Former St Kilda chief Brian Waldron has explained how a draft pick swap between Carlton and Hawthorn has come back to haunt the Blues in this year’s NAB AFL Trade Period.
With the Blues failing to find an adequate selection to offload to Greater Western Sydney for Matthew Kennedy, Waldron has pondered why Carlton traded their 2017 second rounder to Hawthorn, a trade which has yet to provide them a benefit.
In order to acquire the picks the Giants want for Kennedy, Waldron is of the notion a trade for Bryce Gibbs may be necessary.
“Last year, for whatever reason, no one ever understood why Carlton gave their future second round draft pick and got back in return picks 47, 65 and 70,” he told SEN’s Hungry For Sport.
“Pick 47 gave them Harrison Macreadie, he is okay, 65 was Patrick Kerr, who we haven’t seen yet, and they didn’t even use pick 70. Now they don’t have a second rounder.
“For whatever reason, we all thought they were doing a sweetheart deal with Hawthorn to get something in return. What that is, we haven’t seen. What it means is there is no second round pick they can use to get Kennedy, which has caused a real problem.
“The only thing they can do is trade someone out to get some picks. The logical player to trade out is Gibbs. Gibbs is in play, which would give them 10 and 16, and Adelaide will also probably get 18 for Charlie Cameron if they want to do it. Gibbs won’t come out and say he wants to go because how can he do it twice? He can’t.
“The problem they’ve got with Kennedy, and they want Kennedy, but the problem they’ve got with Kennedy is Brisbane want him as well. Brisbane has got the first pick in the preseason draft, and don’t put it past GWS to just say to Kennedy, we couldn’t get the deal done, off you go. I don’t think Kennedy will say to Brisbane, I’m unhappy to come and play there.”
Furthermore, Waldron revealed the relationship between GWS boss Dave Matthews and Blues’ list manager Stephen Silvagni, isn’t “great,” adding, “they’re not friends.”
Another issue Carlton has to manage is the position of coach Brendon Bolton, especially if another losing season is on the cards.
“The other problem that comes into play is Brendon Bolton,” Waldron said.
“If he losses Gibbs, he thinks, where do I fit into this? If you take Gibbs away from me, and you put more kids in, you better be prepared for another rebuild.
“I understand internally at Carlton there are lots of discussions about what are we actually doing.”