The Northern Blues - Carlton's VFL affiliate - begin their 2015 campaign at Ikon Park on Saturday against last season's preliminary finalist Williamstown.
With some strong off-season signings and three pre-season wins under their belt, the Blues will be looking to push themselves into finals calculations after last year's 11th-placed finish.
Carlton fans will be in for a treat too this season, with two Northern Blues games to serve as curtain-raisers for the clashes with Greater Western Sydney (Round 7) and Gold Coast (Round 13) at Etihad Stadium.
The last time Carlton's VFL affiliate played a curtain-raiser to a Carlton senior game was on May 24, 2003 against Frankston at Optus Oval.
The Northern Bullants won by 36 points on the day, with Kade Simpson featuring and current AFL umpire Matt Stevic officiating.
Here's all you need to know ahead of the Northern Blues' 2015 season:
LAST SEASON
Ladder position: 11th
Played: 18
Won: 7
Lost: 11
Laurie Hill Trophy (best and fairest): Tom Wilson
Laurie Hill Trophy runner-up: Patrick Cripps
Best First-Year Player: Ben Walton
Best Clubman: Benjamin Toman
THE COACH
Luke Webster joined Carlton in 2011, after injury ended his 33-game career at Fremantle.
As a junior, Webster captained the Western Australian Under 18s team in the 2000 national championships, and played for the East Perth Football Club in the WAFL. He also played in the WAFL representative side in 2003, 2009 and 2010.
In 2015, Webster will continue in his role as a development coach for Carlton and will also be the senior coach for the Northern Blues - his third season at the helm.
Luke Webster on the eve of his second season as Northern Blues coach. (Photo: Northern Blues Football Club)
THE CAPTAIN
Brent Bransgrove has enjoyed a injury-free pre-season as he embarks on his ninth season at the Northern Blues and second as outright skipper.
The tough on-baller has struggled with hamstring with ongoing hamstring trouble in recent seasons, limiting him to 22 VFL games over the past two years.
With a flawless pre-season behind him, the Blues can look forward to more of Bransgrove's fearless attack on the footy and huge work rate.
Captain Brent Bransgrove in action during a pre-season practice match at the MCG. (Photo: Amy Paton)
2015 PRE-SEASON RESULTS
April 11, MCG: Northern Blues 14. 15. (99) defeated NAB AFL Academy 14. 6. (90)
Goals: Armfield 4, Buckley 2, Johnson 2, Viojo-Rainbow, Foster, Totevski, Walsh, Whiley, Fields
Click here for the match report.
Click here to watch Armfield's four goals.
April 3, Ikon Park: Northern Blues 7. 8. (50) lost to Box Hill Hawks 12. 9. (81)
Goals: Johnson 2, Casboult, Armfield, Foster, Tutt, Watson
Click here for the match report.
March 22, Ikon Park: Northern Blues 13. 9. (87) defeated Sandringham 13. 6. (84)
Goals: Armitage 5, Johnson 2, Ellard 2, Casboult, Armfield, Graham, Walton
March 15, Ikon Park: Northern Blues 11. 9. (75) defeated Werribee Tigers 4. 12. (36)
Goals: B. Johnson 4, M. Watson 3, D. Armfield 2, M. Dick, D. Aujla
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Coach Luke Webster: "Kieran McGuinness has been really solid as a defender. He’s shown really good leadership, and obviously that’s why we’ve given him the vice-captaincy role.
"Joel Wilkinson’s showed some really good form throughout the pre-season as well. We’ve been throwing a few different roles and just trying to change his game.
"Young Ty Armitage was a standout in one of the games against Sandringham, kicking five goals and showing some good things.
"Glenn Strachan - another guy we got in from Collingwood’s VFL team - has shown some really solid form over the pre-season and shown that he can be a good player for us."
