Club/Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Position: Forward
Height: 191cm
DOB: 26 March 2007
WE’RE on.
Jack Ison can now officially call IKON Park home after being selected by Carlton with pick No.47 in the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft.
A graduate from the Carlton Academy, the smooth-moving Ison officially became a Blue when the Club matched a bid from North Melbourne on night two of the draft.
In the process, the youngster from the Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri mobs became the first Carlton NGA prospect to be recruited in the national draft, in the same year that he joins fellow Carlton Academy father-son graduate Harry Dean in Navy Blue.
A classy left footer who can feature in a number of positions, Ison’s end to the 2025 campaign couldn’t have been more impressive.
Spending his time with Vic Metro, the Oakleigh Chargers and Scotch College, Ison got consistently better as the season went on, with his Coates Talent League form in the final weeks for the Chargers proving his capabilities of making an impact in the midfield.
In Ison’s final four Coates Talent League games (two of those finals), he averaged just shy of 25 disposals, not dropping below 20 possessions while also hitting the scoreboard. The pick of the bunch came when he produced 30 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal in wildcard round against Calder.
That strong final month came at the end of a solid personal season for Ison, representing Vic Metro in the national carnival which was capped off with a 17-disposal, one-goal performance against Vic Country.
Ison’s main strengths are his class by foot and versatility, combining his 191-centimetre frame with his clean hands at ground level to pose a threat for any opposition.
The 18-year-old won’t be a stranger when he walks through the doors of IKON Park, having taken part in training sessions with both the Carlton Academy and occasionally the AFL side, linking up with Blues co-vice captain Sam Walsh.
Then, there’s Jagga Smith and Cooper Lord, who Ison played with for Scotch College in 2023 – Ison and Smith were also teammates with the Chargers in 2024, coached by new Carlton development coach Ash Close.
Head of List Management Nick Austin said the recruitment of Ison was another significant coup for the Blues in a big off-season, while commending the work undertaken by the Carlton Academy.
“We are absolutely delighted that Jack is officially able to call himself a Carlton player – he’s someone we’ve seen grow up at our footy club over a number of years,” Austin said.
“He’s an exceptional talent with the work ethic and skill that we think make him really well suited to what we want to achieve. We love his versatility and his teammates will love when the Sherrin in his hands.
“While we love what Jack offers as a player, we’re also just as thrilled to welcome who Jack is off the field. He hasn’t put a foot wrong and has made a really strong impression already among our playing group and football department – he’s hungry to carve out a career in the Navy Blue.
“The fact he gets to arrive at IKON Park alongside Harry Dean, someone who he’s been with alongside in the Carlton Academy for a number of years, is really exciting for both Jack and the footy club.
“It’s been a lot of work to get to this point, but Jack knows the hard work starts now. We’re really looking forward to seeing what he can do for our football club in the years to come.”
