THE Carlton Football Club has finalised its Carlton Reserves list ahead of the 2025 VFL season.
In the off-season, the Reserves welcomed a host of fresh faces including AFL experienced players, including Denver Grainger-Barras who spent his summer as a train on player with Carlton’s AFL side.
Drafted to Hawthorn at pick No.6 in 2021, Grainger-Barras is experienced at the highest level, spending four seasons at the Hawks and featuring in 28 games.
Standing at 194cm, the 22-year-old is a dynamic and versatile player with the intercept marking ability to impact down back, as well as showing the capacity to swing to the forward line as an attacking threat.
Grainger-Barras uses his ability to read the play, allowing him to assert his dominance in the air and often win the ball for his side.
Joining Grainger-Barras is fellow ex-AFL players Cooper Hamilton, Ethan Phillips and Cooper Vickery, who will inject a wealth of experience into the side.
Francis Evans and Will White were signed to Carlton's VFL list for the upcoming season before being elevated to Carlton’s AFL list for 2025.
Rounding out the list for 2025, the Blues have also welcomed a host of young talent including Liam Farrar, Taj Logan, Zac Harding, Stirling Phipps-Parsons and Jack Polkinghorne.
Retaining many fan favourites this year, including 2024 best and fairest winner and leading goal kicker Liam McMahon plus fellow co-captain Heath Ramshaw, the Blues have had 23 players re-sign for the upcoming campaign.
VFL Senior Coach Luke Power said the group has never been stronger.
“We have a really connected group, the new players we have welcomed have all fit in seamlessly with our existing players,” Power said.
“It is great to have plenty of players re-sign this year, it shows their strong faith in the program we have on offer here at the Blues.
"We also have had some fantastic acquisitions this year which we are really excited about, with the two Coopers, Denver and Ethan joining us from various AFL programs. The way they carry themselves on the field has been impressive and our younger players will be able to lean on their leadership on-field.
“With most of our playing group having already been within our program for a few years, they understand the process and systems we are going after.
“We are excited to see what we can achieve in the Navy Blue in 2025.”
The VFL Blues can also confirm the unfortunate news that Logan Prout - who has played 22 games with the Blues since his debut in 2023 - sustained a torn ACL during the second quarter of Friday's season opener versus Box Hill. The Club will fully support him throughout his recovery.
