Sam Docherty says Carlton don’t need a priority pick and have the talent to succeed in the future

DEFIANT Carlton star Sam Docherty says the Blues must “box our way out of it”, dismissing a notion the embattled wooden spoon favourites need a priority pick to fast-track their rebuild.

DEFIANT Carlton star Sam Docherty says the Blues must “box our way out of it”, dismissing a notion the wooden spoon favourites need a priority pick to fast-track their rebuild.

The Blues were no match for Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, pummelled from siren-to-siren in a listless display.

But the injured All-Australian defender and future Carlton captain Docherty said the Blues already have enough talent to climb off the bottom of the AFL ladder.

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“We don’t want handouts,” Docherty said.

“We have ended up in this position through our own fault, so we will box our way out of it.

“I’m confident we have got the right people in the right places … it’s about putting the hard work on the track. It will turn around soon.”

Carlton's Sam Docherty. Picture: Michael Klein

The Blues’ lacklustre 65-point loss was underpinned by a lack of pressure, the Lions allowed to move the ball from end-to-end with ease.

Despite the heavy loss, Docherty said Blues’ youngsters, third-year full-back Jacob Weitering and wingmen Zac Fisher and Lochie O’Brien, had acquitted themselves well under duress.

Carlton has boldly declared previously it will not seek a priority draft pick, despite the real prospect of claiming a fifth wooden spoon since 2002.

“We think we have got the talent and that’s why the club has been so strong in terms of priority picks,” Docherty told the Sunday Footy Show.

“I don’t think it’s a pride thing. It’s a fact of we feel we have got the talent on our list.

“In terms of there is an easy way out of it, and I don’t think that’s the right way to take it.

“In the end you’ve got to back yourself in, back what you’ve got.

“We have got a lot of talent that will develop over the next few years and it will step up and we will turn a corner.”

Carlton could be without defender Caleb Marchbank on Friday night against St Kilda.

Marchbank spent a night in hospital in Brisbane as a precaution for an elevated heart rate.

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Originally published as Sam Docherty says Carlton don’t need a priority pick and have the talent to succeed in the future