AFL Trades 2024: Carlton pulls off trade stunner, now has nervous wait until draft night

A midfield of dreams. That’s what Blues fans are hoping for after their bold move up the draft order. And on paper it makes so much sense in their premiership chase, writes JON RALPH.

Michael Voss, Senior Coach of the Blues.

Carlton fans are doing cartwheels right now.

Proposing potential sites of the statue they plan to erect in the likeness of list boss Nick Austin.

On face value a club about to nail pick 3 in the national draft from nowhere looks to have done spectacularly well.

Carlton has given up a player it didn’t want (Matt Owies), a second-round draft pick that might have been swallowed up in father-son bids, pick 12 and a future first-rounder.

All in the hopes of securing Sam Walsh’s second cousin Finn O’Sullivan as the fleet-footed onballer it believes can round out a midfield of its dreams.

And hopefully deliver it that elusive flag.

On paper it makes so much sense.

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Carlton knew it didn’t need mid to late picks in this trade period given it only needed enough points to secure a pick for Ben Camporeale in the 30s and one even later for twin brother Luke.

It knew it had stockpiled enough kids in the likes of Jaxon Binns, Jesse Motlop, Elijah and Ollie Holland, Ashton Moir, Corey Durdin and Brodie Kemp that it didn’t need five more youngsters, it just needed top-shelf class.

And it was prepared to trade out its future first-rounder and second-rounders (bringing in Brisbane’s second-rounder to comply with AFL rules) because it had such a critical mass of players 27 and under.

Matt Owies is headed to the Eagles. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Bidding later in the second round of the 2025 national draft wasn’t a worry for this club.

So with all those factors taken into consideration, Austin and his recruiting boss Mick Agresta were happy to try to roll the dice on a series of moves.

They swapped their 2024 second-rounder for the Lions’ future second-rounder, swapped their future first and seconds for Hawthorn’s pick 14, and on Tuesday traded 12 and 14 for the Eagles No.3 overall pick (pick 14 going to Richmond, which handed Liam Baker to West Coast).

Small forward Owies gets thrown into the mix, and the Blues get picks 63 and 68 but give West Coast pick 73 all in the aid of getting a few more points for the Camporeale bid.

The huge caveat is this – can they actually guarantee they will get O’Sullivan given Richmond and North Melbourne have picks ahead of them?

And is he as good as advertised considering so many clubs like the Eagles are prepared to shuffle back in this draft because they believe it is so even.

O’Sullivan has had a horror run with injury this year, but no one denies his talent.

He has a well-rounded game, he kicks goals, he takes overhead marks, he has explosive speed.

He just hasn’t had those huge breakout games or big possession tallies this year.

Finn O’Sullivan is in Carlton’s sights on draft night. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

In his VFL game with Richmond he kicked two goals but won only 12 possessions.

In four Vic Country games coming off finger and thumb injury the Koroit kid averaged only 17 touches and three clearances.

So the Blues will have to hope the Tigers and Roos take Sam Lalor and Jagga Smith ahead of him and then see O’Sullivan realise his upside as a damaging player who finished the year well.

He kicked 3.2 (from 18 touches) and 2.0 from (20 touches) in his final two Coates League games in a strong finish to the year.

So while he might not be a big possession winner, the Blues will believe he can change games off 15 touches.

Carlton traded away future picks for Liam Stocker and Brodie Kemp with only limited success.

This time around the fans are fully on board.

So get the party poppers and streamers ready, Carlton fans.

Then hold on tight until draft night as Richmond and North Melbourne assess who they will take with the two picks ahead of Carlton.