The AFL says Carlton must apply for a priority pick if it wants one
TWO months ago the Blues boldly declared they were “not interested” in seeking special assistance from the head office. And unless Carlton asks, the AFL is powerless to help it out of its hole.
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THE AFL says it is powerless to award Carlton a priority pick in this year’s super draft without a formal submission from the club.
Blues boss Cain Liddle boldly declared seven weeks ago that the club was “not interested” in seeking special assistance from head office.
But Carlton has lost every game since by an average of 43 points and boasts a pathetic percentage of just 60.9 — the club’s worst since 1901.
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They have won just one game from 16 matches and are closing in on a fifth wooden spoon in 17 seasons.
The AFL confirmed the awarding of a priority pick required a club to come forward and present a detailed submission outlining its reasons.
The application is then assessed by league executives before being sent to the AFL commission for final approval.
Brisbane was awarded an extra pick at the end of the first round in the 2016 national draft under the league’s Special Assistance Rule following a string of failed seasons.
Carlton insists it has no intention of applying for a priority pick and will instead back in its rebuild plan under third-year coach Brendon Bolton.
“The issue of a priority pick hadn’t even been discussed internally,” Liddle said on May 29.
“The reason it wasn’t even thought about and that we’re not interested in it is because we’re really confident in the plan and the kids we’ve been able to bring in.
“We’ve got a clear plan, and when you decide to cut a list back by 42 players over three years, you appreciate that at some point there’s going to be a compounding effect from all that change — we’re experiencing that right now.
“I can’t stress any more that we are really confident in the direction we’re headed.
“We’re keen to just knock it (the priority-pick talk) on the head and move on.”
Carlton has won 14 out 60 games under Bolton — a win rate of 23 per cent.
Club great and director Chris Judd recently called for the priority pick system to be dumped.
“I think it’s time to scrap them all together,” Judd said.
“We know the bottom sides already get helped out by getting the very best picks in the draft each year.
“The AFL is willing to help out with things like debt, governance (and) strategy where appropriate if they need it, if they feel clubs are under-resourced around that area. I think that’s where the handouts should stop,”
The bottom-placed Blues play Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
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