Carlton small forward Jesse Motlop has suffered a torn ACL and will now miss the entire 2026 season in a huge blow for the club.

Motlop has played 63 games for the club since being selected in the 2021 draft.

The club has confirmed the injury occurred at training on Monday, as every team returns from their Christmas and new year break.

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Motlop played 23 games for Carlton in 2025, kicking 17 goals as a small forward who spent some time in the midfield.

Carlton’s Jesse Motlop. Getty

He joins North Melbourne defender Jackson Archer, who also ruptured his ACL at club training at the start of 2026.

“Jesse has put in plenty of hard work in the pre-season, so we are really feeling for him at this time,” Carlton general manager of football Chris Davies said.

“While there is understandable disappointment right now, Jesse is the ultimate professional, who possesses great resilience, which will help as he moves through the recovery process.

“The club and medical staff will continue to support Jesse during his rehabilitation.”

He will be put on the club’s inactive list, opening up a list spot for them to use in the supplemental selection period.

Carlton already had a list spot free, and have two players training with them in Elijah Hollands and Will White, both of whom were delisted at the end of the 2025 season.

Given both are forwards, they would both now be in the frame for an AFL lifeline, assuming Carlton wants to use both spots.

Jesse Motlop celebrates a goal. Getty

It’s a big year for the Blues, with coach Michael Voss in the final year of his contract.

Their forward line will certainly look different this year, with Charlie Curnow and Tom De Koning gone and Motlop now injured.

Sydney star Will Hayward joins the club to bolster the goal kicking ranks.

Carlton has had their fair share of torn ACLs across the last 12 months, losing top draftees Jagga Smith and Harry O’Farrell in 2025, while star defender Nic Newman also missed the entire season with his own knee injury.