LIVE
AFL Daily: Carlton happy with its decision not to apply for a priority draft pick
CARLTON is happy not applying for a priority draft pick, determined to dig itself out of a self-made hole ahead of a potential wooden spoon-deciding clash. Re-cap all of today’s breaking news here.
CARLTON won’t reconsider its decision not to apply for a priority pick, adamant its focus must be fixing its own issues without AFL intervention.
Blues chief executive Cain Liddle made the “captain’s call” last month, deciding against an application despite 18 wins in the past 80 games. SKIPPER: MURPHY HASN’T GIVEN UP BLUE FLAG HOPE RE-CAP ALL THE DAY’S BREAKING NEWS IN THE BLOG TRADE HQ: SHOULD CARLTON TRADE TOP DRAFT PICK? The Blues would be favoured to win their fifth wooden spoon since 2002 if they fell two games and percentage behind Brisbane. The Lions take on Carlton at the Gabba in the “Lukosius Cup” this weekend, with Brisbane the $1.40 favourites with TAB. The Herald Sun understands the Blues have also extended the contract of young forward Pat Kerr until 2019 on a day their captain Marc Murphy committed to 2020. But while the Lions will likely ask for a priority pick Carlton believes it must dig itself out of a hole it in some ways has created. “What I can assure you of is no one at Carlton is wasting one minute of their time thinking about lobbying for a priority pick when we are working hard to improve our club by means which we can control,” Liddle said. “We are not reconsidering not asking for it. We are very clear that we have a good plan and good people. “We are confident in the way we have gone about building our list and we want to accept responsibility for where we are at. “As a result we have no interest in even talking about a priority pick.” South Australian key forward Jack Lukosius is considered likely to play from Round 1 next year, dubbed by one recruiter as the best teen he had seen in 15 years. The decision is a strong show of support in Carlton’s list management by Liddle, who board member Chris Judd revealed recently had driven the priority pick decision. The first-year CEO revealed the depth of the club’s injury crisis, one reason the Blues believe they can improve quickly next year. “When you are sitting on the bottom of the ladder you don’t want to make rash statements but on the weekend we had six (listed players available in the VFL and a couple of those had their time managed. “Not that we want to use it as an excuse, but when you have got half your list sitting in the grandstand it can become difficult, particularly when you are reasonably young.” Liddle lauded Murphy for his decision to remain at the club despite interest from multiple clubs. “It’s another great endorsement of the path that another player who would be highly in demand by other clubs is really keen to stay,’’ he said. Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as AFL Daily: Carlton happy with its decision not to apply for a priority draft pick