Should the Blues go big in 2023 draft to rebuild flailing list?

What will Carlton’s list look like in 2024? The club faces some big calls on its 17 out of contract players this off-season. See who they are and the likely outcome.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 11: The Blues look dejected after losing the round 13 AFL match between Carlton Blues and Essendon Bombers at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on June 11, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Carlton has been urged to convert its only top-50 draft pick into as many as four top-20 selections to regenerate its list and give coach Michael Voss the best chance to save his job next season.

The Blues hold picks No. 4, 58, 67 and 76 and have 17 players who fall out of contract with their finals hopes for 2023 almost extinguished after eight losses in nine games.

Rival clubs on Monday suggested the Blues should split No. 4 into two first-rounders, trade their future first-round pick into this year’s draft and possibly acquire a fourth early selection for Tom De Koning if he requests a trade to Geelong, St Kilda or Sydney.

Trading their future first-rounder would be wise because they will likely match bids for father-sons Ben and Lucas Camporeale next year.

Tom De Koning’s future has been the subject of much speculation. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

However others cautioned that five of this year’s top prospects were already tied to clubs — three Suns academy players plus father-sons Jordan Croft (Western Bulldogs) and Will McCabe (Hawthorn).

List expert Chris Pelchen endorsed the multiplying strategy overpackaging picks for a play at No. 1 Harley Reid because the Blues must plug several holes.

Pelchen was bullish on Carlton’s list, declaring it had more upside over the next five years than Geelong.

“Looking at the premier’s top end talent and comparing the two lists, Carlton have actually got the higher top end talent,” he said.

“People will say what about Paddy Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Tom Stewart and (Mark) Blicavs? No doubt that’s top-end talent.

“But look at the ages of those guys and in the next five years most of those players are going to be gone. That’s not the case for Carlton.

“There will be a lot of alarmists out there, but this list is in sound condition and can go forward quickly

“That’s why I think there’s more to it than a list issue – whether some of their players are carrying injuries or there’s an issue on game plan, I don’t know. But it goes deeper than the list.”

Pelchen said Jacob Weitering and Charlie Curnow were among the game’s best bookends and Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra led a midfield that was in the upper echelon.

“They’ve got the key building blocks to win a premiership,” Pelchen said.

“What they don‘t have is players who play on the periphery, and they’re generally utility players. They need more players, both forward and back, who unnerve or provide uncertainty to the opposition.

“Players who have a weapon in speed or kicking efficiency.”

Pelchen said Adam Saad ticked that box, but they needed a quarterback defender in Grant Birchall’s mould and multiple dynamic forwards such in the ilk of Cyril Rioli or Kysaiah Pickett.

“The issues that need correcting in my opinion are actually issues which other clubs already have strengths in,” he said.

“They’re the easiest to fix.”

Pelchen says the Blues have no issue with their high-end talent. Photo by Michael Klein.

Sydney star Tom Papley’s trade request to Carlton failed in 2019 while Pelchen said free agent Jade Gresham (St Kilda) could be a target.

Jack Martin returned on Sunday night while Zac Williams will return from a knee injury next year.

But Pelchen said the Blues had not got bang for buck for Mitch McGovern or Harry McKay and they faced tough decisions on both players, who are on about $800,000 this year.

McGovern falls out of contract while McKay’s salary will spike when his seven-year deal starts next season.

“They don’t give them enough for the talent they’ve had and the contracts they’ve demanded,” Pelchen said.

“Weitering and Curnow are players you can build a premiership around. So their second key position players (McGovern and McKay) both forward and back, they’re not getting a big enough return from for the investment.”

McGovern’s big deal to come to the Blues has not come to fruition. Photo by Michael Klein.

Leg speed has emerged as a key issue for the Blues and critics said they brought in George Hewett, Lachie Fogarty and Cerra having already seen that Cripps, Paddy Dow, Matthew Kennedy and Will Setterfield appeared too slow as a unit.

The need for speed could help David Cuningham survive.

Young talls Hudson O’Keeffe and Domanic Akuei are likely to stay but injury-prone players Sam Durdin, Caleb Marchbank and McGovern face uphill battles along with the out-of-favour Dow.