Former Hawthorn defender Denver Grainger-Barras will remain with Carlton for the 2025 VFL season after falling short of an AFL lifeline with the Blues over the summer.
Grainger-Barras ventured to Princes Park in the wake of his Hawks delisting in search of a second chance in the top flight, with the former Pick 6 selection one of several Supplemental Selection Period hopefuls training with the Blues.
The 22-year-old key defender was joined by VFL-listed forward Liam McMahon and cut Carlton pair Matt Carroll and Sam Durdin as official SSP train-on prospects, with Carroll securing the first of three vacancies.
VFL-listed trio Ethan Phillips - an ex-teammate of Grainger-Barras' at Hawthorn, Will White and Francis Evans had also trained under Michael Voss during the pre-season, with the latter duo handed the last remaining AFL list spots.
While Durdin has linked up with Box Hill for the season ahead, all of Phillips and McMahon have remained at Carlton, with Grainger-Barras also securing his place in Luke Power's squad.
The 194cm backman adds to a strong recruitment drive for the Blues' reserves, with Phillips, ex-Giant Cooper Hamilton and former Sydney youngster Cooper Vickery also heading to Carlton.
Evans had initially joined the Blues' VFL list for 2025 before securing a spot at his third AFL club.
Grainger-Barras spent four seasons with Hawthorn after being drafted out of Swan Districts in 2020, with the injury-impacted defender managing just the 28 appearances at senior level during his time at Waverley.
He would not feature at AFL level last year, with a toe injury and form limiting his exposure, while he was also swung forward in the VFL in an attempt to find a fresh avenue for selection.
Grainger-Barras played 13 VFL games in 2024, amassing averages of 10.0 disposals and 4.8 marks per outing.
Carlton's VFL list for 2025 also includes ex-AFL listed Blue and Bulldog Will Hayes, with youngsters Oliver Warburton and Kristian Ferronato ones to watch.
The Blues' VFL campaign gets underway with a season opener against Box Hill, likely meaning Grainger-Barras will face his old teammates in his Carlton debut at IKON Park on Friday, March 21.
