2026

People of 2026

Coach: Mathew Buck
Captain: Abbie McKay
Vice-Captain: Mimi Hill
Leadership Group: Abbie McKay, Mimi Hill, Erone Fitzpatrick, Harriet Cordner and Tara Bohanna
Best and Fairest:
Leading Goalkicker:

New Players for the 2026 AFLW Season (and guernsey numbers).

Season Preview.

The Carlton Blues AFLW enter the 2026 season with genuine expectations of contending for a premiership after breaking through to a preliminary final in 2025. The club has added proven talent, retained its young core, and appears to be one of the most balanced lists in the competition.

2025 Recap: A Breakthrough Year.
Carlton's AFLW program took a significant step forward in 2025, reaching a preliminary final and establishing itself among the competition's elite teams. The Blues developed a fast, attacking style under coach Mathew Buck, with a blend of experienced leaders and emerging stars. That success has raised expectations heading into 2026.

Key Strengths
Elite Midfield

Few teams can match Carlton's midfield depth. Leading the way is captain Abbie McKay, one of the AFLW's premier inside midfielders. Alongside her are:
- Mimi Hill
- Keeley Sherar
- Dayna Finn
- Yasmin Duursma
- Recruit Claudia Whitfort

Whitfort arrives with more than 50 AFLW games of experience and should add further class and versatility through the middle.

Significant Ruck Upgrade
The acquisition of former Gold Coast star Lauren Bella could prove one of the best moves of the AFLW off-season. Bella joins a ruck division featuring Jessica Good and gives Carlton an elite hit-out specialist capable of feeding a strong midfield brigade.

Rising Young Talent
Carlton's list contains some of the AFLW's most exciting young players:
- Poppy Scholz
- Lila Keck
- Lily Goss
- Erone Fitzpatrick
- Tayla McMillan
- Lily Baxter

The continued development of this group may determine whether the Blues merely remain finalists or become genuine premiership favourites.

Forward Line
The Blues have multiple avenues to goal through:
- Darcy Vescio
- Tara Bohanna
- Nell Morris-Dalton
- Poppy Scholz
- Lila Keck

Vescio remains one of the competition's most dangerous forwards, while Bohanna provides a strong aerial target. The emergence of younger forwards gives Carlton greater flexibility than in previous seasons.

Defence
Carlton's defence is built around reliable key position players and intercept marking. Key defenders include:
- Harriet Cordner
- Siofra O'Connell
- Gabriella Pound
- Amelia Velardo

This group gives the Blues plenty of experience and structure behind the ball.

2026 Fixture Outlook
Carlton opened the season against St Kilda and has a favourable run of home games at IKON Park, including matches against Adelaide, Collingwood, Richmond, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and GWS. A

Players to Watch
- Abbie McKay - The captain continues to set the standard in contested ball winning and leadership.
- Lauren Bella - Carlton's most important recruit. If she dominates the ruck, the Blues become significantly harder to stop.
- Poppy Scholz - Already one of the AFLW's brightest young stars and capable of becoming an All-Australian calibre player.
- Dayna Finn - The Irish recruit has rapidly become a key midfielder and game-breaker.
- Lila Keck - An emerging forward with the ability to provide excitement and scoreboard impact.

Prediction
Carlton appears well placed for another top-four challenge. The midfield depth, Bella's arrival, and the continued improvement of the club's young talent suggest the Blues should again feature deep into September and November.

Predicted finish:
- 3rd to 5th
- Best & Fairest favourite: Abbie McKay
- Breakout player: Dayna Finn
- Premiership chance: Strong contender, but still slightly behind North Melbourne and Melbourne based on current form.

For Carlton supporters, 2026 shapes as another exciting season, and potentially the club's best opportunity yet to chase a first AFLW premiership.

Milestones

Debut (Carlton): Brooke Boileau, Nell Morris-Dalton, Claudia Whitfort, Lauren Bella
50 Games (AFLW): Amelia Velardo
Carlton FC 100th AFLW Game: Round 5, 2026 vs North Melbourne

Honours

AFLW Rising Star Nominees:
All-Australian Squad:

Awards

Best and Fairest:
Second place:
Third place:
Equal Fourth place:
Rookie of the Year award:
Most Valuable Bluebagger:
Coaches Award:

AFLCA AFLW Champion Player of the Year

Ladder