Preview 2026 Opening Round - Carlton v Sydney Thursday March 5th 7:30pm @ SCG

[Aphrodite]

1st Team is in for 2026 - 7 New Blues …..

AFL team news: Seven Navy Blue chapters begin

Carlton has confirmed its team of 23 to take on Sydney in the season opener.

www.carltonfc.com.au

Included in the team are seven new Blues, with Jagga Smith and Harry Dean already confirmed to be making their AFL debuts.

Joining them will be Carlton’s five traded-in recruits from October last year: Ben Ainsworth

12

Ben Ainsworth

Age

28

Ht

178cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

8.1

3star

HB

6.1

4star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

12.8

3star

K

8.3

3star

HB

4.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.3

3star

G

1.0

4star

D

13.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.4

5star

G

0.6

3star

(Gold Coast), Campbell Chesser (West Coast), Ollie Florent and Will Hayward

19

Will Hayward

Age

27

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

9.0

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.7

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.4

5star

(Sydney) as well as Liam Reidy (Fremantle).

 

[Stamos]

And we're a week away, even though we're still in February...

This is a massive game for a new look Carlton.

Weiters back in to put Charlie to sleep. Have at it.

 

[Jatz]

Going to this one, really looking forward to this time next week!

Sydney in Sydney will be a pretty tough ask but I don't think they're as good as many are implying they will be.

 

[ctwenty1]

Going to this one, really looking forward to this time next week!

Sydney in Sydney will be a pretty tough ask but I don't think they're as good as many are implying they will be.

me too

cannot wait...

 

[RPCB]

If we are to lose, I want to see the right intent for four quarters. This is more a development year for a list with a lot of young players in it.

10-12 wins and I would be very satisfied.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

Have loved the way we've played across the pre-season, but points on the line, against Sydney, in Sydney, Charlie Curnow

35

Charlie Curnow

Age

29

Ht

194cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.3

3star

K

9.7

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.8

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.8

4star

with a grand White Swan emblazoned across his chest, and Errol Gulden sticking the yellow-leather Sherrin to it - this will be difficult.

We are looking quicker, more direct, more lethal in the forward half. Can't wait for Jagga, and Lij, and Evans, and Ainsworth and Haywood and Byrne to cut some holes through Sydney's defense.

Bring. It. On.

 

[BJuddy]

I am getting sucked in like a true one eyed supporter. But I just got this feeling, I reckon we pull this one out of the bag.

 

[Graffy4242]

Have loved the way we've played across the pre-season, but points on the line, against Sydney, in Sydney, Charlie Curnow with a grand White Swan emblazoned across his chest, and Errol Gulden sticking the yellow-leather Sherrin to it - this will be difficult.

We are looking quicker, more direct, more lethal in the forward half. Can't wait for Jagga, and Lij, and Evans, and Ainsworth and Haywood and Byrne to cut some holes through Sydney's defense.

Bring. It. On.

Could someone play a defensive role on Errol???

 

[FlowersByIrene]

Could someone play a defensive role on Errol???

I don't know if you can fully stop him, runs very very hard. Not sure if it would be worth it, he'd still get off the leash on anyone we put directly on him.

Perhaps more of a defensive look up the field - i.e loose defenders sitting in front of Charlie is the better approach? Make it difficult for Errol to execute.

 

[The Bighouse]

From round 24 vs ESS it’s looking like there’ll be a MIN of 8 changes.
Out (3): TDK, Durdin, White
Inj (5): Motlop - Haynes - Acres (?), Cowan (?), Carroll (?)
Dicey (5): F.Young, L.Young, HOK, Moir, Wilson,

 

[The Bighouse]

Could someone play a defensive role on Errol???

Ollie H

 

[ctwenty1]

I don't know if you can fully stop him, runs very very hard. Not sure if it would be worth it, he'd still get off the leash on anyone we put directly on him.

Perhaps more of a defensive look up the field - i.e loose defenders sitting in front of Charlie is the better approach? Make it difficult for Errol to execute.

