2026 Carlton Football Club season
| 2026 season | |
|---|---|
| President | Robert Priestley |
| Coach | Michael Voss |
| Captain | Patrick Cripps |
| Home ground | Marvel Stadium,Melbourne Cricket Ground (Training and administrative: Ikon Park) |
The 2026 Carlton Football Club season will be the Carlton Football Club's 163rd season of competition.
It will be the club's men's team's 130th season as a member of the Australian Football League, and the fifth under senior coach Michael Voss. The club's women's team will contest its 11th season in the AFL Women's. The club will also field its men's reserves team in the Victorian Football League and its state level women's team in the VFL Women's.
Club summary
The 2026 AFL season will be the 130th season of the VFL/AFL competition since its inception in 1897; and, having competed in every season, it will also be the 130th season contested by the Carlton Football Club. The club will field its women's team in the 11th season of the AFL Women's competition, its men's reserves team in its ninth Victorian Football League season, and its VFL women's team in its eighth VFL Women's season.
Carlton's primary home ground will be Marvel Stadium and secondary home ground will be the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the team playing six home games at the former and five at the latter.[1] Traditional home ground Ikon Park will continue to serve as the training and administrative base, and as the home ground for AFL Women's and the men's reserves matches.
Car manufacturer Hyundai, which had been a major sponsor of the club continuously since 2008,[2] and Great Southern Bank, which became a major sponsor during the 2021 season, will continue as the club's major sponsors through the 2026 season.[3]
Senior personnel
Robert Priestly will continue as club president for his second season in the role. Graham Wright has taken over from Brian Cook as CEO and will serve his first season in the role; Wright had joined the club from Collingwood as deputy CEO at the start of 2024 under a succession plan, taking over in August 2025.[4] Michael Voss will continue in his fifth year as senior coach of the club, and will be out of contract at the end of the season. There were several changes to the assistant coaching panel, with Leigh Adams joining and Josh Fraser and Damian Truslove returning after stints elsewhere; development coaches Brad Ebert and Luke Power and assistant coach Aaron Hamill departed after 2025.[5]
Squad for 2026
The following is Carlton's squad for the 2025 season.
Statistics are correct as of end of 2025 season.
| Senior List | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Hgt (cm) | Date of Birth | Age (end 2025) | AFL Debut | Recruited from | Games (end 2025) | Goals (end 2025) | |
| 2 | Lachie Cowan | 187 | 1 December 2004 | 21 | 2023 | Devonport, Tasmania (U18) | 38 | 2 | |
| 3 | Jesse Motlop | 180 | 23 November 2003 | 22 | 2022 | South Fremantle | 63 | 59 | |
| 4 | Oliver Hollands | 183 | 16 January 2004 | 21 | 2023 | Murray (U18) | 65 | 11 | |
| 5 | Adam Cerra | 187 | 7 October 1999 | 26 | 2018 | Eastern (U18), Fremantle | 148 | 39 | |
| 6 | Zac Williams | 185 | 20 September 1994 | 31 | 2013 | GWS Academy, GWS | 174 | 69 | |
| 7 | Jagga Smith | 182 | 28 January 2006 | 19 | – | Oakleigh (U18) | – | – | |
| 8 | Lachie Fogarty | 180 | 1 April 1999 | 26 | 2018 | Western (U18), Geelong | 90 | 36 | |
| 9 | Patrick Cripps (c) | 195 | 18 March 1995 | 30 | 2014 | East Fremantle | 230 | 127 | |
| 10 | Harry McKay | 204 | 24 December 1997 | 28 | 2017 | Gippsland (U18) | 140 | 274 | |
| 11 | Mitch McGovern | 191 | 11 October 1994 | 31 | 2016 | Claremont, Adelaide | 145 | 120 | |
| 12 | Ben Ainsworth | 178 | 10 February 1998 | 27 | 2017 | Gippsland (U18), Gold Coast | 158 | 137 | |
| 13 | Blake Acres | 189 | 7 October 1995 | 30 | 2014 | West Perth, St Kilda, Fremantle | 187 | 65 | |
| 14 | Oliver Florent | 184 | 22 July 1998 | 27 | 2017 | Sandringham (U18), Sydney | 184 | 51 | |
