YEAR one in Navy Blue didn’t go exactly as planned for Matthew Carroll. But after Friday’s announcement, he’s mighty glad that 2025 will officially be year two.

It was announced to the playing group on Friday morning prior to Carlton’s final training session at La Trobe University that Carroll had been re-signed as part of the supplemental selection period - but the man himself was actually across the plan well in advance.

At least he didn’t have to keep it a secret anymore.

“I actually found out a week or so ago - I thought we were going to announce it last week, but I think that ended up getting delayed. I’m glad it’s all done and out of the way now!

“It’s been a pretty crazy week, especially the last 24 hours. I’m pretty grateful - that’s probably the best way to sum it all up. My family are all Carlton supporters, so Dad is pumped… my brother didn’t give me much, but I think he’s pumped as well.”

Carroll was recruited to the Blues as a rookie at the end of 2023, having impressed the recruiting staff with his performances for Sandringham as a rebounding half-back that can match up on a number of opponents, as well as rebound effectively out of defence.

Unfortunately, he didn’t get much of a chance to prove his wares in 2024.

A troublesome groin injury meant he was unable to play any competitive football last season, only becoming available for an unofficial VFL scratch match the week of the Blues’ elimination final loss to the Lions.

It was then on 21 October - after trade period had been and gone - when it was announced that he had been delisted, but would get a reprieve as a train-on player to potentially earn his way back onto the list. And that’s where the work began, typically as a lone ranger in the IKON Park gym with the players in their off-season.

“It’s been a crazy three or four months. From going off the list, to getting the spot to train, getting the chance to get my body right and show what I can do - I’m grateful the Club has given me the chance.

“It was a seriously stressful time in my life, living in that uncertainty. Going through all that time and having to wait, all of that has made me that much hungrier - I never want to be in that position again, so I think it has really helped me in pre-season in terms of wanting to get better in every single area.”

That has been evidenced over the course of the summer, with Carroll drawing praise from his teammates for the improvement he has shown in recent months. That continued on Friday, featuring in match simulation and producing some promising moments hours after the news he had been waiting for was announced.

As he put it, it’s much more enjoyable participating in training with teammates as opposed to running laps solo or enduring one-on-one sessions with the Club’s strength and conditioning staff.

“Matty Bode is a good man, I love ‘Wiz’ and I loved doing sessions with him - but it’s that much better when you’re with the group. I remember there was one where I had my driver’s test that morning, I had just gotten my license and then I had to do an 11km session in the scorching heat, just me and him… I was nowhere.

“I’m definitely not taking it for granted, playing in match sim with my teammates. I’m still getting back into the swing of things, dusting off the cobwebs and learning things about my role, but I’m loving it.”

Carroll’s last game of football was approaching 18 months ago, winning a Coates Talent League premiership at IKON Park with the Sandringham Dragons alongside Cooper Lord, who joined him as a Blue six months after Carroll himself arrived at his boyhood club.

As a hopeful half-back flanker, the two mentors that Carroll has found himself clinging onto every word of probably comes as no surprise.

“There’s many more, but the main two that come to mind in terms of who have helped me along my journey are Sam Docherty and Nic Newman. I’ve been really lucky, I probably couldn’t have asked for two better half-back mentors.

“‘Doc’ was really good: when he came into rehab and went about his business, I was watching him going ‘that’s how professionals do it’. He took me under his wing and showed me all the little things - seeing all that unfold and what he did to come back was remarkable, it did inspire me to become the best version of myself.

“‘Newy’ was just in all facets of life, really. He was texting me to check in during that period, and throughout the year he was super helpful with game education and just being really supportive.”

Of course, they probably know him better as - quite simply - ‘Jeff’.

It was a nickname that found itself attached to Carroll, and he regrets now how much he fought it — because all it did was make it stick even more.

In fact, it’s so embedded in the four walls at Carlton that when Michael Voss announced the list news to the playing group, the nickname’s origin story formed a crucial part of the Senior Coach’s address.

“When I first came in during pre-season, it can be pretty tiring for the young boys - and I may have fell asleep in a meeting. I got comments of ‘wake up Jeff’ from the Wiggles, I fought it, it stuck - now here we are.

“I really enjoyed how ‘Vossy’ laid out the whole story and revealed it, the boys seemed to like it. When ‘Vossy’ hit me with ‘Jeff’, that was interesting - it was a bit weird, but I loved it!”