Carlton list manager Nick Austin has declared the club's 2024 AFL Draft a resounding success, with the Blues securing a mix of elite talent and positional needs, including top prospect Jagga Smith, promising defender Harry O'Farrell, and father-son duo Ben and Lucas Camporeale.
The highlight of Carlton's draft haul was Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Jagga Smith, selected with pick No. 3. Smith, a standout performer in 2024, was described by Austin as the club's top-ranked prospect.
โWe had Jagga at the top of the class,โ Austin revealed.
โIt wasn't a decision so much for the now... it's a 10-15 year decision when you're picking that high in the draft.
"We've watched him for a long period of time now, and we've always thought in the back of our minds that whoever gets him is going to be stoked.โ
Smith brings leadership and class to Carlton's midfield, boasting a strong ability to win contested ball, exceptional decision-making in traffic, and versatility that Austin believes sets him apart from other prospects.
โJagga we feel suits us more than the others... his character, his leadership, he's a fantastic kid... we're super excited to add him to our footy club.โ
With pick No. 40, the Blues selected Harry O'Farrell, a promising 197cm key defender from Calder Cannons. Austin emphasised O'Farrell's raw potential, noting his balance of defensive capabilities and offensive instincts.
โIt has been a positional need... one that can come in and develop,โ Austin explained.
โLike all the draftees, they're not in a hurry to play; they'll play when they're ready. Harry's got some size to put on, but he's certainly got a lot of talent.โ
Carlton matched bids to secure Ben and Lucas Camporeale, the sons of club great Scott Camporeale, with picks No. 43 and No. 54, respectively.
The twins bring contrasting styles to the team, with Ben excelling as an inside midfielder and Lucas impressing as an outside runner.
โBen's grown a lot, his inside game has come along in the last 12 months, and his aerial game. He'll be an inside midfielder who can run and spread,โ Austin said.
โLucas is more outside with his ball use and a neat little left-footer. They're both very different players but both fill positional needs for us too.โ
Austin also highlighted the emotional significance of continuing the Camporeale legacy at Carlton.
โThat's why we love the father-son rule, it's fantastic for those boys and their family to carry on that tradition. Scott was such a great player for our footy club; a premiership player and a life member, so it's really special for them.โ
Reflecting on Carlton's overall draft performance, Austin stressed the importance of sticking to their long-term list management strategy.
โWe were pretty clear from the start that we wanted to prioritise the draft,โ he said.
โAt that point in time if you had've said we could get up to (pick 3), that was a fair way away, but once we got up to three, we haven't really looked back.โ
With a solid mix of elite midfield talent, key position prospects, and a family connection, Austin believes Carlton is well-positioned for the future.
The Blues are also set to be active in the rookie draft and Supplementary Selection Period to round out their list.
โWe'll hold some spots open for some SSP spots as well,โ Austin confirmed.
Carlton fans will be eagerly anticipating the impact of their new recruits as they prepare to don the Navy Blue.
