The 2023 Carlton Football Club season was the Carlton Football Club's 160th season of competition.
It was the club's men's team's 127th season as a member of the Australian Football League, and the second under senior coach Michael Voss. The team recovered from a bottom four position at midseason to finish fifth in the home-and-away season with a 13–9–1 record, and ultimately finished third after reaching the preliminary finals. It was Carlton's first time qualifying for finals since 2013, ending a club-record nine-year finals drought; and its highest finishing position since 2000.
The club's women's team contested its eighth season of the AFL Women's, finishing twelfth out of eighteen teams with a 4–6 record. The club also fielded its men's reserves team in the Victorian Football League and its state level women's team in the VFL Women's.
Club summary The 2023 AFL season was the 127th season of the VFL/AFL competition since its inception in 1897; and, having competed in every season, it was also the 127th season contested by the Carlton Football Club. The club also fielded its women's team in the eighth season of the AFL Women's competition, its men's reserves team in its sixth Victorian Football League season, and its VFL women's team in its fifth VFL Women's season.
As in 2022, Carlton's primary home ground was Marvel Stadium and secondary home ground was the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the team playing six home games at the former and five at the latter. Traditional home ground Ikon Park continued to serve as the training and administrative base, and as the home ground for AFL Women's and the men's reserves matches.
Car manufacturer Hyundai, which had been a major sponsor of the club continuously since 2008, and Great Southern Bank, which became a major sponsor during the 2021 season, continued as the club's major sponsors through the 2023 season; Carlton signed a further five-year extension of its long-term deal with Hyundai during the year. The club signed 95,277 members for the season to be the fourth-highest membership in the league, and exceeding 2022's record of 88,776 in early May; it was the sixth consecutive season that a new club record membership had been set. The club returned a net operating profit of $1.5 million, down $2 million on 2022 which was attributed to full year depreciation of the completed Ikon Park redevelopment; and launched a new philanthropic program called The First 18 in May.
Senior personnel It was a year of stability for Carlton's senior personnel: Luke Sayers continued in his second year as president, Brian Cook in his second year as CEO, Michael Voss in his second year as senior coach, and Patrick Cripps in his second year as sole club captain and fifth year overall (having served as co-captain with Sam Docherty for three years).
Departing the club's coaching panels was development and reserves coach Daniel O'Keefe, who stepped away after three years. His role as reserves coach was filled by Luke Power; Tom Lonergan joined as Development and Talent Manager, bringing experience from two Talent League clubs; and former player and football committee-member Brad Ebert joined as development coach.
Squad for 2023 The following is Carlton's squad for the 2023 season.
Statistics are correct as of end of 2022 season. Senior List No. Player Age AFL Debut Recruited from Career (to end 2022) 2023 Player Statistics Gms Gls Gms Gls B D K HB M T HO 1 Jack Silvagni 25 2016 Oakleigh (U18) 99 73 1614 12 217 129 88 64 43 47 2 Paddy Dow 23 2018 Bendigo (U18) 63 19102 1 159 96 63 15 25 0 3 Jesse Motlop 19 2022 12 122124 7 209 123 86 38 500 5 Adam Cerra 23 2018 Eastern (U18), 94 21229 7 560 275 285 74 106 0 6 Zac Williams 28 2013 GWS Academy, GWS 136 320 – –– ––– – – 7 Matthew Kennedy 25 2016 Collingullie-Glenfield Park, GWS 78 36165 6 291 157 134 58 480 8 Lachie Fogarty 23 2018 Western (U18), 43 12124 4 149 77 72 28 58 0 9 Patrick Cripps (c) 27 2014 East