As many as four Carlton attackers could depart the Blues this off-season as rivals show their interest and players potentially look to secure more opportunities elsewhere through the upcoming trade period.
The Blues have steadily secured their top playing contingent over the last few years, having all of Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay, Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps sign long-term deals, while the Victorian club looks to secure key defender Jacob Weitering beyond next year when his current contract expires.
Ruckman Tom De Koning's two-year deal will expire at the end of the 2025 season also, giving the Blues plenty to still work on off the field over the next 12 months.
In 2024, Carlton have a number of role players and contributors still unsigned, with small forward Matt Owies the pick of the bunch.
The former basketballer has booted an equal career-high 27 goals already this season to trail only Curnow and McKay at Carlton, having gone goalless in just four of his 19 appearances in 2024.
Fellow forwards Jack Martin and Jack Carroll are also still without deals for 2025, while young wingman Jaxon Binns joins the duo in struggling for consistent senior opportunities.
Carroll has fluctuated in and out of Michael Voss' side and Martin has endured injury and form battles this year, while Binns is yet to add to his AFL debut earlier this year despite some dominant form at VFL level.
According toย AFL.com.au'sย Riley Beveridge, Owies and Martin could both depart Princes Park this year, with Owies in the sights of rivals while Martin could make his way to a third club via a move to Fremantle where he would return to his home state.
"Matt Owies is another one that we've spoken about so often on this show in the sense that he's having a career-best year at Carlton,"
"He's still out of contract, he still doesn't have a deal on the table. You can see why rival clubs would be going for Matt Owies. They are circling him pretty significantly.
"Jack Martin, I think will leave Carlton at the end of the year.
"Hasn't been able to crack the side since coming back from his latest injury setback, he's only played one game for the year, has had so many injury issues throughout his time at the Blues.
"We mentioned Freo were keen on him a couple of weeks ago. I don't know exactly if he does go back to Freo but I think he does leave Carlton at the end of the year."
Binns is contracted for the next two seasons, having penned an extension until the end of 2026 midway through his debut season last year.
A recent 47-disposal and three-goal performance in the VFL wasn't enough for Binns to break into the Blues' senior midfield group, which will add father-son tied pair Ben and Lucas Camporeale at this year's draft.
Binns, as well as the aforementioned Carroll, could join Owies and Martin in heading for the door at the end of this year, with clubs expected to show interest.
"Jaxon Binns is fascinating for me, in a different sort of way, in that got two years to go on his deal at Carlton, but they've got two more midfielders coming," reporter Cal Twomey said.
"He can't break in at the moment & the Camporeale brothers [will be drafted]. I think he might have opportunities elsewhere & we'll see if they land for him.
"He's a trade option for other clubs.
"Jack Carroll, weighing things up, but has interest from West Australia. He is out of contract."
Carlton have David Cuningham, Caleb Marchbank and Sam Durdin, among others, still off-contract.
