The Blues have sadly lost 22-year-old 63-gamer Jesse Motlop to a major knee injury at training on Monday.
Motlop played a career-best 23 matches for the Blues last season and, having signed a new two-year contract last September, was expected to be a regular starter in 2026.
The club confirmed that he will undergo surgery before rehabilitation, almost certainly striking him out of the 2026 campaign.
“Jesse has put in plenty of hard work in the pre-season, so we are really feeling for him at this time,” Carlton General Manager of Football Chris Davies said in a club release on Monday.
“While there is understandable disappointment right now, Jesse is the ultimate professional, who possesses great resilience, which will help as he moves through the recovery process.
“The Club and medical staff will continue to support Jesse during his rehabilitation.”
It continues a terrible run of luck for Carlton with major pre-season injuries, after they lost Jack Silvagni to an ACL injury on the eve of the 2024 season as well as Nic Newman and Jagga Smith in 2025.
On top of that, Brodie Kemp, Matt Cottrell and Harry O'Farrell were amongst those to sustain season-ending injuries in 2025. Smith, Kemp and Newman are expected to be in Carlton's best 23 this season.
North Melbourne confirmed on Monday that they will be without father-son draftee Jackson Archer after he ruptured his knee at club training on Saturday.
The club did not signal an expected period of absence for the 26-gamer, who made only three appearances last year due to a combination of suspension and injury.
"The club will continue to support Archer as he meets with the medical team this week to work through his rehab program," North Melbourne said on Monday.
