While emerging defender Michael Jamison has been rewarded with a permanent spot on the club’s senior list – the 22-year-old earning a promotion from the club’s rookie list on Monday – six of his teammates’ careers at Carlton ended on the same day.
The Blues have delisted Cain Ackland, Clinton Benjamin, Luke Blackwell, Ryan Jackson and Irishman Aisake O’hAilpin, while Jason Saddington has retired from AFL football after 162 career matches.
The assistant coaches’ merry-go-round continued to turn, with Gavin Crosisca not offered a new contract after serving as the Blues’ backline coach for the past two seasons.
Matthew Lappin, the club’s development coach and an assistant coach for Australia in the upcoming International Rules series, has earned a promotion to an assistant coaching role.
“It is important that we acknowledge the work of Gavin in his two years at Carlton, in particularly the role he has played in developing our young backline,” Blues general manager of football operations Steven Icke said in a club statement.
“We certainly thank him for his work with Carlton and wish him well for the future.”
The major changes, however, will occur to the Blues’ on-field stocks next season, with the delistings freeing up at least five positions for either next month’s NAB AFL Draft or the pre-season draft – where Ryan O’Keefe still looms as a possibility for Carlton.
The highest-profile name to depart Princes Park is Saddington, who despite playing just played 20 matches for the Blues in three seasons enjoyed a long career at the top level.
He was traded to Carlton from the Sydney Swans following the 2005 season, and Icke paid tribute to the former key position player, who was taken at pick 11 in the 1997 national draft.
“Jason has been an outstanding leader at Carlton and a wonderful ambassador for the Carlton Football Club,” Icke said.
“His contribution extends far beyond the 20 games he played for Carlton and he has certainly set the standard for our young players to aspire to in the manner in which he approached the game and the activities associated with AFL football.”
Ackland was a high-profile recruit but struggled to live up to his billing, with injuries depriving the ruckman of his chance to establish a place in the senior side.
The former St Kilda big man played a total of 74 AFL games (41 with Port Adelaide, 12 with St Kilda and 21 with Carlton).
Blackwell played 23 games for Carlton, Jackson nine senior games while Benjamin’s two seasons with Carlton were interrupted by injuries and he did not play a senior game.
Aisake O’hAilpin, brother of Setanta, was recruited from Cork, Ireland as an international rookie in the 2005 NAB AFL Rookie Draft but he also failed to play a senior match.
“We sincerely thank the players for the commitment they have given to the Carlton Football Club during their careers and we wish them well going forward,” Icke said.
