It’s hard to believe that we might have cap problems just 2 years after under paying.

If we lose players due to cap position Austin needs to go

Mark Stevens reporting we are shopping Zac Williams around. Wtf.

Feel like Jackson deal gets done, which unlocks the Lobb and Logue trades, and then you probably sort out Acres, Hill and Henry from there.
If that stalls, and given Freo have no second or third round pick this year, hopefully that order gets reversed, and deal gets done for a second round pick.

Pick 10 and the Jones pick (assuming it's start of 3rd) for Pick 13 if it syncs up with the intel on who we'd want to draft first is probably the best outcome?

Interesting take by Buckenara . He thinks we are in a Premiership window in the next 3 to 5 years . He rates our list highly so understandable . Reckon he is close to the mark and really we don't have any excuses . Time is now .

LIST NEEDS

Talented genuine footballers, with skills, competitiveness and footy smarts are what they should continue to add.

The ruck stocks are thin and need attention but I must say Marc Pittonet has really improved and hopefully he can have some luck after his PCL injury, and changes his technique at centre bounces to avoid any future recurrences.

Tom De Koning is a couple of years away from playing his best footy but that probably won’t be as a sole ruck. His versatility is his strength but Pittonet’s injury certainly hampered the Blues.

They need a bit of experience to help the group take the next step. They’re in the window and have the chance to win a flag within the next five years, so a premiership/veteran player from another club would boost their hopes.

TRADE TARGETS

More midfield class and some ruck depth to assist Pittonet are the key priorities during the trade period. A player like Karl Amon or Brad Hill would be ideal targets for the midfield while Rory Lobb would also add another forward/ruck option. Those three players are looking likely to go to other clubs, so Carlton must get creative. If Luke Jackson finds his way to the Dockers, then the Blues should make room for Sean Darcy and promise him the No.1 ruck role. They’d need to weigh up whether he’s better than Pittonet, but if Darcy wants out then the Blues should be a suitor. Or Darcy’s understudy in Lloyd Meek could be a cheaper alternative given the Blues’ cap space will understandably be tight.

The Blues are set to grab Blake Acres from Fremantle, which is an interesting move. I thought Acres’ form for St Kilda was ordinary but he has developed his game a lot at the Dockers. He comes back to Melbourne a more complete player. He doesn’t have the same ball using ability as Amon but he’s got games under his belt. I’m not sure he’s a walk-up start but it’s a smart ‘Moneyball’ type pick to add to their wing depth.

After compo picks and academy/father son picks, our second round would be around there.

Pick 28 is way over for Acres.

Potential for McStay, DeGoey, Heppell, Amon, Johannisen free agent compensation.
Rowston, Ashcroft, Madden, Walter, possibly Keeler academy or father/son selections.
Throw in a potential Norf priority pick.

28 could become as low as 39 very quickly.

Potential for McStay, DeGoey, Heppell, Amon, Johannisen free agent compensation.
Rowston, Ashcroft, Madden, Walter, possibly Keeler academy or father/son selections.
Throw in a potential Norf priority pick.

28 could become as low as 39 very quickly.

Yeah, that's probably where I expect it to land too.

Other thing is that it's probably unlikely we'd use two picks in the national draft at this point. 36 on the senior list currently. Acres takes that up to 37. You probably delist Fogarty, and re-rookie Setterfield. One pick in the draft leaves you with 36 senior list and 6 category A rookies.

They will, however, be able to shift players on the senior list to the rookie list in the time between the national and rookie drafts if the player is contracted for 2022.