After playing the type of forgettable elimination final loss that Essendon and the Western Bulldogs have made into an art form this century, there can be no pats on the back for Carlton.

This season was a failure based on the expectations many held for the Blues in 2024, their season completely derailing after quarter-time in round 17 when they squandered a five-goal lead to the Giants after making the strange decision to leave George Hewett out of their midfield.

A disappointed and disappointing Carlton leave the ground after being eliminated from finalsCredit: Getty Images

But it wasn’t a waste and the Blues will remain contenders next season.

Until that point against the Giants the Blues sat second on the ladder. Patrick Cripps and Tom DeKoning were in red-hot form, Zac Williams and Alex Cincotta had spent the previous month transforming their look inside 50, and they had beaten Geelong by 10 goals just a fortnight earlier.

Injuries were a crucial reason, but it would be a blue to think it was the only reason, while there is hope that the appointment Rob Inness to replace the retiring Andrew Russell as high-performance manager will deliver a change of fortune on this front.

Carlton did not play in a consistent, foolproof method throughout the season. Turnovers propelled their scoring in the opening rounds, then stoppages, then a mixture, then neither to the level that was required.

All over: It was rugged night for Blues coach Michael Voss.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

That was the sum of it for 2024, and Michael Voss was well aware when he spoke after the elimination final loss to Brisbane about the need to find consistency in their game because inconsistencies rise to the surface in finals.

Between rounds 16-24 as the losses mounted, and their ladder position slipped, the inconsistencies that had already been evident in the Blues’ game........

© The Age