Young Carlton defender Matthew Carroll is remaining optimistic about what 2026 could hold for Blues fans, despite an exodus of star talent from the club looming as ruckman Tom De Koning and defensive stalwart Jack Silvagni confirmed their departures during the week.
The Round 24 Rising Star nominee joined teammates Cooper Lord (Round 10) and Ashton Moir (Round 19) to become the third Carlton young gun to be nominated this season after an impressive outing against the Bombers, where he recorded 15 disposals, seven marks and 407 metres gained.
The 19-year-old has quietly been one of the more impressive comeback stories of 2025, being forced to earn back his spot on the AFL list after being delisted at the end of 2024. He would be called up during the pre-season supplemental selection period and eventually debuted in Round 5, ultimately featuring in 17 games for Carlton in 2025.
Carroll reflected on his turnaround season with Carlton Media, adding to the Blues' bright spot of youth in an otherwise disappointing season for the Baggers, but was adamant the club was trending in the right direction.
"[2025] was very challenging at times but I take a lot of learnings and a lot of confidence out of the year," Carroll said.
"I'm pretty pumped to be joining Lord and Ash [Moir] in that category... we've got a good young crop coming through I think our fans should be excited about. I'm pretty pumped to see what we can do through the next few years.
"I'm super pumped and optimistic about what we can do moving forward. I know this year wasn't the year that we hoped for but I'm very keen for next year and the years after that."
Carroll highlighted his personal growth throughout this season, helped by several key figures at the club who took him under his wing after being delisted, notably fellow defender Nic Newman.
"It's a bit different to this time last year. We've got a lot of great people at the club who helped me through that time," Carroll said.
"It taught me a lot, playing on so many different players and trying to adjust to the speed and pressure of AFL footy. My teammates around me, helping me review my game each week. All in all, it's been a massive learning year that I take a lot of confidence out of."
While unlikely to claim the Rising Star award, Carroll's rookie season of 12.1 disposals and 3.8 marks per game provided some electric moments, with his speed off half-back key to Carlton's positive final month, where they challenged Gold Coast in a tight contest and got revenge on Port Adelaide under the roof of Marvel Stadium.
