It’s no secret that Carlton have traded away some big name players over the last decade or so, but how many AFL players are out there that were once wearing the navy blue?
To answer this question, we created a best starting 18 of ex-Carlton players. There are 14 currently still on AFL lists, that (injuries permitting) could pull the boots on and line up this weekend.
Billie Smedts (Back Pocket)
Billie Smedts found his way to Carlton as part of the trade that saw Zach Tuohy move down the highway. Originally a number 15 draft pick, cruelled by injury Smedts spent a mere one season on Carlton’s list only to be delisted after nine games
Lachie Henderson (Full Back)
Acquired from Brisbane, Lachie Henderson played over 100 games for Carlton, before requesting a trade out of the club midway through 2015.
The Blues responded to this request by dropping the key defender for the final three games before trading him to Geelong. The pick received for Henderson was traded on for Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips, Lachie Plowman and Liam Sumner
Lachie Henderson during his time with Carlton (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Dylan Buckley (Back Pocket)
Son of Carlton legend Jim Buckley, Dylan in 2018 played two games for the Giants after being another player to be delisted by Carlton at the end of the 2017 season. Buckley hasn’t been seen at AFL level since kicking two goals in the Giants’ loss to Essendon in round 11.
Zach Tuohy (Half Back Flank)
After polling third in Carton’s best and fairest in 2015, the skillful Irishman requested a trade to Geelong at the conclusion of the 2016 season, where he hasn’t missed a game since joining – notably kicking the after the siren winner against Melbourne in Round 18.
Zach Tuohy during his time with Carlton. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media)
Kristian Jaksch (Centre Half Back)
Originally taken at pick 12, Jaksch was one of many talented GWS rejects Silvagni poached from the Giants. Jaksch played just the seven games for Carlton, being hampered by injury over his first two years at the club. He was delisted at the end of 2017 despite a solid season for the Northern Blues.
Blaine Boekhorst (Half Back Flank)
A mature age draft pick from Western Australia, Boekhorst never quite cemented himself in the Blues best 22 never playing more than 11 games in any of his three seasons at the club, before being unceremoniously delisted at the end of 2017 and returning to WA to play for East Fremantle, where he badly injured his left knee and remains on the injury list.
Shaun Grigg (Wing)
After struggling to find selection throughout 2009 and 2010 Grigg requested a trade, eventually finding a new home at Richmond. The classy wingman has played over 150 games, including a premiership victory, and has finished twice in the top five in the club’s best and fairest.
Mitch Robinson (Centre)
He was delisted by the Blues after a late night brawl that also involved led to the trading of Jeff Garlett. The hard-nosed midfielder quickly found a home at Brisbane, where he went on to jointly win the club’s best and fairest in 2015.
Nick Holman (Wing)
Holman was delisted in 2015 after just nine games in two years at the Blues, before being handed a lifeline by the Suns in 2018 where he has played all 22 games kicking 14 goals.
Billy Gowers (Half Forward Flank)
Son of Hawks premiership player Andrew, Gowers was delisted without playing a game for the Blues in 2015 or 2016, before getting added to the Bulldogs rookie list and making himself a regular in 2018, missing just two games, and bagging 26 goals.
Jarrad Waite (Centre Half Forward)
After 12 seasons at Carlton, Jarrad Waite left the club as a free agent in 2014, moving to North Melbourne, where he has played over 50 games and made himself an important part of the teams structure.
However Waite’s injury in June sparked a form slide for North Melbourne, and he has since announced his retirement.
Jarrad Waite of the Kangaroosis (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Liam Sumner (Half Forward Flank)
Sumner made his way to the club as part of the trade that saw Lachie Henderson move to Geelong.
Pick 10 in the 2010 draft, the talented Sumner played just 32 games in his six seasons on AFL lists, and is now a playing Assistant Coach for the VAFA Tigers.
Eddie Betts (Forward Pocket)
Lauded by many as the best small forward in the competition, the now three time All-Australian goal-sneak found his way to the Crows after Carlton declined to match their offer under free agency.
Despite allegations from Malthouse that the move was illegally orchestrated, Betts has gone from strength to strength since departing Carlton.
Eddie Betts of the Adelaide Crows celebrates a goal (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Josh Kennedy (vc) (Full Forward)
Picked up by Carlton at pick 4, the dual Coleman Medal winner found his way to West Coast, along side picks 3 (Chris Masten) and 20, as a part of the deal that would see Chris Judd make his way to the Blues.
This was despite Kennedy having just signed a new two-year contract. Kennedy is now the all time leading goal kicker for the West Coast Eagles.
Jeff Garlett (Forward Pocket)
Feel good success story Jeff Garlett was homeless for much of 2007, just over a year before being drafted by Carlton. However the pressure forward was traded to Melbourne for two Round 3 picks after his involvement in a late night incident with Mitch Robinson.
Garlett had barely missed a game in his four years at Melbourne, before falling out of favour this season, only returning to the main side in round 16 after eight weeks at VFL level.
Sam Jacobs (Ruck)
Sam Jacobs spent three years on Carlton’s rookie list, before asking to be traded home to Adelaide at the conclusion of his first season on the senior list.
In his first year for the Crows, Jacobs established himself as the premier ruckman, and has played 150 games for the club in the eight years since, winning three showdown medals.
Bryce Gibbs (c) (Ruck Rover)
A former number one draft pick, Gibbs played 209 games for the Blues, before requesting a trade home to Adelaide for personal reasons at the end of a career best 2016 season. After trade talks fell through, Gibbs played out the 2017 season for Carlton continuing his good form, before being traded home at the end of 2018.
Gibbs has become an immediate mainstay in the Crows midfield, playing every game of the 2018 season.
Tom Bell (Rover)
After winning Carlton’s best first year player in 2012, Bell played 51 games for the Blues, before requesting to be traded back home to Brisbane at the end of the 2015.
The resulting trades saw Carlton traded pick 12, which they used to select Charlie Curnow. Since then Bell has played 20 games for the Lions, but hasn’t been seen since round one 2018.
Brett Ratten (coach)
Ratten took over as caretaker coach in 2007, after the mid season dismissal of Dennis Pagan, and by 2009, returned the club to the top eight for the first time since his playing days.
By 2011 took the club to fifth, their best finish in over 10 years. After three consecutive years of finals finishes, Ratten was informed he would be terminated one year before his contract was up in 2012, after a shock loss to Gold Coast saw the club ruled out of finals contention.
Since Ratten’s departure, the club has made the finals just once. Ratten was immediately picked as an assistant coach by the Hawthorn Football where he presided over the famous three-peat. Ratten has now joined St Kilda as an assistant coach
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