AS MANY as nine uncapped Carlton players could pull on the Navy Blue on Wednesday when the Blues take on the Brisbane Lions.
In the Blues’ first hitout against external opposition for 2026, the match simulation against the Lions has seen the Blues take a 28-player squad up north.
Taking on the Lions at Brighton Homes Arena (otherwise known as Michael Voss Oval), it will be the first chance for the Blues to put their pre-season to the test, coming up against the reigning premiers.
It’s no surprise that all five of Carlton’s traded-in players from last October have been named, with former Sydney teammates Ollie Florent and Will Hayward joined by Ben Ainsworth (Gold Coast), Campbell Chesser (West Coast) and Liam Reidy (Fremantle).
Selected with pick No.3 in the last two Telstra AFL Drafts, exciting youngsters Jagga Smith and Harry Dean have been named, and they’ll also be joined by respective draft class members in Ben Camporeale (2024) and Talor Byrne (2025).
It’s a youthful looking Blues squad, with 10 players aged 22 or under named for the hitout, which will be complemented by the experience of Harry McKay, Sam Walsh and reigning John Nicholls Medallist, George Hewett.
Brodie Kemp will play his first game since last April, with the forward to make a long-awaited return to action following an Achilles injury.
There’s also room in the squad for both of Carlton’s respective train-on players, with Elijah Hollands and Wade Derksen both named ahead of the impending supplemental selection period deadline on 2 March - the Monday of Opening Round.
Patrick Cripps won’t play, but the dual Brownlow Medallist has made the trip from Perth to Brisbane to link up with teammates after leading out WA in AFL Origin on Saturday night.
The game kicks off from 5pm AEST (6pm in Melbourne) and will be broadcast live on FOX Footy and Kayo Sports.
Matt Carroll (hamstring), Blake Acres (shoulder), Lachie Cowan (calf) continue to make progress with their respective injuries, with their availability for the start of the season to be confirmed in the week of Opening Round.
Carlton match simulation squad v Brisbane:
4. Ollie Hollands, 5. Adam Cerra, 6. Zac Williams, 7. Jagga Smith, 8. Lachie Fogarty, 10. Harry McKay, 11. Mitch McGovern, 12. Ben Ainsworth, 14. Ollie Florent, 15. Billy Wilson, 16. Ben Camporeale, 17. Brodie Kemp, 18. Sam Walsh, 19. Will Hayward, 20. Elijah Hollands, 25. Liam Reidy, 27. Marc Pittonet, 29. George Hewett, 31. Campbell Chesser, 33. Lewis Young, 35. Harry Dean, 36. Cooper Lord, 37. Jordan Boyd, 39. Talor Byrne, 40. Hudson O’Keeffe, 42. Adam Saad, 43. Ashton Moir, 47. Wade Derksen
Italics denotes train-on player.
