A trio of Carlton forwards reportedly don't have offers on the table from the Blues as the Victorian club looks to get a clear picture of their salary cap situation for next year.
The Blues have all of their star figures signed until the end of next year at the very least, with key defender Jacob Weitering looming as their priority re-signing target beyond 2024 as he nears the final year of his contract.
Charlie Curnowย (2029),ย Harry McKay (2030) andย Patrick Cripps (2027) are each penned to long-term deals, while star onballer Sam Walsh is set to reach free agency when his contract reaches its cessation in 2026.
Ruckman Tom De Koning joins Weitering in being off-contract next year and could again fetch high levels of external interest and lucrative offers from keen rivals.
Carlton have managed to secure new deals for a range of their senior stalwarts, with all ofย Blake Acresย (2027),ย Jordan Boydย (2026),ย Alex Cincottaย (2025),ย Corey Durdin (2026), Lachie Fogarty (2026), Elijah Hollands (2026) and youngster Hudson O'Keeffe (2026) inking extensions this year.
But with a large cohort of Michael Voss' most important men locked away, the club is yet to offer off-contract forwards Matt Owies, Jack Martin and Jack Carroll new deals.
According toย The Age,ย the Blues are yet to determine the full extent of their 2025 salary structure, which has left negotiations tricky.
The publication's report has suggested talks with Owies and Carroll's management are underway as Carlton hold hope to retain the unsigned pair.
Owies' value has risen this season thanks to a career-best campaign, with the former Australian junior basketball representative kicking 21 goals from his 15 games to sit behind only Curnow and McKay at the Blues in 2024.
Rivals in the market for small forwards are expected to make matters harder for the Blues' hopes of re-signing Owies, while West Coast has been linked with Carroll for a potential move to lure the midfield-forward back to Western Australia.
Carroll has played 17 games in his four years at Princes Park, already playing a career-high 11 games this season - however seven as either sub or being subbed out of matches.
Martin's future looks clouded at Carlton given his contract status and injury battles, with the Claremont product managing just one game so far in 2024 due to a series of soft-tissue setbacks.
The former Gold Coast Suns gun could also be in the sights of WA clubs given his ties to the state, with any move for Martin a risk as he hasn't played more than 15 games in a season in navy blue.
Carlton also have Domanic Akuei,ย Matt Carroll,ย David Cuningham,ย Sam Durdin,ย Cooper Lord,ย Caleb Marchbank, Alex Mirkov and Rob Monahan unsigned for next year.