Former Gold Coast Suns player Joel Wilkinson has been a standout on the track. (Photo: Northern Blues Football Club)
2015 FIXTURE
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Date | Time |
| 1 | Williamstown (H) | Ikon Park | Saturday, April 18 | 2:15pm |
| 2 | Port Melbourne (A) | North Port Oval | Saturday, April 25 | 2:00pm |
| 3 | Sandringham (A) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | Sunday, May 3 | 2:00pm |
| 4 | Frankston (A) | Frankston Oval | Sunday, May 10 | 2:00pm |
| 5* | North Ballarat (H) | Etihad Stadium | Saturday, May 16 | TBC |
| 6 | Essendon (H) | Preston City Oval | Saturday, May 23 | 2:00pm |
| 7 | Box Hill Hawks (A) | Box Hill City Oval | Sunday, May 31 | 2:00pm |
| 8 | Coburg Lions (A) | Piranha Park | Monday, June 8 | 2:00pm |
| 9 | BYE | |||
| 10 | Werribee (H) | Ikon Park | Saturday, June 20 | 2:15pm |
| 11* | Frankston (H) | Etihad Stadium | Sunday, June 28 | TBC |
| 12 | Footscray Bulldogs (A) | Whitten Oval | Saturday, July 4 | 2:00pm |
| 13 | Richmond (H) | Preston City Oval | Saturday, July 11 | 2:00pm |
| 14 | Casey Scorpions (H) | Ikon Park | Saturday, July 18 | 2:00pm |
| 15 | BYE | |||
| 16 | North Ballarat (A) | Eureka Stadium | Sunday, August 2 | 2:00pm |
| 17 | Collingwood (A) | Victoria Park | Saturday, August 8 | 2:00pm |
| 18 | Sandringham (H) | Ikon Park | Sunday, August 16 | 2:00pm |
| 19 | Box Hill Hawks (H) | Preston City Oval | Saturday, August 22 | 2:00pm |
| 20 | Geelong (A) | Simonds Stadium | Saturday, August 29 | 2:00pm |
*curtain-raiser to Carlton game
2015 SENIOR SQUAD
| No. | Name | Age |
| 1 | Tom Wilson | 22 |
| 2 | Joel Wilkinson | 23 |
| 3 | Tyrone Armitage | 25 |
| 5 | Daniel Watson | 20 |
| 6 | Glenn Strachan | 24 |
| 8 | Brent Bransgrove | 26 |
| 9 | Dean Soncin | 22 |
| 10 | Tim Totevski | 21 |
| 11 | Kieran McGuinness | 31 |
| 13 | Garrett McDonagh | 18 |
| 15 | Paul Dirago | 22 |
| 16 | Mitchell Gleeson | 19 |
| 18 | Jarryd Coulson | 21 |
| 21 | Ben Toman | 21 |
| 22 | Samuel Cattapan | 21 |
| 23 | Eamon Jenkins | 26 |
| 24 | Steve Murray | 25 |
| 25 | Adam Asani | 25 |
| 29 | Aiden Yelland | 23 |
| 30 | Sean Bolger | 20 |
| 33 | Daman Aujla | 19 |
| 34 | Cameron Conlan | 19 |
| 35 | Ben Walton | 23 |
| 37 | Jacob Gleeson | 21 |
| 39 | Athiei Kur | 21 |
| 40 | Lachlan Kilpatrick | 21 |
| 41 | Ciaran Porter | 18 |
| 50 | Kieran Roberts | 22 |
| 52 | Matthew Haynes | 21 |
| 53 | Lachlan Langwell | 21 |
| 54 | Zach Ballard | 19 |
| 55 | Jordan Perry | 20 |
| 56 | Lachlan Boscarini | 18 |
| 57 | Jesse Tardio | 20 |
| 61 | Jack Johnston | 22 |
| 63 | Eamon Gilbert | 19 |
| 64 | Hugh Schiavello | 19 |
| 66 | Mitch Dawson | 19 |
| 68 | Dyson Stevens | 21 |
| 69 | Liam Kinsella | 18 |
| 70 | Ryan Tester | 19 |
| 71 | Kyle McDonald | 19 |
| 72 | Scott Whillas | 19 |
| 73 | Alexander Aurrichio | 25 |
| 74 | Jordan Roberts | 22 |
| 75 | Jake Wild | 18 |
| 77 | Chris McCabe | 18 |
| 81 | Liam Bowkett | 19 |
Ins: Tyrone Armitage (Manly Giants, NSW), Glenn Strachan (Collingwood VFL), Kieran McGuinness (Norwood SANFL), Garrett McDonagh (Northern Knights), Adam ASANI (Taylors Lakes), Daman Aujla (Northern Knights), Cameron Conlan (Northern Knights), Lachlan Kilpatrick (Manly Giants, NSW), Ciaran Porter (Northern Knights), Lachlan Langwell (Aberfeldie), Zach Ballard (Northern Knights), Jordan Perry (Northern Knights), Lachlan Boscarini (Northcote Park), Hugh Schiavello (Aberfeldie), Mitch Dawson (Northern Knights), Dyson Stevens (Parkside), Liam Kinsella (Oakleigh Chargers), Ryan Tester (Northern Knights), Scott Whillas (Aberfeldie), Alexander Aurrichio (New York Magpies, USA), Jake Wild (Northern Knights), Chris McCabe (Northern Knights), Liam Bowkett (rookie elevation, Greensborough).
Northern Blues' American import Alexander Aurrichio was introduced to Australian football by the New York Magpies. (Photo: Amy Paton)
Outs: Jack Anthony, Myles Dorman, Brad McCann, Keenan Posar, Michael Dufficy, Bradyn Taglieri, Tyson Thomas, Kyle Emley, Mitchell Dowse, Tom Grimes, Mitch Johnson, Will Couch, Hugh Curnow, Glenn Grgic, Gerard Sutton, Josh Callaway, Hayden Taylor, Nick Keegan, Matthew Evans.