| 15 | Billy Wilson | 183 | 16 June 2005 | 20 | — | Dandenong (U18) | 4 | 0 | |
| 16 | Ben Camporeale | 186 | – | Glenelg | – | – | |||
| 17 | Brodie Kemp | 192 | 1 May 2001 | 24 | 2021 | Bendigo (U18) | 49 | 14 | |
| 18 | Sam Walsh (vc) | 184 | 2 July 2000 | 25 | 2019 | Geelong (U18) | 133 | 47 | |
| 19 | Will Hayward | 186 | 26 October 1998 | 27 | 2017 | North Adelaide, Sydney | 184 | 229 | |
| 21 | Lucas Camporeale | 184 | – | Glenelg | 3 | 0 | |||
| 22 | Harry O'Farrell | 197 | – | Calder (U18) | 6 | 1 | |||
| 23 | Jacob Weitering (vc) | 196 | 24 November 1997 | 28 | 2016 | Dandenong (U18) | 204 | 11 | |
| 24 | Nic Newman | 187 | 15 January 1993 | 32 | 2017 | Frankston, Sydney | 134 | 18 | |
| 25 | Liam Reidy | 204 | 14 June 2000 | 25 | 2024 | Frankston, Fremantle | 3 | 0 | |
| 26 | Nick Haynes | 192 | 18 May 1992 | 33 | 2012 | Dandenong (U18) | 234 | 13 | |
| 27 | Marc Pittonet | 202 | 3 June 1996 | 29 | 2016 | Oakleigh (U18), Hawthorn | 80 | 12 | |
| 29 | George Hewett | 185 | 30 December 1995 | 30 | 2016 | North Adelaide, Sydney | 202 | 53 | |
| 30 | Jack Ison | 190 | — | Oakleigh (U18) | – | – | |||
| 31 | Campbell Chesser | 186 | 27 April 2003 | 22 | — | Sandringham (U18) | 36 | 7 | |
| 33 | Lewis Young | 201 | 21 December 1998 | 27 | 2017 | Sturt, Western Bulldogs | 80 | 9 | |
| 35 | Harry Dean | 193 | – | Murray (U18) | – | – | |||
| 37 | Jordan Boyd | 182 | 22 September 1998 | 27 | 2022 | Western (U18), Footscray reserves | 38 | 1 | |
| 39 | Talor Byrne | 174 | – | GWV (U18) | – | – | |||
| 40 | Hudson O'Keeffe | 202 | 16 December 2004 | 21 | 2025 | Oakleigh (U18) | 5 | 3 | |
| 42 | Adam Saad | 178 | 23 July 1994 | 31 | 2015 | Calder (U18), Coburg, Gold Coast, Essendon | 216 | 12 | |
| 43 | Ashton Moir | 187 | 15 April 2005 | 20 | 2024 | Glenelg | 11 | 12 | |
| 46 | Matthew Cottrell | 181 | 29 February 2000 | 25 | 2020 | Dandenong (U18) | 74 | 36 | |
| Rookie List | |||||||||
| No. | Player | Hgt | Date of Birth | Age | Debut | Recruited from | Games | Goals | |
| 20 | Elijah Hollands | 189 | 25 April 2002 | 23 | 2022 | Murray (U18) | 41 | 26 | |
| 28 | Harry Charleson | 182 | – | GWV (U18) | – | – | |||
| 32 | Matt Carroll | 188 | 25 November 2005 | 20 | – | Sandringham (U18) | 17 | 1 | |
| 34 | Rob Monahan | 194 | 29 June 2024 | 21 | — | Kerry | – | – | |
| 36 | Cooper Lord | 184 | 20 March 2005 | 20 | 2024 | Sandringham (U18), North Melbourne reserves | 23 | 5 | |
| 41 | Matt Duffy | 194 | 2 January 2004 | 21 | – | Longford GAA | – | – | |
| 44 | Francis Evans | 23 August 2001 | 24 | 2021 | Calder (U18), Geelong, Port Adelaide | 43 | 35 | ||
| 45 | Flynn Young | 181 | 3 February 2002 | 23 | 2025 | Geelong (U18), Werribee | 8 | 5 | |
| 47 | Wade Derksen | 195 | 18 June 2001 | 24 | – | Peel, Greater Western Sydney | – | – | |
| Senior coaching panel[6] | |||||||||
| Coach | Coaching position | Carlton Coaching debut | Former clubs as coach | ||||||
| Michael Voss | Senior coach | 2022 | Brisbane Lions (s), Port Adelaide (a) | ||||||
| Leigh Adams | Assistant coach (midfield) | 2026 | South Croydon (s), Coburg (s), North Melbourne (d, a, cs) | ||||||
| Tim Clarke | Assistant coach (midfield and stoppage structure) | 2016 | Richmond (a), Coburg (s), Richmond reserves (s), Gold Coast (a) | ||||||
| Josh Fraser | Assistant coach (forwards) | 2016 | Gold Coast reserves (s), Northern Bullants (s), Collingwood reserves (s) | ||||||
| Ashley Hansen | Assistant coach (defence) | 2022 | Western Bulldogs (a), Footscray reserves (s) | ||||||
| Matthew Kreuzer | Assistant coach (ruck) | 2022 | |||||||
| Jordan Russell | Head of development | 2022 | Western Bulldogs (d), North Melbourne (a) | ||||||
| Damian Truslove | Development and reserves coach | 2026 | Richmond (a), Greater Western Sydney (a), Bendigo Pioneers (s), GWS reserves (s), Sydney reserves (s) | ||||||
| Torin Baker | Carlton College of Sport and Academy and development coach | 2021 | Western Jets (s), Hawthorn (d) | ||||||
- For players: (c) denotes captain, (vc) denotes vice-captain.
