Top free agent holding positive talks with the Blues

Free agency will be massive news in 2026, as the season rolls on, largely thanks to some premium names headlining this year’s group.

In fact, Lachie Neale (Brisbane), Zac Bailey (Brisbane), Ben King (Gold Coast), Zak Butters (Port Adelaide) and Sam Walsh (Carlton) are some of the names who top the list.

On SEN Breakfast, Kane Cornes and Sam Edmund discussed the current contract situation with Calton star Sam Walsh, with Edmund revealing that it is looking likely the midfielder will re-sign with the Blues prior to Round One.

“The Blues and the Walsh camp met pre-Christmas for a conversation, and this is trending really positively for Carlton,” Edmund stated.

“Sam is wanting to focus fully on his pre-season in an attempt to actually get through it strongly - there's a determination to knuckle down and tick all those pre-season boxes.

“I think there'd be some very surprised people down Carlton way if Sam Walsh had not re-signed before Round One of the AFL season.”

The conversation continued with Cornes questioning how much would Walsh’s contract be worth.

Edmund: “I reckon it's north of $800,000, isn't it?”

Cornes: “It's probably a million with today's money. He would get a million to leave.

“But I'd be slightly nervous to go seven years (for) a million bucks (each year) - I'd be a little bit responsible if I were Carlton, just knowing that there's some wear and tear on that body.

Edmund: “I've probably undervalued him there when you consider the money that they've shelled out for Harry McKay.

“He would probably at least want to be on parity with someone like a Harry McKay.

Cornes: “If there was a million in front of me for six or seven years, I'd sign it today if I was Sam Walsh, knowing what you've been through.”

Walsh last signed a deal with Carlton back in February of 2022, signing a four-year extension, locking him in until the end of 2026.