Out of contract with St Kilda at the end of 2006, Ackland joined Carlton with the club's first pick in the 2007 pre-season Draft.[2] Ackland, who St Kilda had sought to retain, rejected St Kilda's two-year offer, accepting a three-year deal with Carlton.
In his first season with Carlton, Ackland assumed the top ruck position. While serviceable in the role, he often struggled to compete with the league's other top ruckmen and was briefly dropped on two occasions. By the start of 2008, Ackland was not considered among Carlton's top ruck selections and struggled for regular selection, playing only one game during the season. He moved to the forward-line at Carlton's VFL-affiliate, the Northern Bullants, where he kicked more than six goals in games several times during the year, but could not get back into the senior team. Ackland was delisted by Carlton at the end of the 2008 AFL season.