[8] Brett Ratten and Chris Judd continued in their respective roles as senior coach and captain of the club, each entering his third season appointed to the job.Note 2 Kade Simpson continued in the role of vice-captain, and the club's leadership group also comprised Michael Jamison, Andrew Carrazzo, Heath Scotland and Simon Wiggins.
The most significant change to the list was the trading of full forward Brendan Fevola to the Brisbane Lions.
Carlton announced its intentions to trade Fevola after his drunken behaviour at the 2009 Brownlow Medal Count, which served as the last straw in a long rap sheet of off-field indiscretions while at the club.
Brisbane initially offered 31-year-old full forward Daniel Bradshaw and 23-year-old midfielder Michael Rischitelli in the trade.
Both players were flown to Melbourne to tour Carlton's facilities during trade week, but Rischitelli was not willing to relocate.
The win ended a streak of seven consecutive years in which the club goalkicking was won by Brendan Fevola, who was traded at the start of the season.
The event was held in late December 2008, at the start of the Christmas break, and involved widespread binge drinking amongst the group.
Three players were then involved in alcohol-related incidents after the cruise docked: Andrew Walker and Ryan Houlihan both brawled with security at Crown Casino, and Eddie Betts was arrested for being drunk in a public place; all three were fined by the club, and the entire playing group was censured for its behaviour.
The club was also issued a 'please explain' by the league, which was concerned about the effect the incident would have on the image of the game in the community.
[29] After this year, North Melbourne requested that it host Carlton in a Friday night match each year – a match of annual significance for North Melbourne, because at the time it was a low-drawing team, and was otherwise seldom scheduled in the prime Friday night timeslot.
A vote of all players in the league, selecting from a ballot of all club nominees, was then used to determine the final placings.
[35] Chris Judd was the only Carlton player nominated in the squad, and he was named on the interchange in the final team.
Kade Simpson, Bryce Gibbs and Eddie Betts were all selected to represent Australia in the 2010 International Rules Series, held in Ireland.
[39] Five people were inducted into the Carlton Football Club Hall of Fame, in the first batch of new inductees since the 2006 season.
[42] By finishing inside the top three, the Bullants qualified for the inaugural season of the Foxtel Cup competition in 2011. :1.^ Although Hawthorn had a higher overall membership, that Victorian-based club additionally plays several home games in Tasmania each year.