THE BLUES have another debutant.

Ahead of this weekend’s trip to South Australia for Gather Round, Carlton has confirmed that young defender Matthew Carroll will play his first AFL game this Saturday.

Another boyhood Bluebagger, Carroll will become Carlton player No.1246 when he pulls on the Navy Blue No.32, and in the process becomes the Blues’ fifth new player of the season in as many games.

Recruited as a rookie at the end of the 2023 campaign, Carroll endured an injury-riddled start to life at IKON Park, but overcame the disappointment of his initial delisting by putting together an outstanding summer.

He earned his second chance as a supplemental selection period signing and hasn’t looked back, starring in a VFL practice match last month before being one of the Blues’ best in his official VFL debut last week against Southport.

A defender who backs himself in the air and on his left foot, Carroll - affectionately known by his teammates as ‘Jeff’ - comes from a Carlton-mad family, idolising his namesake Matthew Kreuzer growing up.

This Saturday, he gets the chance to emulate those he watched as a kid when he pulls on the Carlton jumper for the first time.