Carlton eyes free agents Andrew Gaff and Jeremy McGovern as part of its list build

CARLTON football boss Andy McKay says the Blues are on track in their rebuild, but now is the time the club set its sights on landing some “A Grade” free agents as it continues its list build.

Carlton skipper Marc Murphy and General Manager of Football Andrew McKay. Pic: Michael Klein

CARLTON says it will aggressively chase “A Grade” free agents including Andrew Gaff and Jeremy McGovern as part of its list build this year.

The Blues were wiped off the map by a young Fremantle side on Saturday as former player Rhys Palmer attacked the club’s culture.

Carlton captain Marc Murphy will meet with his management in coming days after spending the bye in Byron Bay pondering his future.

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A list already vulnerable through Bryce Gibbs’ departure and Sam Docherty’s ACL rupture has also been ravaged by injury.

Blues football boss Andy McKay said the Blues were on track in their rebuild despite a one-win season full of heavy defeats.

He said this off-season was always the time to chase free agents.

The Blues have been linked to Dogs midfielder Mitch Wallis but clearly they have blue-chip stars in mind.

Carlton footy boss Andrew McKay. Pic: Michael Klein

Jeremy McGovern would be a handy ‘in’ for the Blues. Pic: Getty Images

“We will be looking hard in the free agency window at the end of the year. We want to do that with really good A Grade talent and we are in a position where we can do that.”

Asked if the Blues would be chasing players like West Coast’s McGovern and Gaff, he said: “Absolutely, absolutely”.

McKay said the Blues would heavily review the goalless first half against Fremantle, admitting the club lacked leaders on the field due to injuries to their leadership group.

But he would not accept the criticism of the club’s culture, after one-game Blue Palmer tweeted cultural issues were the real problem.

Everyone talks about draft picks and developing youth but no one ever talks about culture....

— Rhys Palmer (@rhysCpalmer) June 16, 2018

“Look, I don’t want to buy into tweets on social media and things from ex-players. But I don’t think you can question our culture, that’s for sure,’’ he told 3AW.

“It’s very strong. We are bound by blue and there is no doubt about that internally, we don’t worry about that kind of thing.”

Midfielder Ed Curnow told Nine: “It’s frustrating that Rhys feels like he has to make that comment. I think that only serves Rhys so we will ignore it.”

The Blues hierarchy seems resolute behind coach Bolton, who had security until 2019 built into his employment agreement.

Can the Blues land Victorian Andrew Gaff? Pic: Getty Images

Curnow believes Murphy will stay, even if his has been told by close confidantes to have a good look at the upside of chasing success elsewhere.

“I think that might be him playing his cards in terms of contract talks and whatever he’s worth come the end of the year,” Curnow said.

“But I see him as a Carlton person and can’t see him leaving.

“What I see with Murph week to week is that he is heavily involved in all the meetings, he’s in discussions with the coaches about the future of the club and the team that we’re playing on the weekend. So his involvement is full-hearted towards Carlton.”

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