Carlton ruck Breann Harrington will miss the upcoming 2026 AFLW season after she and husband Brad announced they are expecting their first child.
The club congratulated the couple on the news and said Harrington, an inaugural Blue, would remain part of the program in different ways across the year. For Carlton, the timing matters because the announcement leaves the list with one remaining spot heading into the season.
Harrington, who has played 93 games at the highest level since 2017, said the support around her and Brad had meant a great deal as they prepare to welcome their first child. “While this year will look different for us and it’ll be sad not running out with my teammates week in, week out, I’m excited to support the group in a different capacity this year,” she said. She added that the couple could not wait to welcome “a new Blues supporter.”
Carlton AFLW senior coach Mathew Buck said the club was delighted for Harrington and Brad and said she would stay an integral part of the program throughout the season. He said the club could not be happier for them as they begin what he called an exciting new chapter together.
The development gives Carlton a familiar problem to solve before the season begins. Harrington has been one of the club’s most established figures since its early AFLW days, and her absence will be felt on the field even as she stays close to the group off it. The club’s last list spot now carries extra weight, with an opening still available as the new campaign approaches.
For Harrington, the next months will be spent away from match-day routine and into family life. For Carlton, the challenge is to adjust without one of its longest-serving players while keeping her connected to the team in a season that will look different for both.
