BANNERS at the ready.

All things going to plan, there’ll be a fair few milestones to celebrate for Carlton’s AFL contingent in 2023.

Whether it’s career or Club, up to 24 Blues could be eyeing off landmarks in the upcoming home-and-away season.

02:21

From the track | Best of pre-season

Watch as the AFL playing group prepares for 2023 with some gruelling pre-season sessions.

150 up

Last year, it was Patrick Cripps and Adam Saad who achieved the 150-game milestone: Cripps’ have all come in Navy Blue, while Saad achieved the feat after stints at three clubs.

Currently sitting on 144 AFL games, there’ll be no more popular milestone man than Sam Docherty, who could be in for a milestone double. With 150 career games in his sights, he also currently sits on 131 games in his childhood colours.

Others on the verge of 150 career games include Lachie Plowman, Zac Williams, George Hewett and Jack Martin - all of whom also started their careers at other clubs - while there could be a milestone later in the season for a Blue from day one.

Sitting on 133 games currently, Jacob Weitering needs 17 more games - a tally he has achieved in all bar one season - to become the 81st Blue to play 150 games for the football club. 

Potential 150 career game milestones: Sam Docherty (144), Lachie Plowman (144), Zac Williams (136), George Hewett (135), Jack Martin (135), Jacob Weitering (133)*
Potential 150 Club game milestones: Sam Docherty (131)

Centurions

The brand new locker room at IKON Park may need a bit of a touch-up come the end of the year, given the amount of Blues who are in line to reach their Navy Blue century in 2023.

Jack Silvagni will spend the pre-season knowing that he is just one game shy of becoming the third Silvagni to take pride of place on the No.1 locker, currently sitting on 99 games: Zac Fisher isn’t far behind with 95, joining some famous names on the No.25 locker in the process.

The last two Coleman Medallists in Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow (86 and 84 games respectively) won’t be far away from one another, while there’s another contingent of Blues - Adam Cerra, Mitch McGovern, Nic Newman and Matthew Kennedy - who will have 100 career games in their sights.

Potential 100 career game milestones: Jack Silvagni (99)*, Zac Fisher (95)*, Adam Cerra (94), Mitch McGovern (88), Harry McKay (86)*, Nic Newman (86), Charlie Curnow (84)*, Sam Walsh (81), Matthew Kennedy (78)

16:15

Every Charlie Curnow goal in 2022

Watch all 64 goals from Coleman Medalist Charlie Curnow in his 2022 campaign.

Raise the bat

It’s always a nice milestone to achieve.

Up to 11 Blues could have some form of half-century to celebrate this year, including some who have already been mentioned: on top of their potential 150-game milestones, Mitch McGovern and Jack Martin aren’t far away from 50 Carlton games. 

David Cuningham, Tom De Koning, Matthew Cottrell and Matthew Owies all have 50 career games in Navy Blue within striking distance, while Marc Pittonet will look to do the career and Club double (41 and 34 games respectively).

Potential 50 career game milestones: Lachie Fogarty (43), Lewis Young (43), David Cuningham (41)*, Tom De Koning (41)*, Marc Pittonet (41), Matthew Cottrell (37)*, Matthew Owies (31)*
Potential 50 Club game milestones: Caleb Marchbank (45), Adam Saad (43), Mitch McGovern (40), Jack Martin (38), Marc Pittonet (34)

And as for the debutants?

After the off-season player acquisition periods, seven Blues will be looking to pull on the famous jumper for the first time. 

Following his arrival from Fremantle, Blake Acres will have his sights set on a Carlton debut early in the 2023 campaign. As for Dom Akuei and Alex Mirkov, the duo - who made great strides for the Carlton Reserves in 2022 - will be joined by draftees Ollie Hollands, Lachie Cowan, Jaxon Binns and Harry Lemmey in their search for a first Carlton game. 

* denotes career and Club milestone.