Zac Williams
The past two seasons from Carlton’s No.6 has been a sight for sore eyes. After an opening stint at the Club which was compounded with long-term injuries and personal loss, Zac Williams has played 19 games in each of the last two seasons, with his 2025 campaign seeing him contribute a career-best 22 goals. He played in the forward, midfield and defensive lines all throughout the season, so where he spends his time in 2026 could still yet to be decided - but it’s a joy for every Bluebagger seeing Williams out there with a smile on his face, no matter where he’s playing.
Brodie Kemp
Brodie Kemp felt poised to take the next step in his career after the opening month of the 2025 season. Settled in a new, permanent role up forward, Kemp produced a five-goal showing against the Western Bulldogs in Round 3, before everything changed in the final quarter of Gather Round. An Achilles rupture floored Kemp and ruled out the rest of his campaign from April onwards, but the Blues’ No.17 has left no stone unturned as he continues to go about his recovery to secure a spot in a new-look Carlton forward line.
Sam Walsh
The 2023 Gary Ayres Medallist well and truly reminded the football world what he was capable of in the final fortnight of the 2025 campaign. Adopting a ‘no BS’ mentality, Walsh was determined to return before year’s end, producing a pair of eye-catching performances which provided a point of difference to the Blues’ midfield. Looking to get through this pre-season fighting fit, what Walsh provides with and without the ball has been evident from day one in Navy Blue, as he prepares to chalk up 150 games at Carlton in the 2026 season.
Matthew Carroll
How did we get here? This time 12 months ago, Matthew Carroll was battling it out hoping to just get a spot on the Carlton list after an injury-ravaged debut season in 2024 - come the end of 2025, he had 17 games under his belt and a Telstra AFL Rising Star nomination to show for it. Affectionately known as ‘Jeff’ at IKON Park, Carroll’s courage and willingness to take the game on at every opportunity brought about much-deserved praise, and he’ll be looking to do the exact same in 2026.
Hudson O’Keeffe
Go on, ‘Skull’. One of Carlton’s seven AFL debutants in 2025, Hudson O’Keeffe’s debut story was the epitome of hard work and determination. Enjoying two wins in his opening two games, a hamstring injury delayed O’Keeffe’s plans for an extended run in the team, but the competitive forward-ruck was back in the fold to finish the campaign. With a record of four wins and one loss from his five games, O’Keeffe will hope to keep a good thing going in 2026, with the big man a sure thing to throw his weight around at whatever challenge comes his way.
Francis Evans
We’re going Old School with our appreciation for ‘Frank the Tank’. What an end to the season it was for Carlton’s No.44, who fought tooth and nail in the VFL for the Carlton Reserves to earn a senior recall after a Round 1 Navy Blue debut. Something clicked for Evans in the final month of the season, kicking multiple goals in each of his last four games, including a memorable four-goal showing against Gold Coast in Round 22. Competition for spots in Carlton’s forward line is heated after a busy off-season, and Evans will be right in that mix.