Fremantle 159 8724 914 596 226 370 51 3 10 Harry McKay 25 2017 Gippsland (U18) 86 1742129 29 247 190 57 141 34 18 11 Mitch McGovern 28 2016 Claremont, 88 104222 2 379 297 82 105 54 0 12 Tom de Koning 23 2018 Dandenong (U18) 41 1219 9 7 228 114 114 54 47337 13 Blake Acres 27 2014 West Perth, , 120 372510 5 576 319 257 137 62 0 14 Oliver Hollands 18 2023 Murray (U18) – – 192 4 266 163 103 58 48 0 15 Sam Docherty 29 2013 Gippsland (U18), 144 17238 9 586 359 227 138 900 16 Jack Carroll 20 2022 East Fremantle 5 110 0 4 1 3 0 10 17 Brodie Kemp 21 2021 Bendigo (U18) 6 0171 0 269 182 87113 28 0 18 Sam Walsh (vc) 22 2019 Geelong (U18) 81 31186 4 514 222 292 63 44 0 19 Corey Durdin 20 2021 Central District 23 161111 7 97 66 31 16 44 0 20 Lachie Plowman 28 2013 Calder (U18), GWS 144 210 0 12 9 3 5 2 0 21 Jack Martin 27 2014 Claremont, 135 1131317 10 142 75 67 46 31 0 22 Caleb Marchbank 26 2015 Murray (U18), GWS 52 08 0 0111 77 37 46 16 0 23 Jacob Weitering (vc) 25 2016 Dandenong (U18) 133 11260 0 402 317 85 208 23 0 24 Nic Newman 29 2017 Frankston, 86 1424 3 3 561 376 185 183 850 25 Zac Fisher 24 2017 Perth 95 49124 5 250 135 115 40 16 0 26 Lachie Cowan 18 — Devonport, Tasmania (U18) – –70 0 69 49 20 20 13 0 27 Marc Pittonet 26 2016 Oakleigh (U18), 41 5180 1 171 89 82 24 32 446 28 David Cuningham 25 2016 Oakleigh (U18) 41 23126 4 166 64 102 26 102 0 29 George Hewett 27 2016 North Adelaide, 135 36223 1 445 182 263 49 102 0 30 Charlie Curnow 25 2016 Geelong (U18) 84 1432681 44 356 280 76 180 27 3 31 Harry Lemmey 18 — West Adelaide – –0 – –– ––– – – 32 Jaxon Binns 18 — Dandenong (U18) – –0 – –– ––– – – 33 Lewis Young 24 2017 Sturt, 43 2150 2 200 114 86 77 16 60 34 Sam Philp 21 2020 Northern (U18) 2 10 – –– ––– – – 36 Josh Honey 21 2020 Western (U18) 11 763 344 27 17 14 13 0 42 Adam Saad 28 2015 Calder (U18), Coburg, , 152 1025 0 0502 341 161 111 48 0 44 Matthew Owies 25 2020 St Kevin's, Seattle Redhawks 31 291827 12 161 107 54 48 44 0 Rookie List No. Player Age AFL Debut Recruited from Career (to end 2022) 2023 Player Statistics Gms Gls Gms Gls B D K HB M T HO 4 Lochie O'Brien 23 2018 Bendigo (U18) 60 1660 1 43 30 13 17 5 0 35 Ed Curnow 33 2011 Geelong (U18), Adelaide, Box Hill 204 50173 6 225 141 84 46 43 0 37 Jordan Boyd 24 2022 Western (U18), Footscray reserves 7 090 2 112 83 29 26 210 38 Sam Durdin 26 2017 West Adelaide, , Glenelg 23 10 – –– ––– – – 39 Alex Cincotta 26 2023 Newtown & Chilwell, Carlton reserves – –193 2 234113 121 53 35 0 40 Hudson O'Keeffe 18 – Oakleigh (U18) – –0 – –– ––– – – 41 Domanic Akuei 20 – Carlton academy – –0 – –– ––– – – 45 Alex Mirkov 23 – Carlton reserves – –0 – –– ––– – – 46 Matthew Cottrell 22 2020 Dandenong (U18) 37 141711 11 238 160 78 72 34 0 Senior coaching panel Coach Coaching position Carlton Coaching debut Former clubs as coach Michael Voss Senior coach 2022 (s), (a) Luke Power Head of development, reserves coach 2020 GWS (a), AFL Academy Manager Tim Clarke Assistant coach (Midfield) 2016 (a), Coburg (s), Richmond reserves (s), (a) Aaron Hamill Assistant coach (backline) 2022 (a), (s) Ashley Hansen Assistant coach (forwards) 2022 (a), Footscray reserves (s) Matthew Kreuzer Assistant coach (ruck) 2022 Tom Lonergan Development and talent manager 2023 Calder Cannons (d), Geelong Falcons (d) Brad Ebert Development coach 2023 (m) Torin Baker Carlton College of Sport and Academy and development coach 2021 Western Jets (s), (d) Aaron Greaves Coaching and performance manager 2022 (d, a), (a, d), (d), AFL umpires (s)
For players: (c) denotes captain, (vc) denotes vice-captain. For coaches: (s) denotes senior coach, (cs) denotes caretaker senior coach, (a) denotes assistant coach, (d) denotes development coach, (m) denotes managerial or administrative role in a football or coaching department
Playing list changes The following summarises all player changes which occurred after the 2022 season. Unless otherwise noted, draft picks refer to selections in the 2022 National Draft.
