CARLTON legend David Parkin has declared the Blues’ list as one of the worst he’s ever seen.
Parkin, who started his decorated career with Hawthorn in 1961, said newly appointed coach Brendon Bolton faced an enormous task to rebuild the Blues.
"That list in profile, in my humble opinion is the worst in the competition now and probably one of the worst I’ve ever seen in my entire association with the game," Parkin told Crocmedia.
"He (Bolton) would understand that, and I’m not pointing the finger at anyone but it is a list that has 7-8 players at the top end who are wonderful contributors and have been A-grade players for that club.
"They’ll all be gone before this club gets back to a point where it’s competitive, playing finals and winning.
"They’ve had 3-4 in the engine room between 24-28 (years old), one of whom has already put up his hand and gone [Lachie Henderson].
"I think there is every likelihood that Yarran might be on the way too because he’s probably one of the guys who puts the cream on the cake but doesn’t help build the cake.
"Matthew Kreuzer is another who has had a long run of injuries and will struggle to play at the level they require. Then at the bottom end from what I saw at the weekend, and I know some are missing, but they’ve probably got only four or five with genuine talent."
Despite the list assessment, the four-time premiership coach said Bolton was the perfect man for the job owing to his ability to teach and nurture a developing Carlton group.
"I’ve been fortunate enough to work with him on coaching courses and he’s never any different with anybody, anywhere at any time," Parkin said.
"He’s got this enormous energy and enthusiasm for the game and he’ll need that because this is no short-term fix.
"I’m pleased they’ve put him on the staff so he’s not under threat from a board who might say in 2-3 years, ‘This is not happening at the rate we thought it would, let’s go find someone else’.
"This is a club that needs rebuilding from top to bottom and I don’t think they could have chosen better.”"
Parkin was hopeful caretaker coach John Barker could be kept at the club in some capacity and paid tribute to his work this season.
"I hope they can convince him to stay with the intellectual property, decency and character he brings," he said.
Parkin coached his third Carlton flag and the Blues’ last in 1995 but remained confident the club could recapture the glory days of the past despite its recent struggles.
"I think the Blues can (return to a golden era) provided they all get along and I think that’s happening now," he said.
"I believe the competition needs a good Carlton and I believe Carlton have started to realise what a good Carlton needs to be and they’ve put the right people in place to bring that about."
