Heartbreak as young stars Jagga Smith and Andy Moniz-Wakefield tear ACLs

Carlton have been dealt a crushing blow on the eve of the 2025 AFL season with their top draft now set to miss the entire year.

Carlton’s top draft pick Jagga Smith is set to miss the 2025 AFL season after scans showed he had torn his ACL.

The number three pick in the 2024 AFL draft was dealt the heartbreaking news on Sunday in a cruel blow for the Blues.

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Smith didn’t look at all out of place for the Blues on Saturday as the club took on St Kilda, but concerns were raised when he came from the field at three-quarter time.

The 19-year-old was taken out of the contest after coming down awkwardly during a tackle, the club confirmed the worst on Sunday.

Smith coming from the ground on Saturday. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“It certainly was not the news we were expecting and we really feel for Jagga, he has not put a foot wrong from the second he walked into the football club back in November,” Carlton’s General Manager Brad Lloyd said via a club statement.

“Jagga possesses incredible professionalism for someone so young and an absolute dedication to push himself to get better every single day – two qualities which will have him in a strong mindset to progress through every stage of his rehab.

“While it is really unfortunate we won’t see Jagga out of the field this season, he will continue to soak up as much knowledge as he can from his teammates and coaches during his first year in the AFL system, before setting himself to attack his second season head on.”

Smith will undergo surgery before commencing any rehabilitation to help him recover fully from the gruelling injury.

Jagga Smith (left #7) collides with Harry McKay in a marking contest. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Smith fires off a handball during training. Picture: Rose Zarucky/Carlton FC

The cruel news for the Blues comes after Melbourne youngster Andy Moniz-Wakefield also suffered an ACL injury in the dying stages of the Demons hitout on Saturday.

In the final few minutes of the clash against North Melbourne, the 21-year-old defender was left writhing in agony on the turf before pointing to the inside of his right knee.

Trainers helped Andy Moniz-Wakefield from the ground after the injury. Picture: Michael Klein

Melbourne assistant coach Troy Chaplin said the incident “looked pretty nasty”.

“Obviously he’s pretty flat at the moment, but we’ll have to go away and get a scan just to confirm it,” Chaplin said.

“It didn’t look good, from a visual point of view, but we’re hoping for the best there,” Chaplin said.

Scan results on Sunday afternoon confirmed the worst for the youngster who will also now miss the entirety of 2025.

The AFL season gets underway with Opening Round from Thursday, March 6.

Originally published as Heartbreak as young stars Jagga Smith and Andy Moniz-Wakefield tear ACLs