The Carlton Football Club began the first leg of its journey under senior coach Brendon Bolton in 2016.

After notching up seven wins for the season – three more than last year – the Blues ended up finishing 14th on the ladder.

With the team now on a break, we’re taking a look back at each player’s year in statistics. Here’s the review for Carlton’s No. 27, Dennis Armfield:

GAMES

Season 2016: 15

Career: 140

GOALS

Season 2016: 16

Career: 73

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets)

Disposals: 225 (15.00) Kicks: 123 (8.20) Marks: 51 (3.40) Contested Possessions: 73 (4.87) Tackles: 34 (2.27) Goals: 16 (1.07)

OVERVIEW

Undisputedly a fan favourite, and a proud Life Member of the football club he’s so loyally and capably served, Dennis Armfield committed to Carlton for a ninth season in 2016, and delivered with a series of inspired performances.

A goal of the year nominee for the typically hard-running six-pointer goal against Geelong at Etihad, Den had to overcome an horrendous testicular injury mid-season mid-year, but bobbed up with four of his team’s lamentable seven-goal return against Adelaide in Round 16 and slotted three against Melbourne in the penultimate round of the football calendar year.

Somehow lost in the 11th round match with Brisbane at Etihad was the unique fact that in fronting up for his 131st senior appearance for the club, Armfield eclipsed Ollie Grieve’s record for most games in the No.27 dark Navy blue guernsey – a record that stood the test of time for almost 64 years, or more precisely, 23,282 days.

HE SAID IT

“Getting your name on the locker was a proud moment because you then realise you’re part of the history forever. As for breaking Ollie’s record, this is a real ‘wow’ moment because you know you’ve created your own history. You hear the stories of Ollie and Des English, so wearing their number is a real badge of honour.”

– Dennis Armfield to Carlton Media, when asked what it meant to be the new keeper of the no.27 games record.

THEY SAID IT

“Dennis is the kind of person who puts his heart into everything he does, both on the track and away from it.”

– Carlton's Head of Football Andrew McKay praises Armfield for his strength of character.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

Armfield’s four-goal haul before half-time against Adelaide – three of them thumpers from outside 50 in the opening quarter – came after the enforced layoff with the ruptured testicle. He wore a box into that game, and try doing that when you have to cover ten kms-plus on the ’G.