The recent re-signing of Jacob Weitering and the surprise departure of Matthew Kennedy momentarily alleviate some of Carlton's list management pressures, but the Blues still face a challenging task ahead of the 2025 season. A staggering 17 players are set to come out of contract and with recent success eluding the club, it is paramount that they balance retaining key talent and manage their salary cap constraints to position themselves for a premiership push.
Athletic ruckman Tom De Koning is one big name that they will work hard to retain. His stocks have risen significantly since his last contract renewal in 2023, which saw several clubs come hard at him, most notably St Kilda. De Koning and The Blues could be in for a replay of the 2023 contract talks and may need to table a lucrative deal to keep De Koning happy and ward off suitors.
The midfield is another key area of focus, with Adam Cerra's future uncertain. The talented but injury-prone on-baller has struggled to find consistency, leading to speculation about his value to the club. The Blues gave up Pick 6 to the Dockers to get him into the club in 2022 and this year Coach Michael Voss was forced to experiment with Cerra in various roles. His poor form and soft tissue injuries have dropped him down the pecking order amongst his fellow mids, leading to his name being thrown around in trade discussions.
Jack Silvagni presents an intriguing dilemma for the club and fans alike. The versatile, utility bleeds navy blue but has never truly settled into the team, struggling to find his niche as a forward option, ruckman, or defender like his father. After an ACL injury ruined his 2024 season before it started, Silvagni has one more year to prove his pedigree before it might be time for the Blues to swallow their pride and swing the axe.
Carlton's veteran contingent, including Nic Newman, Mitch McGovern, Sam Docherty, and Adam Saad will also garner attention. While most are likely to re-sign, the club's salary cap pressures may force some tough decisions should any players negotiate a particularly large deal. As we have seen with the recent Matthew Owies debacle, the Blues aren't afraid to ship-off season regulars should their asking price be deemed too high.
Meanwhile, the Blues' young prospects like Alex Cincotta, Brodie Kemp, Cooper Lord, and Jesse Motlop will be looking to cement their places in the team. Kemp, in particular, has attracted interest from St Kilda, while Motlop faces pressure to fill the void left by Matt Owies' departure to West Coast. At 20-years-old Motlop has been given ample opportunity to show his worth, but has never locked down his spot in the squad. With Owies gone the small forward role is his for the taking.
Orazio Fantasia, however, seems likely to face the axe. Constantly in and out of the team, Fantasia has failed to lock down a defined role. Conversely, Hewett on occasion started as the sub, but quickly found himself as an important player on the Blues roster and is likely to re-sign.
As Carlton navigates this maze of expiring contracts, they must prioritise wisely and make tough decisions to ensure their list remains competitive. With fans itching for success, the time is now for the Blues to get it right.
