You don't know that the list has gone backwards . Thats just your opinion.I don't particularly like Owies, but am aware that you need a list of between 30 and 35 AFL level players to contend for a premiership.
Carlton have just let go a 33 goal a year forward, and their 'best clubman' who finished 10th in their best and fairest.
They're a mid table team whose list has gone backwards this off season, entering a year where their top 5 players are in their absolute prime.
Sometimes clubs need to make hard decisions in order to try and get better. Look at Adams, Grundy, treloar for example. Replaced by Daicos, Cameron, and all of a sudden the list is regenerated slightly and became a premiership team.
I still fail to see how getting rid of a few fringe players makes the list weaker. You keep referring to Carlton as middling - does not retaining those player types keep Carlton in the same territory ?