Carlton is in talks to sign a top 2026 free agent. Plus a host of Melbourne stars and recognised fans have helped the Demons release a cheeky and clever membership campaign.
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BLUES IN TALKS OVER WALSH MEGA-DEAL
Carlton is attempting to lock down star midfielder Sam Walsh before he joins a juicy class of free agents at the end of the 2026 season.
Walsh, 25, has a seven-year contract extension in front of him which according to AFL Media is the largest deal in club history.
The Geelong Falcons product has been strongly linked with the Cats while St Kilda, Adelaide and Hawthorn have also shown major interest in Walsh.
But rival clubs attempting to speak with Walsh over the off-season have reportedly found his priority is remaining at the Blues.
He signed a four-year extension in February 2022, which took him through to free agency.
Zak Butters, Zac Bailey and Ben King are also set to be free agents at the end of this season.
‘STILL SKIING IN EUROPE’: DEES’ HILARIOUS CAMPAIGN VID
Well this is one way to make a viral statement.
A host of Melbourne stars and recognised fans have helped the Demons release a cheeky and clever 2026 membership campaign, featuring ample self-inflicted satire.
The three-minute video, set at a restaurant, included:
— Titus O’Reily giving skipper Max Gawn (a bartender in the video) a clip for his unfortunate shank in last year’s King’s Birthday loss to Collingwood.
— The likes of Russel Howcroft, Broden Kelly and Clint Stanaway reflecting on the horror 186-point loss to Geelong in 2011 and the stunning 2025 post-siren loss to St Kilda where Melbourne gave up a 46-point lead.
— Hamish Blake calling in via video because he’s “still skiing in Europe”.
— Club great Nathan Jones calling for an end to the venting, saying: “Ah, toughen up you lot. You’re acting like you played 300-plus games and carried the club for over a decade, only to get left out of the premiership.”
— Ex-Hawk Changkuoth Jiath saying “red and blue are nice colours too” and ex-Pie Brody Mihocek declaring Dees supporters are “better-looking fans than I’m used to”.
— Kysaiah and Latrelle Pickett emerging for a cameo, with Kysaiah suggesting “what about both?” when it’s questioned whether the Demons’ next flag will come in 2026 or 2028.
BLUES SEEK NEW RECRUITING BOSS
Carlton and national recruiting manager Mick Agresta have parted ways after eight years.
First reported by the Herald Sun, Agresta, who has been at the club since 2018, departs just a month out from the start of the Blues’ season.
It’s another key move made under new Carlton football boss Chris Davies – who replaced Brad Lloyd – and under the watchful eye of chief executive Graham Wright.
“Mick’s had nearly eight years here, he finishes on Friday,” Wright told Carlton members at the club’s AGM on Wednesday night, per the Herald Sun.
“He was open minded and keen to explore what that looked like outside of Carlton.
“We won’t look to replace that role straight away but we will look to restructure that department.”
Assistant coach Aaron Hamill, coaching performance guru Aaron Greaves, talent manager Tom Lonergan and VFL coach Luke Power have all departed.
Former West Coast coach and Fox Footy analyst Adam Simpson was one of the names brought in at Princes Park in a part-time mentoring role.
And while Agresta is gone, list boss Nick Austin remains – having helped orchestrate last October’s blockbuster Charlie Curnow-to-Sydney trade, with Will Hayward, Ollie Florent and Ben Ainsworth the Blues’ key incoming names.
Campbell Chesser and Liam Reidy also joined in smaller-scale deals, while Harry Dean was the big top-10 draft addition as Carlton attempts to rebound from a disappointing 9-14 campaign.
Coach Michael Voss retained his position despite immense pressure at the back end of last year, but a poor start in 2026 will only see more heat put on the 50-year-old.
BULLDOGS BOLTERS
At the Bulldogs, a 26-year-old prospect is reportedly firming for an SSP spot.
Per AFL Media’s Cal Twomey, Footscray VFL’s Will Lewis “is shaping as a strong contender” for an official train-on opportunity at the Dogs, having trained with the AFL group over summer.
Lewis, a 194-centimetre utility, booted 43.24 across 24 VFL games last year.
The Dogs in previous years haven’t been afraid to draft from within, recruiting the likes of Anthony Scott, Will Hayes and Robbie McComb out of Footscray’s program as mature-age recruits.
The Dogs have a vacant list spot following the pre-season retirement of premiership forward James Harmes.
YOUNG DEE RETURNS HOME, DOGS’ SSP BOLTER
Melbourne youngster Kalani White has reportedly taken leave from the Demons as he deals with illness.
According to Seven’s Mitch Cleary, the uncapped 18-year-old has returned home to Queensland to recover from glandular fever, with the ruck-forward set to return to the fray in “coming weeks”.
The 201-centimetre White, the son of former Melbourne ruckman Jeff White, joined the Dees last year as a pre-listed rookie.
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