Carlton has been building their current list since 2015, but they are set for what could be another list overhaul at the end of the season.
This highlights that while the pressure is on for the club to contend with the group that they’ve got, they could be a very different squad again in 2024.
The Blues have 18 players out of contract at the end of year, with different situations to consider across the board.
This means we could see as many as 10 players turned over at the end of the season, either through delistings or trades as Carlton once again turns over a quarter of its list.
Here are the categories and the decisions they must consider.
The big names
Tom De Koning, Mitch McGovern
The key names from the outside are Tom De Koning and Mitch McGovern, with negotiations going on and offers likely to come as the Blues manage their existing salary cap space.
McGovern has been on big money at the Blues with poor health luck until 2023, making this current contract negotiation curious.
Will he stay on less money or on a contract with clauses heavily tied to availability or does a better offer appear elsewhere?
De Koning’s situation has been well fleshed out, with big offers reportedly to come from the likes of St Kilda, Sydney, Essendon and Geelong.
He will likely find himself back in the AFL side following a strong VFL performance that followed missing a fortnight with a concussion and his upside remains tantalising, even if he is yet to deliver consistently.
Verdict: It entirely depends on the players, the contracts an the offers. Carlton should not overpay for either.
Must re-sign
Nic Newman, Marc Pittonet, Jack Silvagni
Nic Newman has had the best season of his career across half back and has absolutely earned a two-to-three-year extension.
Marc Pittonet is an important cog in the ruck and will be for another few years, while Jack Silvagni remains a best 22 player.
Earned another year
Alex Cincotta, Brodie Kemp
The last player added to Carlton’s list this season, Alex Cincotta has shown he belongs at AFL level and deserves an extension for 2024.
Brodie Kemp is a fascinating one. He is yet to truly lock down a spot positionally, but has looked good as an intercept marking defender in the VFL.
The former first-round draft pick still has upside and is likely ahead of those in the next tiers, and worth re-signing for another year.
The injury prone question marks
Caleb Marchbank, David Cuningham, Sam Philp
The talent is there, but can Carlton continue to carry multiple players on their list who break down every year?
The three players in this category have combined for two games so far this season in the VFL, with Philp out for the year with a foot injury.
Cuningham hasn’t played since Round 9 of 2021 where he tore his ACL against Melbourne. Setback after setback has followed, with a shoulder issue now plaguing him.
Marchbank similarly has played four games since 2019 and only just returned to the VFL on the weekend.
Verdict: Given McGovern also falls into this category and both Jack Martin and Zac Williams are equally injury prone, the Blues must consider being brutal and deciding to limit the amount of these types of players on their list.
Project players
Hudson O’Keeffe, Dom Akuei
Verdict: A pair of rookie key position project players. It wouldn’t make sense to delist either at the end of the year unless the club no longer sees the upside.
Fighting for a list spot next year
Ed Curnow, Josh Honey, Lachie Fogarty, Lachie Plowman, Paddy Dow, Sam Durdin
Carlton has big decisions to make on a whole host of out of contract players.
As of Round 10, it would appear Carlton has put a line through Lachie Fogarty and Paddy Dow, who have both impressed in the VFL, but not received any senior opportunities.
Dow will likely request a trade and find a home elsewhere in 2024 given Carlton’s depth of on-ballers.
Ed Curnow has been a regular in the senior side, but is on the rookie list and will be 34, Josh Honey has been in and out of the side and Lachie Plowman has never quite worked at AFL level despite repeated opportunities.
Sam Durdin provides key position depth, but likely only gets an opportunity if Jacob Weitering or Lewis Young gets injured.
Verdict: Carlton could conceivably cut all of these players at the end of the season, without even factoring in the other categories.