Anthony Koutoufides features on Episode 1 of All The Champions. (Graphic - Anthony Alesiani)
Carlton legend Anthony Koutoufides has heaped the praise on Carlton’s list as it gears up for the 2024 season.
Speaking on the first episode on House of Footy’s Carlton podcast ‘All The Champions’, Koutoufides explained that while it’s clear where his loyalties lie, he believes the Blues list easily has what it takes to bring it to the next level this season after a Preliminary Final exit in 2023.
“I will say that I believe their list… I think it’s the best list in the comp,” he said.
“I could be wrong because I don’t sit there and study it. I’m really biased towards Carlton, but I just see a phenomenal list of players that still have potential to get even better.”
Discussing which players could build on their game and make a bigger impact in 2024, Koutoufides spoke very highly of ruckman Tom De Koning and his future in Carlton’s engine room.
“Tom De Koning [is] such a lovely guy… I caught up with him in December,” Koutoufides recalled.
“We all see that potential in him, and this year talking to him I think he’s got himself a little bit fitter as well.
“One, two, or three per cent difference in fitness, a little bit more confidence, [he’s] a bit more mature… that guy there really has the potential to really take over games.
More News:
No second-year syndrome on Jaspa Fletcher’s mind
James Jordon “excited by the opportunity” following interstate switch to Sydney
Christian Petracca is Opening Round ready, but will Clayton Oliver be?
Set to take the field in Koutoufides’ famous number 43, Ashton Moir is another player that the Carlton legend showed great admiration for as a person, although he stressed that we shouldn’t put any pressure on the young draftee ahead of his first season at IKON Park.
“What a lovely kid,” Koutoufides exclaimed.
“I don’t want to put pressure on him… the number 43 [is] insignificant.
“People compare [players]… I hope he goes on to become a better player than me, I hope he plays more games than me, but I want him at the end of the day to experience a premiership.
“He’s such a good kid and I hope he does really well. His family is lovely… and I think that goes with all the boys at the football club when you see them, they’re so down to earth.”
Koutoufides also sang the praises full forward Charlie Curnow, explaining how there is still room for growth in his game after two brilliant consecutive seasons which saw him take out a pair of Coleman Medals.
“Look how good Charlie is, [and] I just feel like he’s got another level or two in him,” he said.
“I know his finals campaign didn’t showcase that, I thought it was going to.
“I’m not a coach… it’s not easy being a coach… but I would let Charlie loose a little to learn how to get the ball off the ground, in the pack from stoppages, and then put him back in the forward line and you’ll see that his game will evolve because he’ll learn more skills and more little tricks that he can add to his game.”
Looking back on his days at the Blues, Koutoufides explained how lucky he was to have experienced team success, and that the players will soon discover what it truly means to be a Carlton player.
“I said for many years that I was blessed to walk in when I did, to see the true Carlton,” Koutoufides explained.
“I want these young kids to experience what I got to experience. The most incredible football club and the most powerful football club in the competition.
“I think the Carlton players don’t really understand the true Carlton that I grew up to witness, and they got a glimpse of what it was like last year [in finals].”
“Look out for the Carlton Football Club, because if we get it right, I know how enormous this football club is.
“I’m excited for the players and hopefully they can bring the premiership cup back home where it belongs.”
For more great stories from this interview with Anthony Koutoufides, you can check out Episode 1 of All The Champions on the House of Footy YouTube channel, or on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
