The Blues have re-signed Alex Cincotta, Hudson O'Keeffe, and Domanic Akuei to one-year contract extensions.
Cincotta's story is a well-documented one of resilience and persistence, having overcome a debilitating ACL injury while playing with Geelong's VFL side to becoming a regular fixture in Carlton's 2023 backline.
O'Keefe, like Cincotta, was a 2023 Supplemental Signing Period addition and has been taken under the wing of former ruckman Matthew Kreuzer since arriving at the club.
Akuei, a utility who can play multiple roles, is a Category B rookie from 2021, and while he and O'Keeffe are uncapped, they have made considerable progress with Carlton's VFL side.
Blues list boss Nick Austin expressed his pleasure at retaining the trio, commending each for their progression since arriving at Princes Park.
"We are excited to have Alex, Hudson, and Dom all recommit to the Carlton Football Club," Austin said in a club statement.ย
Great news comes in threes. โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) July 13, 2023
"Alex has come into the AFL system the hard way, but we couldn't be more excited to have him extend his time here at the Carlton Football Club.ย
"His enthusiasm around the Club is infectious and his diligence and commitment to his craft is admirable. It is fantastic to see his dedication rewarded with another contract โ he has certainly earned it.ย
"Alex has overcome so much in the journey to his AFL career, and we applaud his mental toughness which got him to where he is today.ย
"We have been really excited to see how Hudson has progressed this year.โฏย
"Having worked closely with our ruck coach Matthew Kreuzer, Hudson has shown real improvement in his ruck craft, showcasing his ability to compete consistently through the middle of the ground. He has embraced the Carlton way and we look forward to seeing his skills grow over the coming year.ย
"Dom has developed immensely throughout the 2023 season, it's been great to see him refine his skills over the past year.ย
"It's been really pleasing to see all the hard work he puts in pay off on the field on the weekend, but also throughout the week at training. We look forward to seeing him grow and develop his game further to become the well-rounded player we see in him."
The Blues host red-hot Port Adelaide this weekend in a critical ladder-defining clash.
