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).

 

[RedFury]

This Sydney practice match is making me wish that footy wasn't back.

 

[blueblooded]

Charlie 2 goals and 3 possessions. Not a great output

Edit: 89% ToG halfway through first, 75m gained. More of the same!!!

He’ll go hell for leather next week, one thing we can be certain of is the best version of Charlie Curnow will rock up next Thursday. Don’t take much out of a practice match he’d just want to get through. He’s touched the ball twice and kicked two. If he can touch the ball 12 times next week he’ll kick 5 or 6 that’s what he does.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

0 tackles

And probably 0 ****s……

 

[Just Kreuzing]

How’s the weather look in Sydney next week ?

 

[Blue__Balls]

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.

Gotta think we'll have 23 blokes who want to stick it right up Charlie, plus a couple of blokes who were pushed out of Sydney and will have a point to prove. If that bears out the way I think it should, then we'll be up to our eyeballs in it.

It'll be a big game and he's not known for lifting in a significant way for those. He'll kick a few, for sure, he's bloody good. But there's every chance Sydney fall into the same trap we have for years, and overuse him, and if they do that then we should be able to cover him pretty well.

Derksen should be a good matchup too. He's quick on his feet, tall enough, and damn scrappy. Not the type to give up on a contest, and Chuck's prone to the old double grab. If Derksen can stay with him and fight hard, then he'll make it tough.

My biggest concern is the umpires. The AFL love a narrative, and a big bag from Charlie against his old club would make a fine story to start the season. He's always drawn frees, but we've lamented the fact that he really should have been getting more. If the umpires decide now is the time to start looking after him then I'll be bloody ropeable.

 

[Opium]

Dumbass for striking players in a VFL practice game !!

Not in our best team anymore. We need more run and carry from defence

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Not in our best team anymore. We need more run and carry from defence

Yeah was thinking it would be hard to slot both he and Cowan in the same side without losing that run & carry ability from half back.

Maybe 1 replaces McGovern but hard to see all 3 of them fitting.

 

[Blue__Balls]

Weiters will be back for the game. Knows Charlie's game inside out. Done a lot of training drills with him. What a dream it would be. Charlie goaless and Sydney thumped. Love the thought of that!

Argument doesn't really hold up - it goes both ways. Charlie will have kicked plenty on Weiters at training in the past and will know how to slip him. Delivery will be key - if they can pick us apart and hit him on a lead he'll do damage, if we can slow them down and force them to go longer to the a pack at the square then he's a lot less dangerous.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

We have more than Charlie to worry about…..
Sure it will hurt if he gets a hold of us but Heeney, Grundy, Blakey, Warner, Gulden, Mills, Papley etc are vital for them!

 

[The Bighouse]

Not in our best team anymore. We need more run and carry from defence

He was our best field kick and hitting inside Fwd50 targets.. still valuable.
+ he was the general down back, not to be sneezed at in value.

 

[Kernafides]

Yeah was thinking it would be hard to slot both he and Cowan in the same side without losing that run & carry ability from half back.

Maybe 1 replaces McGovern but hard to see all 3 of them fitting.

Mitch won't be dropped lol

 

[Benaly28]

He’ll go hell for leather next week, one thing we can be certain of is the best version of Charlie Curnow will rock up next Thursday. Don’t take much out of a practice match he’d just want to get through. He’s touched the ball twice and kicked two. If he can touch the ball 12 times next week he’ll kick 5 or 6 that’s what he does.

Don’t think anyone kicks 5 or 6 on JW.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Mitch won't be dropped lol

Not next week but moving forward hard to see all 3 playing in the same team if we want to keep that run & carry from half back.

Should of clarified it better!

 

[Benaly28]

Gee it’s annoying that every time the swans full forward kicks goals the media just make him out to be this megastar.

 

[RedFury]

They're playing in a swamp in Sydney right now.

 

[NavySteel]

He’ll go hell for leather next week, one thing we can be certain of is the best version of Charlie Curnow will rock up next Thursday. Don’t take much out of a practice match he’d just want to get through. He’s touched the ball twice and kicked two. If he can touch the ball 12 times next week he’ll kick 5 or 6 that’s what he does.

If we’re playing a faster brand an he isn’t closing meters, then that’s a problem for him an the swans.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

They're playing in a swamp in Sydney right now.

Hopefully heavy legs next week on a drier deck

 

[jj1978]

I think our new ex-Swans would be able to give us some decent intel on them compared to their new full forward pertaining to us, beyond "ummmm they would kick it to me".

 

[Accidental genius]

Dumbass for striking players in a VFL practice game !!

You can say that again!

 

[Bundy Bear Bogan]

And in the 3rd Q, which was his allocated final quarter. Foolish!

he’s already pleaded out. 3 down to 2-weeks.

Bitch. Bugger. Bum.....
Oops sorry for the filthy language

 

[Opium]

He was our best field kick and hitting inside Fwd50 targets.. still valuable.
+ he was the general down back, not to be sneezed at in value.

Missed over 12 months of football. 33 years of age. Game is quicker than ever now. Need more run and transition from defence and he hasn't completed a full pre season. Needs time to build match fitness.

 

[Benaly28]

I think our new ex-Swans would be able to give us some decent intel on them compared to their new full forward pertaining to us, beyond "ummmm they would kick it to me".

You’d think both Hayward and Florent would know the players relatively well.
On the other side we will know their full forward VERY well.

 

[Accidental genius]

I know it’s the First game for the season but Im confident …mostly because it’s in Melbourne () and they may be a bit too Charlie focussed

 

[Aphrodite]

I know it’s the First game for the season but Im confident …mostly because it’s in Melbourne and they may be a bit too Charlie focussed

It’s at the SCG.

 

[Accidental genius]

It’s at the SCG.

oh ok thanks…Didnt read the text

I normally assume game is played at first name teams home ground/city…