After the 2024 AFL season, THE CARLTON Football Club can disclose five changes to its playing list. David Cuningham, Caleb Marchbank, Jack Martin, Alex Mirkov, and Dom Akuei will no longer be with the Club.
Cuningham was chosen with pick No. 23 in the 2015 national draft and spent nine seasons playing for the Blues.
Before playing five more games in 2024, the 27-year-old participated in an equal career-high 12 games, including two finals, previous season.
Marchbank joined Carlton in 2017 after being traded by Greater Western Sydney, and he participated in 56 games throughout his eight seasons with the Blues.
Due to an injury that limited his ability to push for more opportunities at the AFL level in 2024, he only played three games this season.
Martin played three games for Carlton this year and made 54 appearances for the Navy Blue over the course of five seasons.
The 29-year-old, who was selected by the Blues in the preseason draft from the Gold Coast Suns, won the Coaches Award in 2020, the year he made his Club debut.
Mirkov joined at IKON Park in 2021 as a mid-season rookie, after impressing in the VFL for the Carlton Reserves. The 210cm ruckman was out for the majority of 2023 due to injury, but he made a comeback in 2024 to participate in 16 VFL games.
Akuei has been a Category B rookie for the past three seasons. He has made a few appearances for the Carlton Reserves, mostly as a defender.
Nick Austin, Head of List Management at Carlton, recognized everyone’s efforts.
David and Caleb have endured hardships over their lengthy tenure at Carlton. Whatever path they decide to follow, Austin said, their unwavering determination to keep taking the initiative and give themselves every opportunity to succeed in every obstacle is a credit to them.
“Throughout his five seasons, Jack demonstrated a tenacious mindset and forged some enduring friendships at the football club. Meanwhile, Alex and Dom instilled a great deal of energy into the Club and each earned the right to participate in an AFL program through distinct pathways.
“We appreciate the dedication shown by all five players while they were in Navy Blue.”
