Geelong and Gold Coast superstar Gary Ablett Jr will lead six former AFL stars in the 2026 edition of the Carlton Draft.
Ablett Jr will be joined by former teammate Gary Rohan, while Josh Kennedy (WCE), Lewis Jetta, Josh Gibson and Dyson Heppell will also participate in the concept.
For the fifth straight year, The Carlton Draft is providing local clubs the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to recruit an AFL champion in a bid to support communities across Australia and support grassroots football.
In a Carlton Draft first, there will be a theme, which revolves around 'rivalry'. Players will be drafted in pairs, with three matches in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia set to be scheduled.
Ablett will face Rohan; Kennedy and Jetta will do battle; Gibson and Heppell will renew their heated battle.
"I love supporting local footy clubs and I jumped at the chance to do so through The Carlton Draft this year. Footy clubs are the cornerstone of our communities, and to unite them through a shared passion for footy and pride for the jumper is a special opportunity," Ablett said.
"Joining forces with some of the game's greats to shine a spotlight on grassroots footy is something I'm proud to be part of. Not to mention the chance to reunite with Gaz (Gary Rohan) for the occasion – that's pretty sweet, too. I'm really looking forward to it."
Last year, Tom Hawkins, Matthew Pavlich and Brett Deledio participated, while Matthew Lloyd, Isaac Smith, Trent Cotchin and Leigh Montagna have featured in years gone past.
Entries for The Carlton Draft 2026 are now open. To nominate your club, head to http://www.thecarltondraft.
