Carlton Media takes a look at the Blues' best statistical performers in 2017:

GOALS

 
Levi Casboult34
Matthew Wright30
Charlie Curnow20
Jack Silvagni19
Bryce Gibbs17

Levi Casboult's improved accuracy led to his first time on top of Carlton's goalkicking charts. The recently re-signed forward converted 56.7 per cent of his shots on goal, up 17 per cent on his 2016 output.


Levi Casboult made better use of his goalscoring opportunities in 2017. (Photo: AFL Media)

SCORE INVOLVEMENTS

 
Marc Murphy125
Bryce Gibbs123
Matthew Wright116
Sam Docherty104
Kade Simpson 103

Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs make things happen when in possession, involved in the most scoring chains for Carlton in 2017. They were well-supported by small forward Matthew Wright, whose creativity often created scores out of seemingly nothing.

EFFECTIVE DISPOSALS

 
Sam Docherty487
Marc Murphy 478
Bryce Gibbs411
Kade Simpson 397
Patrick Cripps257

An elite decision-maker and distributor, 2017 All Australian Sam Docherty proved the Blues' chief playmaker in defence. He narrowly eclipsed Murphy for effective disposals, despite having 43 less possessions than the Carlton skipper.

CONTESTED POSSESSIONS

 
Marc Murphy225
Bryce Gibbs223
Matthew Kreuzer206
Patrick Cripps203
Sam Docherty 144

Murphy took the mantle for the coveted contested possessions count, but only just ahead of Gibbs. The Blues didn't have anyone inside the league's top 25 for total contested possessions - an area they'll need to improve in 2018.

TACKLES

 
Bryce Gibbs129
Matthew Kreuzer107
Sam Petrevski-Seton95
Patrick Cripps90
Marc Murphy86

At just 19 years of age and with a slight frame, Sam Petrevski-Seton's top-three finish for tackles was a remarkable effort. Kreuzer had the second-most tackles of any ruckman, finishing three behind Greater Western Sydney's Shane Mumford.


Sam Petrevski-Seton's tackling was a feature in his debut season. (Photo: AFL Media)

CONTESTED MARKS

 
Levi Casboult52
Charlie Curnow36
Matthew Kreuzer19
Liam Jones 17
Jacob Weitering16

Casboult and Charlie Curnow will create many headaches for opposition defences in the coming years, finishing 2nd and 15th in the league respectively for total contested marks in 2017. This feat becomes all the more applausible given Carlton had the second-least inside 50s.

CLEARANCES

 
Bryce Gibbs109
Patrick Cripps101
Marc Murphy 101
Matthew Kreuzer94
Sam Petrevski-Seton42

Patrick Cripps played eight less games than Gibbs, but only just missed out on leading the Blues for clearances. The midfield bull averaged 6.7 clearances a game this season, ranked sixth overall in the competition.


Clearance specialist Patrick Cripps doing what he does best. (Photo: AFL Media)

METRES GAINED

 
Sam Docherty11,321
Kade Simpson9,019
Marc Murphy8,508
Bryce Gibbs8,078
Matthew Wright5,593

Docherty was the Blues' most effective player for moving the footy forward (by a long way, too). Finishing second for metres gained was Kade Simpson, proving just how much Carlton relies on him and Docherty to launch out of defence.


Sam Docherty got the Blues moving forward more than anyone else. (Photo: AFL Media)

INTERCEPTS

 
Sam Docherty139
Kade Simpson114
Lachie Plowman 112
Caleb Marchbank97
Jacob Weitering94

The defenders led the way for intercepts, with Docherty emerging on top again for another vital stat. In 2017, the Blues proved they had no shortage of defenders who could read the play well and put their bodies on the line for that all-important intercept.

ONE-PERCENTERS

 
Liam Jones132
Lachie Plowman94
Jacob Weitering79
Sam Rowe66
Matthew Kreuzer63

Reborn defender Liam Jones led the competition for average one-percenters, with his acceleration and ability to halve the contests on full display. His two standout spoils against Hawthorn (see below) were sights to behold.