- For coaches: (s) denotes senior coach, (cs) denotes caretaker senior coach, (a) denotes assistant coach, (d) denotes development coach, (m) denotes managerial or administrative role in a football or coaching department
Playing list changes
The following summarises all player changes which occurred after the 2024 season. Unless otherwise noted, draft picks refer to selections in the 2025 national draft.
Carlton's player movements period was eventful. Throughout the 2025 season, eighth year ruckman Tom de Koning and tenth year utility Jack Silvagni were both linked to free agency departures, both players moving to St Kilda early in the signing period.[7] The club's trade period was then focussed on three major storylines: the request for a trade by two-time Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow, who was three years into his seven-year contract with the club; the club's desire to add speedy players to its wings and flanks; and the club's need to secure enough draft picks to make a father-son rule bid on highly ranked defensive prospect Harry Dean, son of two-time premiership player Peter Dean. Overall, Carlton engaged in five trades for players and five trades for draft picks (including live trades during the draft), able to achieve both of its aims and successfully arrange a trade for Curnow inside the final minutes of the trade period.
In
| Player | Former club | League | via |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liam Reidy | Fremantle | AFL | AFL trade period along with Fremantle's third- and fourth-round draft picks (provisionally No. 53 and 71), in exchange for Carlton's higher third- and fourth-round draft picks (provisionally No. 50 and 68).[8] |
| Campbell Chesser | West Coast | AFL | AFL trade period, in exchange for a third-round draft pick (provisionally No. 41).[8] |
| Ben Ainsworth | Gold Coast | AFL | AFL trade period, in a three-way trade with Gold Coast and Port Adelaide which also saw Carlton gain a fourth-round draft pick (provisionally No. 67) and give up Corey Durdin and a second-round draft pick in the 2026 draft.[9] |
| Oliver Florent | Sydney | AFL | AFL trade period, in exchange for a third-round draft pick in the 2026 draft.[10] |
| Will Hayward | Sydney | AFL | AFL trade period, along with a first round draft pick (provisionally No. 11), and first round draft picks in the 2026 and 2027 drafts; in exchange for Charlie Curnow, a second- and third-round draft pick (provisionally No. 31 and 42) and a second-round draft pick in the 2027 draft; in exchange for Will Hayward.[11] |
| Harry Dean | Murray (U18) | Talent League | 2025 AFL national draft, first round selection (No. 3 overall), after matching a bid by West Coast under the father-son rule. |
| Talor Byrne | GWV (U18) | Talent League | 2025 AFL national draft, third round selection (No. 45 overall). |
| Jack Ison | Oakleigh (U18) | Talent League | 2025 AFL national draft, third round selection (No. 47 overall), as a Next Generation Academy selection after matching a bid by North Melbourne. |
| Wade Derkson | Greater Western Sydney | AFL | Signed as a train-on player, then joined the list in the pre-season supplemental selection period.[12] |
Out
| Player | New Club | League | via |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Docherty | Retired[13] | ||
| Alex Cincotta | Delisted after the 2025 season[14] | ||
| Orazio Fantasia | Delisted after the 2025 season[14] | ||
| Harry Lemmey | Delisted after the 2025 season[14] | ||
| Tom de Koning | St Kilda | AFL | Signed by St Kilda as a restricted free agent, Carlton declined to match St Kilda's $1.7m/yr offer. Received a compensatory first round draft pick.[7] |
| Jack Silvagni | St Kilda | AFL | Signed by St Kilda as an unrestricted free agent. Received a compensatory end-of-first-round draft pick.[7] |
| Corey Durdin | Port Adelaide | AFL | AFL trade period, in a three-way trade with Gold Coast and Port Adelaide which also saw Carlton gain a fourth-round draft pick (provisionally No. 67) and Ben Ainsworth and give up a second-round draft pick in the 2026 draft.[9] |
| Charlie Curnow | Sydney | AFL | AFL trade period, along with a second- and third-round draft pick (provisionally No. 31 and 42) and a second-round draft pick in the 2027 draft; in exchange for Will Hayward, a first round draft pick (provisionally No. 11), and first round draft picks in the 2026 and 2027 drafts.[11] |
| Jaxon Binns | Delisted after the trade period.[15] | ||
| Will White | Delisted after the trade period.[15] He trained with the club as a train-on player during the offseason, but was not relisted. |
List management
| Player | Change |
|---|---|
| Elijah Hollands | Originally delisted after the trade period,[15] before continuing to train with the club as a train-on player and being re-signed in the supplemental selection period.[12] |
| Draft picks | AFL trade period, received two draft picks from Hawthorn (provisionally No. 10 and 22) in exchange for four draft picks (provisionally No. 9, 31, 42 and 43).[16] |