Will Hayward and Ollie Florent need to be pissing in his ear all night "come home to Carlton, you'll love it"

 

[Juice030103]

We normally get killed for run by their mids. Don’t think that’ll happen this time round

 

[RAPPA]

Hopefully our rucks are across the rules!

 

[ESKIE]

What’s Sydney’s defence like ? Might tune in this arvo

 

[BJuddy]

Hopefully our rucks are across the rules!

Would help if the umps are as well

 

[Stamos]

Weiters will come in, which means 4 dropped from last nights 26.

I doubt anyone else gets a look in, although there would perhaps be potential for HOK as a more forward 2nd ruck rather than going with 2 pure rucks.
I'm not sure we'd want to risk H in the centre square given the rule changes?

 

[bradfisher14]

IN: Weitering, Newman
OUT: Young, McGovern, Fogarty, Reidy, Lord

FB: 47. Derksen 23. Weitering 42. Saad
HB: 24. Newman 35. Dean 14. Florent
C: 4. Hollands 9. Cripps 31. Chesser
HF: 20. Hollands 17. Kemp 12. Ainsworth
FF: 19. Hayward 10. McKay 44. Evans
R: 27. Pittonet 18. Walsh 7. Smith
INT: 39. Byrne 37. Boyd 6. Williams
43. Moir 29. Hewett

 

[FlowersByIrene]

Hopefully our rucks are across the rules!

Hopefully the Umpires are!

 

[TheReal99prelim]

And we're a week away, even though we're still in February...

This is a massive game for a new look Carlton.

Weiters back in to put Charlie to sleep. Have at it.

If Cox allows Charlie to engage with Weitering, he is a fool

Charlie knows what he was doing wrong at Carlton (lack of running, multiple leads etc.)

I'm 100% certain Cox will tell Curnow to run Weitering ragged

Curnow just needs someone to run with him and keep him frustrated by spoiling, bumping etc

It won't be perfect but if we can hold him to 2-3 goals, it would be good result

 

[Benaly28]

To beat Sydney MUST stop their big 4.

Heeney/Warner/Gulden and their full forward.

 

[NavySteel]

To beat Sydney MUST stop their big 4.

Heeney/Warner/Gulden and their full forward.

Double-team Charlie all night. Does not like it. Kill the confidence early and bring forth his poor second efforts.

 

[marleyblue]

I just can't get confident when we are playing at this venue. We've won 2 of our last 24 games at the SCG going back to 1992. I rock up every year and invariably go home disappointed. At some stage it has to turn and hopefully it starts next week because by god we are due a few wins up here.

 

[SurreyBlue]

I am getting sucked in like a true one eyed supporter. But I just got this feeling, I reckon we pull this one out of the bag.

I was disillusioned going into this season. I can't remember being so disinterested in a season.

However, after the preseason and playing both GF sides, I'm starting to sit up a little.
I still believe the first month, with 3 of the 4 games winnable, will be very enlightening.

This game will be more about our approach and execution and not so much the result.

 

[LFTWNG11]

If Cox allows Charlie to engage with Weitering, he is a fool

Charlie knows what he was doing wrong at Carlton (lack of running, multiple leads etc.)

I'm 100% certain Cox will tell Curnow to run Weitering ragged

Curnow just needs someone to run with him and keep him frustrated by spoiling, bumping etc

It won't be perfect but if we can hold him to 2-3 goals, it would be good result

Even at his worst he kicks 2 or 3 goals, which is what makes him a class above. If we keep him to 3 goals, that’s a win.

 

[CaptainCharisma]

Can't see us bringing anyone outside of Weitering back in for next week.
Think Newman, Cowan and Carroll won't be ready or risked.

It is a shame Weitering wasn't available last night, it would have been good to see how Derksen might go as a secondary tall forward with Weitering, Dean and Young down back.
Think Harry will need another tall helping him this year.