Carlton’s top draft pick Jagga Smith has suffered a significant setback, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during his first pre-season game. This injury, which occurred during a practice match against St Kilda, means the highly-touted 19-year-old will miss the entire 2025 season, dealing a harsh blow to both the player and the club.
During Saturday's match, Smith showcased flashes of his prodigious talent, operating effectively from half-forward. Yet, as the game approached its conclusion, he limped off the field, appearing to be injured during what seemed like just another routine play. Initial assessments by Carlton’s coaching staff suggested the injury might not be severe. Blues assistant coach Tim Clarke stated, "He just got a knock to his knee late in the game. We kept him off as a precaution, nothing too serious.”
Unfortunately for Smith and the club, follow-up scans revealed the tear, prompting Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd to express disappointment. "It certainly was not the news we were expecting. We really feel for Jagga; he has not put a foot wrong from the second he walked to the football club back in November,” Lloyd remarked. “Jagga possesses incredible professionalism for someone so young and an absolute dedication to push himself to get every single day — two qualities which will have him in a strong mindset to progress through every stage of his rehab.”
The news of Smith’s injury is particularly disheartening as he was anticipated to make his debut this season. The young star had been one of the standout players during pre-season training and was looked upon as pivotal to Carlton's forward structure. Taken with the third overall pick in the 2024 National Draft, Smith was seen as the answer to bolster Carlton’s midfield ranks, joining established players like Patrick Cripps and up-and-coming stars such as Sam Walsh.
The intense anticipation surrounding Smith's first season has now turned to concern, not only for his immediate recovery but also for the psychological toll such injuries can take on young athletes. "While it is really unfortunate we won’t see Jagga out on 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," explained Lloyd.
Smith is expected to undergo surgery shortly, with rehabilitation to follow. The path of recovery for ACL injuries can be long and arduous. Thankfully, Smith’s early attitude and dedication to improvement have been highlighted as strengths. Clarke maintained confidence in Smith's ability to rebound both physically and mentally from this setback.
Carlton’s injury woes do not end with Smith. The club recently lost defender Nic Newman, who is sidelined for much of the same season due to ruptured patella tendon. The Blues' injury list poses serious dilemmas as they head toward the regular season. This series of injuries adds to concerns following last year's struggles with player availability, forcing coach Michael Voss to work with severely limited rosters at times.
Fans and teammates alike are supporting Smith during this challenging period, recognizing the challenges of returning to form after such risky injuries. "He will have our support as he goes through rehabilitation, and we believe he’ll come back stronger than ever,” said Clarke adding to the team sentiment surrounding their young star. It is not just Smith's skill on the field but his attitude and determination to learn from teammates during his recovery which give some hope to the club’s future.
Despite this bitter pill to swallow, Carlton will be keeping their head up, focused on finding talent through the draft and balancing the recovery of their current injured players. They are optimistic about the potential contributions of new recruits who have been rising up to fill gaps amid these challenging circumstances.
While the future looks uncertain for Smith this season, there remains hope. The experience he gains this year off the field will serve him well as he plans to make substantial contributions over the next campaign. The collective drive of Carlton may see them build stronger foundations for the future as they reevaluate strategies following setbacks like these.