Carlton, one of the clubs aiming to be involved in the marquee deal of this trade period, have been very busy today.
The exchange of picks with Hawthorn has enabled the Blues to achieve their one of their trade goals of having an extra first-round selection in this year’s draft.
They now have their natural pick of 12 plus Hawthorn’s 14, which gives them a card to play in the race for Port Adelaide’s All Australian half-back Dan Houston.
Even if they miss out on Houston, you’d think Carlton’s list management boss Nick Austin would be very happy to take those picks to the draft. They will use at least one.
Trading a future first pick is always a risk for a club should they underperform the following year, as Collingwood have this season after trading for Lachie Schultz, so this can be seen as a sign of the Blues’ confidence for next year.
Another way to read it is the Blues are very confident they can secure a better player at 14 in what has been widely accepted as a strong draft than they will in next year’s draft.
Carlton will have an opportunity to pick up talented twins Lucas (left) and Ben Camporeale at the draft as they are sons of club legend Scott Camporeale.Credit: AFL Photos
The Blues earlier pick swap of 34 and 66 to Brisbane for 73 and a future second was so they could fall in line with the league’s rules about trading future picks in order to secure the Hawks’ No.14 pick.
Another point to consider with the trading out of pick No.34 – what was the Blues’ second-round selection – is the likelihood it would have been absorbed by a bid for one of the Camporeale twins.
The swaps today leave them with a stronger draft hand at the top but only picks 69, 72 and 73 for the Camporeales, so they have a bit to do on that front.