll definitely make amends for that."
Carlton moved on talented but controversial pair Mitch Robinson and Jeff Garlett this off-season, with skipper Marc Murphy saying this week they ran out of chances.
Buckley said the club, which has just unveiled a new strategic pathway, is working hard to become more professional.
"We're just trying to build on our culture now at the club and just keep a professional environment," Buckley said.
"Good luck to those boys because they're our mates, but obviously it just didn't work out.
"If you want to make the top-eight and top-four and go on to winning (premierships) then you've got to make a stand."
Buckley played eight games last season and earned a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination before his impressive progress was stalled by a hand injury.
The 21-year-old son of club great Jim said he is fully recovered and looking forward to wearing Carlton's new guernsey, which the Blues wore during their most successful period from 1927-1997 when they won 11 premierships.
"I love the jumper. Obviously the old man played a few games in this jumper and it's a rich part of our history, so we're really rapt to be wearing the jumper," Buckley said.
"But we know now it's time to make our own history. Hopefully we can get some more flags like they did."
Carlton wore its 'traditional' guernsey just three times in 2014. Picture: Carlton Football Club
