Blues fans rejoice, if only for the short-term, as highly-touted draftee Harley Reid is set to play for Carlton's VFL team at some stage this season.
But while those at Princes Park are to be treated to a number of performances from the near-certain No.1 pick, there is next to no chance the teenager will be back for season 2024.
Reid, 18, has already drawn comparisons to future Hall of Famer Dustin Martin due to his diverse skillset, brute power and roots, with the midfielder-cum-defender also hailing from within the Bendigo Pioneers region.
As reported by News Corp, Reid will earn the right turn out for Carlton's reserves due to a relationship between the Baggers and Bendigo.
However, it is not yet know when the Victorian Country star will first don the club's famous monogrammed guernsey.
The Tongala-native put on a show during the recent AFL Academy fixture against Port Adelaide's SANFL side at Mt Barker during Gather Round, collecting 22 disposals, seven clearances and slotting a goal during the first half before being thrown behind the ball.
Led by triple-premiership Lion Luke Power, Carlton's VFL side are fixtured to face Sandringham, Footscray, Brisbane and Williamstown across the next month.
Reid's Pioneers will also do battle against the Geelong Falcons and Western Jets before the end of May.
With Reid's name already up in lights as the frontrunner to be picked first at the 2023 AFL Draft, Sam Mitchell's Hawks are currently leading the race for the prodigious talent, residing on the ladder's bottom rung with a sole win and a percentage of 59.6.
