2013 LADDER FINISH: Sixth
ARRIVALS: Ciaran Byrne, Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty, Andrejs Everitt, Cameron Giles, Nick Holman, Blaine Johnson, Luke Reynolds, Ciaran Sheehan, Dale Thomas, Cameron Wood
DEPARTURES: Eddie Betts, Andrew Collins, Frazer Dale, Marcus Davies, Shaun Hampson, Aaron Joseph, Jeremy Laidler, Patrick McCarthy, Luke Mitchell, Rhys O'Keeffe
BEST 22
B Zach Tuohy, Michael Jamison, Andrejs Everitt ?
HB Andrew Walker, Matthew Watson, Kade Simpson?
C Dale Thomas, Bryce Gibbs, Brock McLean ?
HF Jeff Garlett, Lachie Henderson, Andrew Carrazzo?
F Chris Yarran, Jarrad Waite, Troy Menzel?
R Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Judd, Marc Murphy?
INT Mitch Robinson, Robert Warnock, Ed Curnow?
SUB Dylan Buckley
MEDICAL ROOM
Andrew Carrazzo (calf) - 3 weeks
Sam Docherty (quad) - 2 weeks
Lachie Henderson (groin/ITB) - 2 weeks
Chris Judd (Achilles) - 4 weeks
Check out the AFL's injury list
PASS MARK FOR 2014: Finals. No question. But there's more to it than that. The Blues made a big investment to acquire Mick Malthouse and they are relying on him to deliver. Carlton's depth is not one of its strong suits, so it will need its stars to fire.
NEEDS A BIG YEAR: Matthew Kreuzer. The No. 1 pick in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft is a valuable player for the Blues, but it's time for him to break into the elite category of players in the competition and prove they made the right call to pick him as their franchise player.
FIRST FIVE GAMES: Port Adelaide (ES), Richmond (MCG), Essendon (MCG), Melbourne (MCG), Western Bulldogs (ES)
Click here to see Carlton's entire 2014 fixture
PLAY TWICE: Port Adelaide, Essendon, Geelong, St Kilda, Collingwood
TOUGHEST RUN: The Blues have a considerably tough end to the season. Games against the Sydney Swans (round 17), North Melbourne, Fremantle, Gold Coast, Geelong, Port Adelaide and Essendon should help to determine their finals fate. Carlton also plays top four aspirants Geelong and Hawthorn in successive weeks between rounds 12 and 13.
DREAM SCENARIO: A finish inside the top six. Carlton had a habit of scratching and clawing its way to important victories last year and it will be hoping for more of the same in 2014. The Blues have some A-grade talent in their side who could hit their straps and carry the team into September.
NIGHTMARE STORY: The Blues crash, miss the finals, and the scrutiny really begins. Chris Judd (Achilles) will be sidelined at the start of the year, meaning others will be forced to pick up the slack. If the club suffers injuries, the Blues appear light on for back up players. If that happens, things could end badly at the end of the season.
PRESSURE RATING ON THE COACH: 9/10. Malthouse is under the pump. Blues fans demand excellence and are expecting another finals performance in 2014. If Malthouse doesn't deliver on that promise, the blowtorch will be squarely focused on Visy Park.
