There might be some old Sayers content in here, but, oh well.

Dear Liam,

As we close out 2025, on behalf of the entire Carlton Football Club, I want to wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe festive season.

The past few months have been significant for our club, and I sincerely hope you get the opportunity to enjoy the holidays with family and friends as we look ahead to an exciting new year.

If you have been able to attend IKON Park recently or followed updates across our digital platforms, you will have noticed a new energy within our AFL playing group since their return for pre-season.

Led by General Manager of Football Chris Davies, our refreshed football department, that includes six new coaches and 11 list changes, is focused and intent on driving collective excellence across all facets of our football program, and having spoken regularly to the team throughout the first part of the pre-season, the renewed environment they have been able to create in a matter of weeks has been terrific to see.

As Graham has recently shared, along with improving our on-field performance, a renewed emphasis on member connection is a clear priority as we head into 2026. With this in mind, I am delighted to let you know that our regular open training sessions will continue into the new year, with regular player signings and photos available throughout the remainder of the pre-season.

Please click here for further information with particular details about these upcoming sessions.

For our Carlton family interstate, with next year’s fixture seeing us visit Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Adelaide, our playing group will have opportunities to connect with as many of you as possible and the Club will be in touch with further details regarding this closer to each of those trips.

Following an inspiring AFLW season, our AFLW program has also recently welcomed five new players during the AFLW Trade and Draft period. It was fantastic to acquire Lauren Bella, Brooke Boileau and Claudia Whitfort during the trade period, while Monday night’s draft saw Lily Baxter and Tayla McMillan both begin their journeys in Navy Blue.

Our AFLW group has set the tone for our football club heading into 2026 with their infectious energy and the pride in representing the monogram, laying a great platform for the year ahead.

As we strive to restore our club as an industry leader on a sustainable basis, we know achieving our ambitions in the coming years won’t be defined by any individual or a single moment, but by the collective.

Our member base continues to be one of our greatest strengths, and we thank each and every one of you for your unwavering support of the Navy Blues. The power of our community underpins everything we do, and when harnessed, the passion shown by our members and supporters on game day is like no other. The strong attendances across the MCG, Marvel Stadium and IKON Park were a clear reflection of this.

Finally, on behalf of our entire football club, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to all those who have been impacted by the tragedy that unfolded in Bondi on Sunday.

There is no place for hatred in our country and words cannot capture the devastation, but please know our thoughts are with everyone affected. Unity and support for our community have long been part of what defines our club, and I encourage all of our Carlton family to look out for one another during this time.

As we reach year’s end, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday period with those who matter most to you.

Take care and see you at the footy in 2026.

Robert Priestley
President

Same
Also what happened in Bondi has nothing to do with Carlton
Three quarters of Australia wouldn’t know where Israel and Palestine are on a map

Despite that I’m surprisingly optimistic about 2026

What's this story doing the rounds about him making a joke about "brown paper bags" at the presidents' lunch vs Richmond, and that he's pissed off some heavyweights who are now plotting to bring him down?

Also apparently Cotchin was a guest and we kept playing highlights of him including moments when they belted us and this also pissed off many.

I'd heard this through the grapevine and dismissed it - but Eddie McGuire reported it on his podcast today with Bartel.

Absolute shambles right now.

What's this story doing the rounds about him making a joke about "brown paper bags" at the presidents' lunch vs Richmond, and that he's pissed off some heavyweights who are now plotting to bring him down?

Also apparently Cotchin was a guest and we kept playing highlights of him including moments when they belted us and this also pissed off many.

I'd heard this through the grapevine and dismissed it - but Eddie McGuire reported it on his podcast today with Bartel.

Absolute shambles right now.

Probably time to get over it. Best way to do that is to have a laugh. I mean, Jack is dead and there are no Silvagni's at the club for the first time since 1956. Let's face it - there are a lot of snowflakes at Carlton. Cotch and Krueze has always been a nice story. Childhood mates etc. Honestly - there are bigger things to worry about.

Can't just dismiss it Doc. Audience and supporters must remind them what is bad form, and that was bad form imo.

For the record I'm not bothered about the events I'm bothered about the fallout and more infighting.

With reference to the showing of Cotchin raising Premiership Cups at a Carlton function - this is probably another example of what I was referring to the other day about the 'bubble'. Things that make sense internally but appear tone-deaf externally.

As for the 'brown paper bags' comments - well...24 years ago. Build a wall? I mean - that is not the reason we're in the on-field mess we're in today. We suffered the consequences of the sin, but it doesn't mean we have to give every supporter inherited guilt.

We always look in the rearview mirror at Carlton and we're all guilty of it. It's not always bad, but it's not always healthy either.

Dear Liam,

The AFL has today finally announced bidding changes relating to father son and Next Generation Academy players for this year’s 2026 National Draft.

Our CEO Graham Wright and I have spent significant time lobbying the AFL and members of the AFL Commission in relation to this.

While our club has agreed that working towards adjusting access to father son and NGA talent was necessary over the long term to ensure a more equitable system, our club’s position has been absolutely clear that for any proposed rule changes, they had to come with an appropriate runway so as not to disadvantage specific clubs.

Part of the clear case we put forward was that the AFL had to allow all clubs to properly plan and prepare for any changes to draft rules, in order to provide the same runway that previous clubs have been afforded, and as a result, have significantly benefited from.

This was the only appropriate and truly equitable way to implement such changes however today’s discretionary decision by the AFL has gone against this, with full knowledge that it will disadvantage certain clubs more than others, which no AFL rule change should.

Despite the lack of an appropriate runway for such rule changes, through discussion and consultation we have seen the 10% discount retained for all clubs that do not make the top 10.

Irrespective, our club has put itself in a strong position as it relates to our upcoming father son and NGA talent considerations.

We are currently the only club in the competition to hold multiple first-round selections in each of the next two drafts and we will continue to plan accordingly our approach to this year’s national draft.

Before I conclude, I also wanted to take this time to acknowledge the ongoing situation regarding our Round 6 game against Collingwood in relation to Elijah Hollands.

First and foremost, as a club we are continuing to support Elijah, his family and their privacy, with Elijah continuing to receive ongoing and appropriate care.

Our support also extends to our medical and wellbeing staff who have always, and continue to, conduct themselves with the utmost integrity and genuine care for all our players and staff.

The outpouring of love and support from the Carlton community towards Elijah and his family has been truly remarkable to see, and we want to say thank you to all of you who have taken the time to send your messages of support.

Now, we look forward to Saturday night, and the challenge that awaits us against St Kilda.

That electric Carlton atmosphere is going to reach a whole different level of noise under the roof at Marvel Stadium against this opposition and we cannot wait to hear you in full voice.

I hope to see as many of you there as possible for a game we are all looking forward to.


Go Blues,