The club:
Formed: 1864

Joined AFL: 1897

Premierships: 16 - 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995

Last finals appearance: 2001 (reached first semi-final)

2006 at a glance:
Precious little went right for the Blues in 2006, with a surprise 21-point win against Melbourne in round one presenting a rare highlight. Carlton won only twice thereafter - oddly enough again versus the finals-bound Demons - en route to a second successive wooden spoon. The form of No.1 draft pick Marc Murphy, prior to a season-ending shoulder injury, was a big positive but the year ended in turmoil, with coach Denis Pagan’s status in limbo before the club confirmed he would continue. Brendan Fevola won the Coleman Medal with 84 goals.

2007 to date:
Even the most ardent Carlton fans weren’t getting too carried away after the Blues beat the Lions to snare the NAB Cup. And who could blame them? The last time Carlton picked up pre-season silverware was in 2005, a year in which they also finished bottom of the ladder.

And yet in 2007 there are signs that the summer success is something more than another false dawn at MC Labour Park. Having come from behind to account for Richmond in round one, the Blues then found a way to bounce back from a 78-point round two mauling by Geelong, overcoming Essendon in a most extraordinary round three encounter. Trailing by 48 points in the second term, Carlton rode Fevola's eight goals to a brilliant three-point win in what is an early contender for match of the season. Last week they succumbed to league leader and reigning premier West Coast by 61 points on a waterlogged Subiaco Oval.

The coach:
Blues mentor Denis Pagan wins premierships wherever he goes. Unfortunately at Carlton they've only been in the pre-season, as opposed to the two ‘proper’ flags he delivered at the Kangaroos in 1996 and 1999. According to reports in the press, Pagan was a dead man walking at the end of 2006 but lived to tell the tale - perhaps a deserved result given his record of eight finals appearances in nine years at the Roos and the difficult circumstances that have punctuated his tenure at Carlton. He’s in charge of a young, up-and-coming list. The question is whether he'll still be around when his labour comes to full fruition.

Missing in action:
Nick Stevens doesn't carry the hype of boom youngster Murphy but he's probably earned the right to be regarded as Carlton's classiest midfielder. His loss for the season with a neck injury is a massive blow for the Blues. Emerging defender Brad Fisher is likely to miss the next month after fracturing a cheekbone against West Coast, while Anthony Koutoufides is still a few weeks away. The Blues could potentially have been even worse off in the absentees’ column, but Fevola and Lance Whitnall were both able to accept reprimands after the weekly deliberations of the AFL Match Review Panel.

The gun:
This mantle may eventually rest with Murphy, but for now it sits with Fevola - a player as often erratic as he is excellent. Occasional off-days aside, the Blues pretty much go as far as their star forward carries them. And two weeks ago, that was plenty far. With Fevola booting eight, Carlton surged from a seemingly doomed position to snatch a three-point victory over Essendon. At his peak, Fevola is a quick-leading spearhead blessed with a strong physique, sticky hands and a laser-accurate set shot. He shaded the Lions' Daniel Merrett in the NAB Cup grand final but was held goalless by All-Australian Eagle Darren Glass on the weekend.

The bolter:
Not so long back - probably less than two years - Setanta O'hAilpin was still coming to terms with his shift from Ireland and its native sport of hurling to Australian rules. Come Saturday night, he’ll likely be minding Jonathan Brown. Talk about a transition. That said, O'hAilpin deserves a crack at the competition's best power forward, having played the last 10 games of 2006 and started the 2007 season in more-than-solid form. The majority of footballer followers won't be able to spell his surname but the 199cm, 96kg Irishman is developing into a dependable defender. The battle between O'hAilpin and Brown was an intriguing sub-plot to the NAB Cup decider.

Strengths:
It’s difficult to identify where - in terms of positions on the field - Carlton might be significantly stronger than its opposition. When they are firing and on-song, Carlton has a good blend of experience combined with the exuberance of youth. And the youth the Blues do boast is of very good quality and pedigree. Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Jordan Russell, Josh Kennedy and Andrew Walker are all top-10 draft picks. Eddie Betts was taken in the pre-season draft but looks one of the better pieces of business Carlton has done in recent years. In their match-turning second-half against Essendon, the Blues played free-running, high-scoring football and looked well and truly capable of taking it to anyone in the competition.

Weaknesses:
OK, so the Blues' strengths were on display a fortnight back. Against West Coast last weekend, however, it was their weaknesses that were rather easier to make out. Carlton surrendered meekly by 61 points and Fevola was held goalless. When you field teams of kids (only Hawthorn possesses a younger average age than the Blues), you will occasionally lose very badly - especially if you are very reliant on one player. The big query on Carlton remains that if Fevola isn't "on", where do the goals come from? Not many places, apparently, after a paltry 4.15 for the game versus the Eagles. There must also be question mark regarding leadership in the midfield with Stevens and Koutoufides out of action. And Whitnall's lack of early season form has been well-publicised.

The Queensland factor:
The Blues are yet to forge a great bond with the Sunshine State, with project player Shaun Hampson (Mount Gravatt) the only Queenslander on their list. Back-up ruckman Dylan McLaren, yet to be sighted in 2007, will be remembered for the 46 games he played for the Lions from 2001-2005.