Former Carlton midfielder Jack Carroll handed AFL lifeline by St Kilda as a delisted free agent

St Kilda has signed discarded Carlton midfielder Jack Carroll as a delisted free agent before this afternoon’s deadline.

Carroll, 21, will take up an offer to join the Saints after interest from both West Australian clubs in Fremantle and West Coast as well as Greater Western Sydney.

“We’re pleased to welcome Jack to the club,” St Kilda football boss David Misson said.

“There was a lot to like in Jack’s performances this season and we believe he can bring an added layer to our midfield mix.

“Jack’s got great leg-speed and at only 21 we believe his best footy is still ahead of him.”

Carroll said he was excited to get to work with his new team.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” Carroll said.

“I can’t wait to meet my new teammates and the rest of the club and get stuck into pre-season.”

The Chapman Valley product was delisted by the Blues this year after playing 21 games in four seasons, having been drafted with pick No.41 in 2020.

Carroll is understood to have returned to WA after being cut as he looked for another AFL lifeline.

The 21-year-old played a career-high 15 games for the Blues this year — including seven as the tactical sub — with the last of those coming in the round 24 loss to St Kilda where he had eight touches and a goal before being subbed out.

As reported by The West Australian last month, both the Eagles and Dockers were monitoring Carroll ahead of this month’s draft.

Carroll will join former Western Bulldogs star Jack Macrae as inclusions for the Ross Lyon-led Saints, after the premiership midfielder joined them in the trade period.

The midfielder was one of several players delisted by Carlton alongside Domanic Akuei, Matt Carroll, David Cuningham, Sam Durdin, Caleb Marchbank, Jack Martin and Alex Mirkov.

St Kila have gone through significant turnover this off-season, losing defender Josh Battle to Hawthorn as a free agent, while ruckman Tom Campbell joined Melbourne.

Fremantle are set to recruit former Geelong and Port Adelaide forward Quinton Narkle in a similar manner to their recruitment of wingman Jeremy Sharp last year.

Sharp was signed on day one of the pre-season supplemental selection period after training with the Dockers.