After penning a two-year contract extension, Jesse Motlop is already looking ahead to how he can take his football to the next level in 2026 and beyond.
Next year will be the small forward’s fifth year as a Blue, with the group’s success and building on his game remaining his top priority.
“I love the club … I love what we’re working towards on and off the field, I feel like we’re all working towards a common goal and I really want to be a part of it,” Motlop told Carlton Media.
“They’re the Club that picked me when no other did, so Carlton means a lot to me … all the boys, all the staff, all the coaches, I love everyone and they’ve all treated me so well. I wanted to repay the debt.
“[We’re] building on what we already have, I guess we’ve built that foundation.
“We’ve got a lot of young boys and a lot of youth coming through, and I want to be a part of that and almost take a few steps to try and be a leader to them. At the same time, I want to keep building my game and keep trying to contribute to the team as well.”
Finishing the 2025 season on a high, Motlop showcased his zippy craft and punishing impact in Round 24, banking 22 disposals, a goal and two clearances - a byproduct of more midfield minutes for the agile forward.
“It was a definitely a learning experience, a lot of ups and a lot of downs, I learnt a lot,” he said.
“I loved going through the midfield. As a junior you always play in the midfield but being able to do it at an AFL level is a lot harder.
“Being exposed to that was a privilege, so I’m really thankful to the coaches for doing that.
The 21-year-old was one of six Carlton players to play every game in 2025 - a nod to his hard work and dedication off field, and a hint at what he can do in years to come.
“I want to build on that next year and get to work on the little things in my game and what makes my strengths my strengths ... making sure they’re all ready to go,” Motlop said.
“Obviously last season was pretty tough, we’ve showed the last few years that we’ve got what it takes and everyone knows that.
"We’re definitely building towards that consistency and doing it over a home and away season and potentially into finals too so get excited, get ready.”
