THE CARLTON Reserves ramped up their preparations for the upcoming 2025 VFL season with a promising showing in their opening practice match.

Coming up against Sandringham, the Blues adapted well to tricky conditions at IKON Park, coming away with a 10.11 (71) to 3.3 (21) win.

Taking place over three 30-minute time periods, the Blues had a number of contributors all over the field, with a mix of AFL and VFL-listed Blues linking well in the first hitout of 2025.

Carlton fans who braved the heat for the full day would’ve been buoyed by the signs shown from draftees Harry O’Farrell and Harry Charleson, with O’Farrell taking a handful of intercept marks while Charleson prodiving some run and carry out of the back half.

01:04

VFL practice match | Draftee Harrys impress in first-up showing

Watch highlights from Harry O'Farrell and Harry Charleson in the Carlton Reserves' first VFL practice match of 2025.

Kicking 10 goals in shortened game time, the Blues had a number of contributors in the forward half, with Darcy Hogg and Will White - who was signed as a supplemental selection period signing for the AFL team two days later - both hitting the scoreboard with two goals.

White was at his energetic best throughout the course of the afternoon, with a rundown tackle in the second term highlighting his endeavour.

AFL-listed forwards Brodie Kemp, Elijah Hollands, Harry Lemmey and Francis Evans were all busy and had key moments throughout the course of the day, with Kemp in particular looming dangerously as a marking target inside 50.

03:47

VFL practice match | All Carlton highlights v Sandringham

Watch the best of the Carlton Reserves in their first VFL practice match against Sandringham.

After playing the second half of the AFL game, Cooper Lord and Lucas Camporeale both doubled up with big stints in the second game: Lord was busy in the opening stages at the coalface, while Camporeale added a classy left-footed goal to go with his snap in the seniors against St Kilda.

Signed on to the Carlton Reserves this year, Cooper Vickery (formerly on Sydney’s list) impressed with his ball use across half-back on a number of occasions, while fellow new signing Ethan Phillips performed strongly in his first hitout in his new colours.

The VFL Blues will be in action once again this Friday evening, taking on North Melbourne from 4:30pm at IKON Park.

CARLTON RESERVES      2.2     6.7     10.11 (71)
SANDRINGHAM             2.0     2.1     3.3 (21)

GOALS: Hogg 2, White 2, Camporeale, Grainger-Barras, Harvey, Hollands, Kemp