The 2026 Carlton Football Club season is the Carlton Football Club's 163rd season of competition.
It is the club's men's team's 130th season as a member of the Australian Football League. Under senior coach Michael Voss in his fifth season with the club, the team began the season with a 1–8 record, resulting in Voss' departure from the role. Assistant coach Josh Fraser took over, and oversaw a form reversal which saw the team reach the finals in 10th place with a 12–10–1 record, and an eventual 8th placed finish after a wildcard final win and elimination final loss.
The club's women's team is contesting its 11th season in the AFL Women's. The club also fielded 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 is the 130th season of the VFL/AFL competition since its inception in 1897; and, having competed in every season, it is also be the 130th season contested by the Carlton Football Club. The club is fielding 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 was be Marvel Stadium and secondary home ground was the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the team playing six home games at the former and five at the latter. Traditional home ground Ikon Park continued 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, 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.
Senior personnel Robert Priestly continued as club president for his second season in the role. Graham Wright took over from Brian Cook as CEO and served 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.
Michael Voss began he season in his fifth year as senior coach of the club, and was to be out of contract at the end of the season. Following Voss' departure from the role after round 9, assistant coach Josh Fraser stepped in as caretaker coach; Fraser was in his first year of a second stint at Carlton as an assistant coach, having previously coached with the club between 2016 and 2020, including coaching the Northern Blues VFL team. Following round 23, when Carlton secured its 2026 finals position, Fraser was appointed full time senior coach until the end of 2029.
In addition to Fraser's addition, there were several changes to the assistant coaching panel prior to the season, with Leigh Adams, Jacob Townsend and Ash Close joining, and Damian Truslove returning after a stint elsewhere; development coaches Brad Ebert, Luke Power and Tom Lonergan and assistant coaches Aaron Hamill and Aaron Greaves departed after 2025.
Patrick Cripps continued in his fifth year as sole club captain and seventh year overall (having served as co-captain with Sam Docherty for three years). The number of vice-captains was reduced from three to two to make up the broader leadership group, with Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh continuing in the role; 2025's third vice captain Charlie Curnow was traded to and was not replaced.
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 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), 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), 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, 145 120 12 Ben Ainsworth 178 10 February 1998 27 2017 Gippsland (U18), 158 137 13 Blake Acres 189 7 October 1995 30 2014 West Perth, , 187 65 14 Oliver Florent 184 22 July 1998 27 2017 Sandringham (U18), 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, 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, 134 18 25 Liam Reidy 204 14 June 2000 25 2024 Frankston, 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), 80 12 29 George Hewett 185 30 December 1995 30 2016 North Adelaide, 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, 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, , 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), , 43 35 45 Flynn Young 181 3 February 2002 23 2025 Geelong (U18), 8 5 47 Wade Derksen 195 18 June 2001 24 – Peel, – – Senior coaching panel Coach Coaching position Carlton Coaching debut Former clubs as coach Michael Voss Senior coach (to round 9) 2022 (s), (a) Josh Fraser Assistant coach (forwards) – to round 9Caretaker coach – from round 10 2016 Gold Coast reserves (s), Northern Bullants (s), Collingwood reserves (s) Leigh Adams Assistant coach (midfield) 2026 South Croydon (s), Coburg (s), (d, a, cs) Tim Clarke Assistant coach (midfield and stoppage structure) 2016 (a), Coburg (s), Richmond reserves (s), (a) Ashley Hansen Assistant coach (defence) 2022 (a), Footscray reserves (s) Matthew Kreuzer Assistant coach (ruck) 2022 Jordan Russell Head of development 2022 (d), (a) Damian Truslove Development and reserves coach 2026 (a), (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), (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 2025 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 early in the signing period. 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 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). Campbell Chesser AFL AFL trade period, in exchange for a third-round draft pick (provisionally No. 41). Ben Ainsworth 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. Oliver Florent AFL AFL trade period, in exchange for a third-round draft pick in the 2026 draft. Will Hayward 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. Harry Dean Murray (U18) Talent League 2025 AFL national draft, first round selection (No. 3 overall), after matching a bid by 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 . Wade Derksen AFL Signed as a train-on player, then joined the list in the pre-season supplemental selection period. Flynn Riley Carlton reserves VFL 2026 mid-season draft, first round selection (No. 4 overall).
Out Player New Club League via Sam Docherty Retired Alex Cincotta Delisted after the 2025 season Orazio Fantasia Delisted after the 2025 season Harry Lemmey Delisted after the 2025 season Tom de Koning 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. Jack Silvagni AFL Signed by St Kilda as an unrestricted free agent. Received a compensatory end-of-first-round draft pick. Corey Durdin 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. Charlie Curnow 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. Jaxon Binns Delisted after the trade period. Will White Delisted after the trade period. He trained with the club as a train-on player during the offseason, but was not relisted.
List management