| Draft picks | 2025 National draft live trade, received three draft picks from Essendon (provisionally No. 21, 27 and 30) in exchange for two draft picks (provisionally No. 9 and 43).[17] |
| Draft picks | 2025 National draft live trade, received three draft picks from North Melbourne (provisionally No. 25, 46 and second-round draft pick in 2026) in exchange for two draft picks (provisionally No. 11 and 54).[17] |
| Draft picks | 2025 National draft live trade, received one draft pick from Gold Coast (a second-round draft pick in 2026) in exchange for one draft pick (provisionally No. 28).[17] |
| Draft picks | 2025 National draft live trade, received one draft pick from Brisbane Lions (a third-round draft pick in 2026) in exchange for one draft pick (provisionally No. 38).[17] |
| Hudson O'Keeffe | Elevated from the rookie list to the senior list.[18] |
Season summary
Pre-season
Carlton played two practice matches, the first deemed unofficial match simulation and the second deemed an official practice match, as part of its lead-up to the premiership season.
| Date and local time | Opponent | Scores (Carlton's scores indicated in bold) | Venue | ||
| Home | Away | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 18 February (4:00 pm) | Brisbane Lions | 13.10 (88) | 15.13 (103) | Won by 15 points[19] | Brighton Homes Arena (A) |
| Wednesday, 25 February (7:10 pm) | Geelong | 13.8 (86) | 11.5 (71) | Won by 15 points[20] | Ikon Park (H) |
Individual awards and records
- Representative honours
The following Carlton players were selected for representative teams during the 2025 season.
- In the 2026 AFL Origin match:
- For Western Australia: Patrick Cripps, who was named captain.[21]
- For Victoria: Jacob Weitering.[22]
AFL Women's
Carlton's AFL Women's team will contest its 11th season of the AFL Women's competition.
Reserves
Carlton will field reserves and state level teams in the men's and women's competitions during the 2024 season.
Men's
Carlton's men's reserves team will contest its eighth VFL season; and its 88th overall season of reserves and state level competition dating back to 1919.
Women's
The club will field a team in the VFL Women's competition for the seventh time.
References
- ^ "Variety and prime time headline Blues' 2025 fixture". Carlton Football Club. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
- ^ "Hyundai and Carlton in New Partnership". Carlton Football Club. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ^ "Blues announce Great Southern Bank as new Co-Major partner". Carlton Football Club. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Wright appointed Deputy CEO in leadership succession". Carlton Football Club. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
- ^ "Carlton confirms coaching structure for 2026". Carlton Football Club. 3 October 2025. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ^ "Coaching panel". Carlton Football Club. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- ^ a b c "Silvagni a Saint, TDK on the way after free agency moves lodged". afl.com.au. 3 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Blues boost ruck stocks as big Docker makes move". afl.com.au. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Suns small forward traded to Carlton, Blue joins Port". afl.com.au. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ "Florent time: Ollie becomes a Blue". carltonfc.com.au. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Swans win the race to land star Blue in blockbuster trade". afl.com.au. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Hollands and Derksen earn their chance". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Doc draws curtain on remarkable career". CarltonFC.com.au. 22 July 2025.
Sam Docherty has announced his retirement from the game.
- ^ a b c "Former Bomber, Power forward among three delistings at Carlton". afl.com.au. 28 August 2025.
After 120 career games Orazio Fantasia has been moved on from the Blues along with young key forward and 40-game rookie
- ^ a b c "Carlton confirms further list changes". carltonfc.com.au. 24 October 2025.
- ^ "Hawks, Blues do pick swap to open up another Merrett offer". afl.com.au. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d https://www.draftguru.com.au/trades
- ^ https://x.com/CalTwomey/status/1988809098109046957
- ^ Cristian Filippo (18 February 2026). "AFL match sim report: New-look Blues on show in Brisbane". Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ Riley Beveridge (25 February 2026). "New Blues shine in impressive win, injury scare for big Cat". Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ "First batch of eight players unveiled for AFL Origin return". AFL Media. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ "Bont v Toby, Serong v Smith: Who pulled rank in Origin's number battle?". afl.com.au. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.