AHEAD OF Sunday’s opening hitout of the VFL season, the Carlton Reserves have confirmed their squad of 27 for the 2026 campaign.
It’s a new-look VFL lineup this year, with plenty of new recruits alongside some familiar faces in Damian Truslove’s first season at the helm.
Welcoming in some AFL experience to go with some bright young prospects, find out more about the Blues’ VFL list below.
(Photo credit: Tom McLachlan)
50. Darcy Tucker
With over 150 games of AFL experience, Darcy Tucker signed for the VFL Blues after a decade in the AFL with Fremantle and later North Melbourne. Making his AFL debut back in 2016 (incidentally, against Carlton), Tucker forged a reputation as a hard-running player capable of playing a number of roles for the team.
51. Jaiden Magor
Jaiden Magor spent two seasons on the Sydney Swans’ list where he played 36 VFL games across two seasons. Spending his 2025 season with South Adelaide in the SANFL, Magor - who was coached by Damian Truslove at Sydney - gives the Blues options in all areas of the ground
53. Ollie Badr
Badr is a versatile youngster who has played 10 games across his first two seasons in Navy Blue, kicking multiple goals in three of his first four VFL games in 2025. He’s a familiar face at IKON Park, with the former Oakleigh Charger a close childhood friend of AFL-listed pair Cooper Lord and Jagga Smith.
54. Jack O’Sullivan
Jack O’Sullivan went from Uni Blues to the Navy Blues as a new signing for the 2026 campaign. Featuring for the Carlton Reserves in pre-season, O’Sullivan - the brother of North Melbourne’s Finn and second cousin of Carlton gun Sam Walsh - brings extra physicality to the Blues’ VFL line-up.
55. Ethan Phillips
Ethan Phillips will remain in the Navy Blue in 2026, re-signing with the VFL Blues after a season where the experienced key defender truly excelled. Phillips - who was crowned the Carlton Reserves’ VFL Best and Fairest - played every game in 2025, ranking No.1 in the VFL for intercepts and marks in 2025.
56. Flynn Riley
Flynn Riley was hard to miss in 2025, with the big ruckman showcasing big improvement after making his debut in Round 1 of the VFL season. Playing seven of the last eight games of the year, Riley - who win the team’s Coaches Award in 2025 - turned heads as a ruckman with a competitive streak at ground level.
57. Alwyn Davey
Alwyn Davey Junior has elite level experience for Essendon, following in the footsteps of his dad - and namesake - Alwyn by playing 20 games in the red and black in the AFL, kicking nine goals. Capable of playing at both ends of the ground, Davey kicked 13 goals from 12 VFL games to start the 2025 season, and he’s likely to feature as a forward for the VFL Blues.
58. Jack Sammartino
Jack Sammartino crossed to the Carlton Reserves from Box Hill, where he played six games in 2025 - including his debut game was against the Blues in Round 1. He featured for Banyule at local level last season, being coached by Damian Truslove, who he now links up with at the Blues.
59. Cooper Vickery
A player who performed a pivotal role for the Carlton Reserves in 2025 was Cooper Vickery, who has put pen to paper for another season. Vickery played in every game for the Blues last year and impressed with his run and precision foot skills. He’ll reunite with new VFL Senior Coach Damian Truslove in 2026, who coached Vickery for Sydney’s VFL side.
60. Will Reinhold
Will Reinhold returns to the VFL competition in 2026, with the new Blue arriving from Temora after a previous stint at Port Melbourne. With two Farrer Football League best and fairest medals under his belt, the strong midfielder played 11 games for the Borough in 2022.
61. Dane Harvey
One of the first players re-signed for 2026, Dane Harvey had a career-best season last year. Formerly of Fitzroy in the VAFA, Harvey played 10 games in 2025, impressing with his ability to play at both ends. Playing the opening games of the season as a key defender, Harvey returned to the forward line to finish the year.
62. Ollie Warburton
Ollie Warburton enjoyed a memorable Carlton debut in Round 14, 2025 with a win over Port Melbourne. Warburton comes from a long line of Blues, with his great-grandfather Keith and grandfather Peter representing the Blues at senior level, while dad Brett played nine games for the Blues’ reserves side in 1996.
