The 2026 season is just around the corner so EDFL Media will be previewing each club heading into Round One. Next, we chat to Craigieburn co-coaches Jack Carlyon and Cale Bettanin who provide some insights on their 2026 campaign.
2025: 5th (9W, 9L, 110.79%)
Coaches: Jack Carlyon and Cale Bettanin
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"Our main focus this pre-season has been to keep improving every training session and to provide a good culture around the club.
"We learnt last year that our best can compete with all the top teams, but there is still a gap that we are trying to close in order to be more consistent, which starts with our skills and footy IQ.
"We are young and fast and we feel like if we get our running game going, we are hard to stop."
LIST SHAPE
"We didn’t lose anyone from our preliminary final team. A lot of them are young so another pre-season of development and growth puts us in a healthy position.
"We have gone after guys who are good people and can help develop these younger kids."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"Keep an eye on a couple of our recruits in Brodie White and Jarred Seiter. They play an exciting brand of footy that we’re keen to see on game day."
2026 OUTLOOK
"In this open division, a pass mark for us will be to play finals.
"We want to keep growing and improving every week.
"The last couple of years there has been off-field issues that have interrupted our season, and we want to have a year that we focus on positivity and start building a winning culture around the club with minimal distractions.
"Craigieburn is a club with a successful history, playing an exciting brand of footy towards the end of 2025 season attracted past members of the club and the Craigieburn community to our games, especially finals. We want to keep that going this season and provide our supporters something they can be proud of."
ON THE RECORD WITH JACK CARLYON AND CALE BETTANIN
Biggest pest at the club?
Tadhg Boyle and Daniel Priest.
Afternoon, Twilight, Night AFL grand final?
Afternoon - Let's try and keep a bit of history.
Is there a cult hero at the club?
Nath Stewart.
Which AFL player would you cherry-pick for your side?
Sam Darcy.
Shot after the siren to win, who do you want kicking it?
Jamie Gorgievski.
What are your favourite qualities in players you coach?
Being coachable, positive and respectful with a strong work ethic to keep getting better.
Should AFL State of Origin become a permanent fixture?
Yes. It's good seeing the best go head-to-head and playing alongside each other.
Hardest opposition player or coach to coach against?
Jedd Taylor (Oak Park).
Flag tip outside of Craigieburn?
West Coburg.
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Jack Ryan (Strathmore), Adrian Marulli (La Trobe University),Matthew Collier (Laurimar),Alexi Mamalos (Tullamarine),Brenton Cox (Heathcote),Jarred Seiter (Montmorency),Brodie White (North Heidelberg),Paul Hantoniou (West Preston-Lakeside), Salvatore Fruci (Greenvale), Tushan Vij (Greenvale).
Out: Riley Middleton (Broadford), Jack Ryan (Strathmore), Joshua McNamara (North Mandurah), Caleb Sofield (East Sunbury), Kyle Lamprey (East Devonport), Christian Lin (Westmeadows), Brody Carlyon (Heathcote), Joshua Oliver (Therry Penola), Sammy Aliano (Hume Bombers), Lachlan Liberatore (Thomastown), nicholas aliano (Hume Bombers), James Vulic (Sunshine Heights), Emre Yilmaz (Trentham District), Cody Ball (Wallan), Zachary Scerri (Merrifield), David John Mannion (Merrifield), Matt Bailey (Merrifield), Ethan Forryan (Merrifield), Tyrone Packiaraja (Merrifield), Jacob Nichols (Avenel), Riley Gaylard (Whittlesea), Luke Collins (Hurstbridge).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
From battling relegation through a coaching change to playing in a preliminary final, it was a whirlwind 2025 for Craigieburn. Jack Carlyon and Cale Bettanin remain in charge with their prelim final side intact, plus a few additions. The Eagles will bring their exciting best with another year of education and development, which should hold them in good stead to compete for finals.
