Paddy Dow is Carlton’s only uncontracted player on the eve of the AFL trade period after the Blues re-committed to an injury-riddled trio ahead of the 2024 season.
CalebMarchbank, David Cuningham and Sam Durdin all received new one-year contracts on Friday, with Carlton set to enter next season with the most stability in their roster in more than a decade.
Dowand speedster Zac Fisher will leave via trades, but they will be among just seven roster changes for the Blues for the third straight season.
Thiscomes after a turbulent eight-year period in which the Blues parted ways with an average of 11 players in each offseason between 2013 and 2020.
Marchbankand Cuningham re-emerged as key cogs in Carlton’s senior team after overcoming lingering injuries in 2023, with the former among the Blues’ best finals players when he returned to the squad in Round 20, playing eight consecutive matches after getting just four in the final.
three previous seasons.Caleb Marchbank has secured a new one-year contract after overcoming a lingering injury and will play eight straight games by the end
Marchbank’s perseverance in battling repeated knee injuries and a broken neck vertebra which derailed his 2022 campaign.
“Caleb’s return to the senior team has been welcomed, with him moving to the back with a team mentality.
Hehad some really strong moments this season and his ability to perform under pressure at the end of the season was impressive,” Austin said.
“We must also recognize the journey that Caleb has taken to get to where he is today.
“To see him come back and play so well is a great honor for his dedication and drive.
We look forward to seeing its development continue over the next 12 months.
Austinsaid Cuningham, who was left out for the preliminary final but played a key role as a striker in the second half of Carlton’s season, had shown “incredible determination and courage” after playing just four games in 2021 and missing all of last year. .
Durdin, 27, was retained for a third season with the Blues as a center defensive player after being drafted in the 2022 mid-season draft.
PaddyDow is still out of contract and could consider a move to St Kilda. Image: Dylan Burns / Getty Images Source: Getty ImagesSt Kilda appears to be the likely landing spot for Dow, who would reunite with list manager and the man who recruited him to the Blues in 2017, Stephen Silvagni.
The23-year-old midfielder has made ten appearances this season, but has started five matches as a substitute.
Former North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell told AFL Trade Radio that Dow had been “treated harshly” by the Blues.
“I actually think Paddy Dow got roughed up at Carlton, to be honest,” Ziebell said on Thursday.
“I think he’s incredibly talented (and he hasn’t had any opportunities).
“If he gets that opportunity, and obviously we’re not within the four walls of that football club and we don’t know exactly how he performs by those standards, but from the outside he has the ability.
”Fisher’s manager Andrew McDougall said the left-hander also wanted more opportunities at senior level after being limited to 12 games in 2023.
The25-year-old is expected to join North Melbourne during the trading period, which begins on Monday.
“It’s probably more about opportunities for Zac.
He loves all the players there, it’s a fantastic club, Carlton, and he’s got some really good friends,” McDougall told AFL Trade Radio.
“It’s more of an opportunity for him if something happens…
he’s received some interest from some clubs, and obviously he’s been dropped a few times during the run-in.”
