Carlton Draught has announced the five Victorian clubs that will be granted a pick to select a footy legend to run out with their senior team as part of the 2024 'Carlton Draft'.
The star-studded 2024 draft crop consists ofย Trent Cotchin, Isaac Smith, Matthew Lloyd, Dylan Buckleyย andย Leigh Montagna, comprising over 1100 AFL games and eight AFL Premierships collectively.
The five clubs in this year's draft are:
- Ballan Blues - Central Highlands
- The Castlemaine Football & Netball Club - Bendigo Football & Netball League
- Toora Magpies - Mid Gippsland
- Old Collegians FNC - Warrnambool District Football Netball League
- Bunyip Bulldogs - West Gippsland Football Netball Competition
The five lucky clubs - which was trimmed down from 175 - will be fortunate to get one of these stars.
- Triple premiership Tigers captain - Trent Cotchin
- Four-time flag hero across the Hawks and Cats and 2022 Norm Smith Medallist - Isaac Smith
- AFL Hall of Famer and 2000 Bombers premiership player - Matthew Lloyd
- Former Blues and Giants player and popular podcaster - Dylan Buckley
- Saints legend and 287-game AFL player - Leigh Montagna
The Carlton Draft Commissioner and Brisbane Champion Jonathon Brown is anticipating some big performances from this crop of former stars.
โWe've had some big names across the first two seasons of the campaign including Nathan Buckley, Eddie Betts and Alex Rance, but I think this draft class may be the most talented we've seen to date,โ Brown said.
โYou've got the opportunity to put Lloydy one out in the square on a local full-back, Cotch and Joey [Leigh Montagna] to put straight in the guts, or outside stars in Smithy and Dyl who will run rings around opposition teams.
โAny of these players lining up for your local team will be a tantalising prospect, not only bringing a huge boost to clubs on the field but hopefully bringing plenty of foot traffic through the gates and cash behind the canteen and bar.โ
CUB's Head of Classic Beer, Sarah Wilcox, said the first two years of the campaign had been a success and can't wait for it to continue.
โWe would like to congratulate the clubs that have been selected in the 2024 Carlton Draft, but also thank the 170 plus clubs who entered this year but were not as lucky,โ Wilcox said.
โThe Carlton Draft has provided a much-needed boost over the last two years for struggling clubs both on and off the field, as well as their surrounding towns, and I can't wait to see the smiles on the faces of those from the clubs and communities involved this year.โ
The Carlton Draft draft night โ where the participating clubs select their player - will be held at The Pub at Crown Melbourne in late April, with matches to commence in late May.