63. Ryder Corrigan
Considered one of the unluckier prospects to not get drafted, Ryder Corrigan joins the Blues from Lavington where he played with Harry Dean. Averaging over 20 disposals for the Murray Bushrangers, Corrigan - who was an All Australian at under 16 level - is a powerful midfielder also capable of playing half-back and half-forward.
64. Archie Stevens
Archie Stevens returns for another season with the VFL Blues, which will mark his fifth consecutive for the Carlton Reserves. Debuting in 2022, Stevens has played a number of roles across his 37 VFL games, earning a reputation as a great teammate and clubman. He featured 10 times for the Blues in 2025.
65. Jed Rule
Joining the Carlton Reserves in 2026 is another former VFL Hawk in Jed Rule, who featured for Box Hill in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Kicking four goals on debut back in Round 1, 2023, Rule produced 11 goals in eight games in the state league competition, and featured on the wing in pre-season for the VFL Blues.
66. Sam Paea
The VFL premiership player returns to IKON Park after impressing in the final month for the Blues. Featuring in Werribee’s 2023 Grand Final and 2024 flag as a forward, Paea returned to local football for Aberfeldie in 2025, before being trialled by Carlton as a key defender in the season’s final weeks.
67. Tom Evans
Another Echuca product featuring for the Blues in 2026, Tom Evans has starred for the Bendigo Pioneers for a number of years at local level. Averaging just shy of 30 disposals a game in the Coates Talent League last year, Evans is one of a number youthful recruits for the Carlton Reserves in 2026.
68. Taj Logan
Taj Logan returns to IKON Park for his second season in the Navy Blue, after the former Northern Knight also made his VFL debut in 2025. Combining his time at Carlton with Diamond Creek in the Northern Football League, Logan was crowned the Division 2 League Best and Fairest last year.
69. Cooper Hamilton
The former GWS Giant (and social media mogul) broke through for a late-season VFL debut for the Reserves in 2025. The popular Hamilton arrived at the Blues from the Giants 12 months ago, with the 22-year-old - who plays his football on the wing - enjoying his first full pre-season in three years ahead of the 2026 campaign.
70. Darcy Hogg
The runner-up in the Club’s 2025 Best and Fairest award went from strength to strength last year, in a year where he was also named the Blues’ Best Young Player. It was well and truly a breakout for Hogg, who played six games in the two campaigns prior to featuring in every match for the VFL Blues in 2025 as a high half-forward.
71. Cohen Paul
Persistence paid off for Cohen Paul, who was signed to Carlton’s VFL list for 2026 after a season as a train-on player. Playing his football for Euroa in 2025, the key position prospect previously featured for the Murray Bushrangers and plays his best football as a tall defender.
72. Charlie Cotter
A new recruit at IKON Park after a stint at Uni Blues, Charlie Cotter came through the ranks at Claremont in the WAFL Colts. Featuring in a premiership for the side in 2024, Cotter is a speedy small forward that provides plenty of energy in the front half and is capable of hitting the scoreboard.
74. Logan Prout
A virtual new recruit for the Blues, Logan Prout established himself as an important member of the Blues’ defensive setup after being signed from Echuca prior to the 2023 campaign. The defender was named in the Blues’ Round 1 team in 2025 before sustaining an unfortunate ACL injury, but will return to Carlton’s VFL side for 2026.
75. Liam Farrar
A young player from the Northern Knights, Liam Farrar is very familiar with IKON Park as a former student at the Carlton College of Sport. Having the capacity to play as a third tall forward or back, Farrar featured for the Blues in pre-season and backs himself in the air with his contested marking.
76. Harrison Wilson
Another former Lavington product, Harrison Wilson played for the Allies in 2025 as well as the Murray Bushrangers. A medium defender that stands at 190 centimetres, Wilson is strong overhead and quick at ground level, often backing in his skillset to hit targets coming out of the back half.
77. Will Cookson
Will Cookson made an immediate impression upon arriving at IKON Park. An in-and-under midfielder from Hurstbridge, Cookson featured regularly for the VFL Blues in pre-season. Linking up with Mulwala as his local club in 2026, Cookson has made the last two Northern Football League Team of the Years.
78. Tyson Gresham
Tyson Gresham is well-known at IKON Park, with the former Northern Knight a member of the Carlton Academy. Coming through the ranks with Harry Dean and Jack Ison, Gresham is a small forward with leadership capabilities, co-captaining the Knights in 2025 to go with Vic Metro commitments. He is the brother of Essendon forward, Jade.
