Caleb Marchbank wants to join Carlton during AFL trade period

CARLTON believes it can set up its defensive stocks for the next decade after GWS key back Caleb Marchbank nominated the Blues as his club of choice.

Caleb Marchbank will depart the Giants. Picture: Colleen Petch.

CARLTON believes it can set up its defensive stocks for the next decade after GWS key back Caleb Marchbank nominated the Blues as his club of choice.

The Blues and Greater Western Sydney both confirmed this afternoon Marchbank wanted to get to Carlton after being taken at pick No.6 in the 2014 national draft.

Given his only setbacks have been injury-related Carlton will need to involve its No.5 draft selection to acquire him ahead of Collingwood, St Kilda and Essendon.

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But the Blues are desperate to stay high in the draft so they might ask for one of the Giants’ early picks back.

They had hoped they might package up Marchbank and Adam Tomlinson, but Tomlinson has decided to stay at GWS after an improved second half of the year.

Carlton list manager Stephen Silvagni said the Blues were ready to do the deal.

Jeff Garlett is tackled by Caleb Marchbank.

“The club will work closely with both Greater Western Sydney and Caleb’s management to come to a suitable arrangement,” Silvagni said in a statement.

At 193cm, Marchbank is a rebounding defender who would perfectly complement Carlton’s needs.

With last year’s No.1 pick Jacob Weitering, third tall Lachie Plowman, full-back Sam Rowe and running defenders including John Nicholls medallist Sam Docherty, their defensive needs are complete.

The Blues are confident in time they will also have a full assortment of key forwards as Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay and Jack Silvagni fill out after a single season with the Blues.

Carlton chief executive Steven Trigg had hoped the club could keep pick No.5 given the Blues know they need to keep bringing elite talent into the club.

But with so few key position defenders in the upcoming national draft and Marchbank keen the Blues could hardly pass up the opportunity.

Marchbank would add to Carlton’s contingent of former Giants that already includes Lachie Plowman, Kristian Jaksch, Mark Whiley, Andrew Phillips, Liam Sumner and Jed Lamb.