Carlton are expected to invite a trio of former AFL-listed players to take part in their pre-season training program over the summer in a bid to fill list spots at the Blues.
The Princes Park club has found some success via the Supplemental Selection Period in recent years, with currently listed trio Matt Cottrell, Alex Cincotta and Hudson O'Keeffe joining the Blues via the mechanism, while former midfield-forward Michael Gibbons also landed on the club's list as an SSP recruit in 2018.
Carlton confirmed earlier in the off-season that delisted duo Sam Durdin and Matt Carroll have been offered the chance to retain a list spot for the 2025 season as train-on players, with the pair in line to rejoin teammates in the coming weeks in the hope of keeping their careers alive.
Ex-Hawthorn defender Denver Grainger-Barras' manager confirmed this week that the former Pick 6 selection will be given a trial stint with the Blues this pre-season should he fail to find a new home via next week's draft period.
According toย News Corp'sย Jon Ralph, former Collingwood tall and current Blues VFL forward Liam McMahon is another name set to train under Michael Voss with a second chance at AFL level on the line.
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McMahon, a 197cm forward, booted 45 goals from 16 games with Carlton's reserves this year - kicking at least two goals every game to finish the year as the side's best and fairest and in the VFL Team of the Year.
Liam McMahon, Sam Durdin and DGB will all trial for summer rookie spots. The Blues view on pick 3 is there are 5 very good mids they would be happy to take who all add to the current onball mix. Two will be gone by pick 3, they get their choice of the next three https://t.co/UWQo62aiT0
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) November 16, 2024
McMahon finished second in the competition for goals this year in what was just his second season with the Blues after being delisted by Collingwood.
The 22-year-old spent two years with the Magpies, transitioning to defence after a rookie season as a forward at VFL level.
Durdin and Carroll were among the eight players not offered new deals by Carlton at the cessation of the 2024 season, with both players struggling to get on the field due to injury battles.
Another chance for Durdin would be the 28-year-old's second career revival, having been delisted by North Melbourne in 2020 before being picked up at the Mid-Season Draft by the Blues two years later after strong form in the VFL with Glenelg.
Durdin could find himself in competition with Grainger-Barras for a key defender list spot with Carlton, who could add to their ranks after the free agency acquisition of Nick Haynes from GWS.
Carlton will consider McMahon as a fringe forward option given the lack of talls placed in the pecking order behind Coleman Medal pair Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, with Tom De Koning now viewed as a full-time ruckman.
Uncapped forward Harry Lemmey could get a chance next year, with Ashton Moir to contend for a medium-sized forward role alongside the returning Jack Silvagni.