In Player Former Club League via Blake Acres AFL Trade period, in exchange for a third-round selection in the 2023 National Draft. Oliver Hollands Murray Bushrangers NAB League 2022 National Draft, first round selection (No. 11 overall). Lachie Cowan Tasmania Devils NAB League 2022 National Draft, second round selection (No. 30 overall). Jaxon Binns Dandenong Stingrays NAB League 2022 National Draft, second round selection (No. 32 overall). Harry Lemmey West Adelaide SANFL 2022 National Draft, third round selection (No. 47 overall). Hudson O'Keeffe Oakleigh Chargers NAB League 2023 pre-season supplemental selection period. Alex Cincotta Carlton reserves VFL 2023 pre-season supplemental selection period.
Out Player New Club League via Jack Newnes Greensborough Northern FL Delisted after the season Liam Stocker AFL Delisted after the season, then recruited by St Kilda in the 2023 pre-season supplemental selection period. Oscar McDonald Williamstown VFL Delisted from the rookie list after the season Luke Parks Carlton reserves VFL Delisted from the rookie list after the season Will Hayes Euroa Goulburn Valley FL Delisted from the rookie list after the season Will Setterfield Australian Football League Trade period, along with a fourth-round selection (provisionally No. 68), in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2023 National Draft
List management Player Change Liam Jones Signed with as an unrestricted free agent; Carlton received a third-round selection as compensation (provisionally No. 49). Jones had retired from Carlton prior to the 2022 season due to the league's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which was later removed; but Carlton remained entitled to a compensatory draft pick because of the short duration over which Jones had been retired. Matthew Owies Elevated from the Category B rookie list to the senior list. Ed Curnow Demoted from the senior list to the rookie list. Administratively, Curnow was selected in the 2023 rookie draft with Carlton's first round selection (No. 10 overall).
Season summary Pre-season Carlton played two practice matches, the first deemed unofficial and the second deemed official, as part of its lead-up to the premiership season.
Date and local time Opponent Scores (Carlton's scores indicated in bold) Venue Attendance Home Away Result Friday, 24 February () 12.12 (84) 11.8 (74) Won by 10 points Ikon Park (H) 6,000 Friday, 3 March () 15.7 (97) 7.12 (54) Lost by 43 points Blacktown ISP (A) 6,000
Home-and-away season Following Carlton's improvement and narrow finals miss in 2022, expectations were high among experts that Carlton would make finals; and the season opened well with the club sitting in second place after an unbeaten first month.
Thereafter followed a sudden drop in form, and Carlton lost eight of its next nine matches – defeating only wooden spooners – to drop to the bottom four with a 4–8–1 record. While Carlton maintained strong performance in contested ball during this period and frequently won the territory and inside-50 counts, its matches were characterised by low pressure without the ball, and a forward structure which struggled to convert territory into goals – averaging below eight goals in those losses and including separate 28 and 34 point losses in matches with more scoring shots than the opponent.