Cain Ackland

Career : 2007 - 2008
Debut : Round 1, 2007 vs Richmond, aged 25 years, 15 days
Carlton Player No. 1098
Games : 21
Goals : 4
Last Game : Round 8, 2008 vs Brisbane, aged 26 years, 33 days
Guernsey No. 11
Height : 196 cm (6 ft. 5 in.)
Weight : 101 kg (15 stone, 12 lbs.)
DOB: 16 March, 1982

Ackland was drafted by Carlton in the 2007 Pre-season Draft from St Kilda, where he had played 41 games in 2 years. Carlton saw him as a ready-made replacement for ruckman Barnaby French who had hung up his sizeable boots the year before. Ackland was even given "Bananaby's" former guernsey number 11. He had originally played at Port Power (drafted at pick 27 in the 1999 Draft) and had made his AFL debut in 2001. While at Port Adelaide, he was a member of their 2001 Pre-season Premiership side, and had played a total of 53 AFL games prior to joining the Blues.

Ackland debuted for Carlton in round 1, 2007, a first-up win over Richmond, He shared the ruck role initially with Cameron Cloke, then with Setanta Ó hAilpín and Josh Kennedy as the season wore on. Ackland made a strong impression in his ninth game for Carlton, a close loss to Adelaide, and continued the good work with 24 hitouts in our Round 10 win over the Bulldogs. All up, he played 20 games for the Blues in 2007.

But from then on, opportunities dried up and injuries at the wrong time derailed his second year. He played only a single game early in 2008, and despite being thrown forward at Bullants level, and occasionally kicking bags of 7 or 8 goals, it seems his papers were stamped well before he was eventually delisted at the end of the year. Still a very valuable and capable player at local level, Ackland was picked up by SANFL North Adelaide for the 2009 season.

Ackland was originally recruited from SANFL club, Port Adelaide Magpies.

Career Highlights

2007 Pre-Season Premiership Player

Links

Blueseum: Summary of Ackland's Carlton playing career | Career Breakdown | Ackland's Blueseum Image Gallery

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