Matthew Kennedy in Carlton trade development after leaving wife and baby to play AFL final

Carlton favourite Matthew Kennedy has reportedly been told he can leave the club only days after showing his dedication to the club and making a mad dash to play in the AFL elimination final. Carlton were humiliated in their elimination final loss to the Lions after Michael Voss' side eventually went down 14.15 (99) to 11.5 (71), despite trailing conceding the first nine goals of the match.

Voss' tactics were questioned during the contest and his decision to use Tom De Koning replace Kennedy and leave him on the bench in the loss to the Lions left fans gobsmacked. Kennedy's substitution was made all the worse after the 27-year-old made himself available for selection and made a late dash to Brisbane play for Carlton after his wife, Mary-Anne, gave birth to their son.

After he was replaced, Kennedy looked frustrated on the bench, which was understandable considering how the last few days had unfolded. The move was also confusing considering Kennedy has been one of the Blues' best all year and could have stayed out on the field.

Fans were rightfully fuming over Kennedy's treatment and some suggested he had the right to ask for a trade after the incident. Kennedy had played every game for Carlton in 2024, but it appeared his efforts in the elimination final were not enough to impress Voss.

And it appears Kennedy could be on the move with Channel Seven reporter Mitch Cleary suggesting the Carlton star met with coach Voss and the club has allowed him to look for a new home in 2025. According to Cleary, Kennedy spoke with Voss about his desire to play as an inside-midfielder.

Voss wants to continue to employ Kennedy further up the field and both agreed it could be time for a change. Kennedy played in all 24 games for the Blues this year and averaged 17.7 disposals, 10.2 kicks and 4.4 marks a game in 2024. Kennedy was a popular player at Carlton and other clubs will no doubt seek the inside-mid for the 2025 season.

Lewis Young is also set to move on in 2025. The tall played nine games for the Blues this year, which included the elimination final.

Matthew Kennedy set to leave Carlton

Kennedy's departure will be sure to stir up emotion in Carlton fans with many furious at Voss for how he used the 27-year-old in the elimination final. Having seen Kennedy's reaction on the bench, fans were left fuming over the treatment of the Carlton star.

One person wrote on social media: "If I was Kennedy, I’d be requesting a trade at half time. That’s some of the most disgusting treatment of a player from a club I’ve ever seen. Flew up late, made himself available. Has done everything the coaching team has asked of him all season. Then this." It turns out Kennedy had enough and wanted to seek a new challenge where he can play further back in the mids.

Michael Voss under pressure after Carlton flop

After the game, Voss came under scrutiny for Carlton's performance. The Blues became the first team in 50 years to not score a point in the opening quarter of a finals game. And speaking after the game, Melbourne great Garry Lyon was gobsmacked by some of Voss' calls.

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“Coming into this selection wise, they rolled the dice,” he said on Fox Footy. "Not all of them worked – in fact none of it worked when it mattered most. It’s 60-zip (at half-time). All of those selections were horrible.

"As the game wore on, they got themselves back into it. (Zac) Williams didn’t look like he could go at all, De Koning starts as a sub and (Alex) Cincotta doesn’t play at all."