The Blues’ young playing list was faced with a number of challenges in 2018, and as a result, finished the year with fewer wins than previous seasons.

However, the valuable experience gained by first and second-year players, coupled with the resilience built within the team, will no doubt hold the Club in good stead for years to come.

With the side now on a break, we’re analysing each player’s year in statistics. Here’s the review for Carlton’s No. 33, Jarrod Pickett.

GAMES

2018: 7
Career: 17

GOALS

2018: 2
Career: 8

BY THE NUMBERS (averages in brackets)

Disposals: 58 (8.3) Tackles: 20 (2.9) Pressure acts: 108 (15.4) Inside 50s: 18 (2.6) Score involvements: 21 (3) Metres gained: 1398 (199.7)

2018 IN FOCUS

Jarrod Pickett’s frustration in 2018 began on the precipice of the home-and-away season, following a promising pre-season.

After lighting up Carlton’s two JLT Community Series matches with impressive cameos, a fractured scaphoid on the eve of the season wiped out Pickett’s next three months.

Three goals in the VFL against Collingwood saw him recalled to the senior line-up for his first game, kicking a goal on return against Port Adelaide in Round 15.

His seven games came consecutively, showing glimpses of excitement but struggling to find consistency after an extended period out with injury.

With injury troubles hopefully a thing of the past for the 22-year-old, a strong pre-season will hold the excitement machine in good stead and allow him to build on what he showed in the back-end of the 2017 season.

BEST PERFORMANCE

After his best game in 2017 came against Hawthorn, Pickett once again enjoyed playing the Hawks in Round 18.

From his 12 disposals, Pickett recorded seven inside 50s, 405m gained and six score involvements. It was his most influential performance of the season and showed his ability to break the lines and make an impact.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

Coming up against his old side for the first time in Round 20, Pickett showed his ability to apply defensive pressure in emphatic fashion.

With GWS co-captain Callan Ward seemingly in space, Pickett closed down his opponent and executed his tackle to perfection to stop the Giant in his tracks.