Carlton Track Watch: Big names Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh stand out in match simulation

It wasn’t just the temperature that was hot at Carlton training on Friday, with a number of new faces turning up the heat alongside big names Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh.

Carlton’s open training sessions tend to be on the lighter side but players and fans alike sweated through a high-octane, two-hour slog at Ikon Park on Friday.

Extended match simulation where big guns Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh were among the standouts led into a gruelling interval running session in 31C heat.

Jack Ison took his chance to wow Blues supporters for the first time.

The No. 47 draft pick was consistently at the front of the group going stride for stride with Ollie Hollands, while young midfielders Cooper Lord and Lucas Camporeale pushed their way to the front for the last intervals as others tired.

Patrick Cripps at Carlton training on Friday. Picture: David Crosling

Recruits Oliver Florent and Will Hayward working through the two-hour session. Picture: David Crosling

Walsh, on all-fours at the end of the running, earnt cheers from the crowd when he spun away from three opponents circling him as he gathered an errant handball and surged forwards, exchanging handballs with Harry McKay and Jagga Smith.

McKay moved well, but Fremantle recruit Liam Reidy was the main man up forward for both sides as he tested Carlton’s defenders with his 204cm frame, twice marking close to goal and slotting assured set shots off his left boot.

The Blues’ list is the healthiest it has looked for the whole calendar year – there would have been few weeks when McKay, Mitch McGovern, Zac Williams and Blake Acres were all in full training.

Gold Coast recruit Ben Ainsworth has been dealt a setback though and is likely to sit out the final week of training before Christmas after his foot was stepped on during a recent session.

“I’ve just got a little minor foot injury,” the forward told reporters after he remained indoors during Friday’s session.

Will Campbell Chesser play early in 2026? Picture: David Crosling

Former Fremantle big man Liam Reidy is making his mark. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Smith wore a no-contact cap during all drills, as did Ollie Hollands following his off-season shoulder surgery, while Cripps made his way to the bench to put one on his head late in the session but continued to move freely.

The dual Brownlow medallist was able to take running bounces on several occasions during the match simulation as both he and Walsh were heavily involved in open play.

Former Swans duo Ollie Florent and Will Hayward both said they were excited rather than apprehensive with less than 12 weeks until they meet their former side in opening round.

“(The Swans-Blues fixture) was always going to happen once the trade went through,” Hayward said with a grin.

“It’s exciting and a good challenge … Ollie and I are actually really keen to get over there and get a win. That’d be really nice.”

Originally published as Carlton Track Watch: Big names Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh stand out in match simulation