AFL draft 2024: Scott Camporeale’s twins Ben and Lucas prepare to carry on Carlton legacy

Get excited, Carlton fans! Scott Camporeale’s twin sons are bound for the Navy Blues as the club prepares to nominate the pair as father-son selections for November’s draft.

Carlton will nominate Ben and Lucas Camporeale as father-sons for next month’s AFL national draft.

An announcement around the move is believed to be imminent, just days before father-son nominations close next Thursday.

The South Australian twins are the sons of Scott Camporeale, who played 233 games in Navy Blue including featuring in the club’s 1995 premiership side.

Ben is a right-footed inside midfielder, while Lucas is a left-footed half-back or wingman.

The twins have grown up in Adelaide and hail from the Glenelg Football Club.

Both boys featured for South Australia during the under-18 national championships this year, as well as being part of the AFL Academy squad.

Ben and Lucas Camporeale are Carlton bound. Picture: Getty Images

Ben and Lucas also both trained with Carlton for a week during pre-season earlier this year and the Blues have been pleased with their development.

Speaking at the draft combine earlier this month, Ben said it would be a dream to be drafted to Carlton alongside his brother.

“It’s pretty cool to think about,” Ben said.

“You want to carry on the last name if you can and to play together would be pretty cool. But at the end of the day we’re happy just to get the opportunity.

“You have chats about what it might look like in the future. I would be lying if I said we didn’t. It’s a bit unknown at the moment but we’re both just trying to get around each other as best as we can.”

While the news comes as little surprise, clubs must officially lodge nominations for father-son, Northern Academy and Next Generation Academy players by October 31.

The Brisbane Lions announced in early August that they had committed to their own father-son prospect in Levi Ashcroft, a star midfielder who is expected to receive a top-five bid in the draft.

Will Ashcroft and his brother Levi. Picture: Michael Klein

Ashcroft is the son of three-time Lions premiership player Marcus and the younger brother of 2024 Norm Smith Medal winner Will.

Adelaide is yet to announce whether it will nominate father-son prospect Tyler Welsh, a marking forward whose father Scott played 129 games for the Crows.

Adelaide list manager Justin Reid said last week that the club would “sit down with the family” and work through the situation after the trade period was over.

Along with the Camporeale twins, Carlton is eyeing a top-end midfield talent at pick 3 in the draft.

The Blues have been heavily linked to Finn O’Sullivan - a second-cousin of Sam Walsh - at that selection.

Carlton currently holds picks 3, 38, 63, 68, 69 and 72.

The AFL national draft will be held across two nights on November 20 and 21.

‘IT’S OUR JOURNEY’: TWINS PLEDGE TO CARVE OWN NAVY BLUE LEGACY

Carlton father-son prospects Ben and Lucas Camporeale say they are excited by the possibility of following in their father’s footsteps and joining the Navy Blues in November.

The South Australian twins – who are the sons of 1995 premiership player Scott – have been in Melbourne this week for the AFL national draft combine as two of the top-65 draft prospects in the country.

Ben is a right-footed midfielder who has developed his inside game this year, while Lucas is a left-footed outside wingman or halfback.

Former Blue Scott Camporeale with his twin boys and rising footy stars, Ben and Lucas. Picture: Keryn Stevens

The twins both trained at Carlton for a week during pre-season as part of the AFL Academy program, Ben staying with Sam Walsh and Lucas living with Adam Cerra.

“You just learn so much from them,” Lucas said.

“They’re more than players, they’re people. But just what they do on their off days was a big one for me. The recovery, the pilates and pools and all that. It’s just amazing to see how much effort and how much they put into their body because it’s their main asset and why they get paid so much.”

Ben Camporeale vs Vic Metro:
team high 29 touches @ 76%
10 contested
game high 7 inside 50s
equal team high 7 marks
4 intercepts
4 tackles
3 clearances
3 rebound 50s
434 metres gained
2 score involvements pic.twitter.com/aMTqxNJYf3

— Carlton Blues Fans (@CarltonFCBlues) July 2, 2024

A fitting winner of SA's U18 MVP award as the Croweaters' most consistent midfielder.
Ben Camporeale was back at it for @GlenelgFC in @SANFL U18s on Saturday, racking up 32 disposals & 7 clearances. #AFLDrafthttps://t.co/vVLIWgVwE3pic.twitter.com/RvSZfp3xla

— Zac Milbank (@zacmilbank) July 11, 2024

Both boys grew up Adelaide fans while their father was working at the Crows, but have switched their allegiances to the Blues in more recent years.

Scott — who played 252 AFL games — has been a big support but has also tried to let the twins tread their own football paths.

“He’s there if we want to have a chat and he’s been there and done it, pretty successful,” Ben said.

“But at the end of the day, it’s our journey. He wants us to figure it out for ourselves.”

Ben is not testing at the combine as he recovers from a hamstring injury but Lucas took part in the 2km time trial on Friday and will be put through agility and speed tests on Sunday.

Originally published as AFL draft 2024: Scott Camporeale’s twins Ben and Lucas prepare to carry on Carlton legacy