Essendon champion Tim Watson doesn’t understand why Carlton would dismiss the idea of trying to improve their list via a priority pick.
Blues CEO Cain Liddle has confirmed the club won’t be applying for the extra draft selection, and Watson is confused about why they would make such a statement when sitting in last position.
LIDDLE ON WHY BLUES DON'T WANT AFL HANDOUT
“Carlton aren’t interested in a priority pick, which I don’t think Carlton fans will be particularly happy with,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“If I’m with Carlton right now as a supporter, and say Carlton was Essendon, and they were dismissing the idea that they could actually improve their list by getting a priority pick, I’d be saying fool to you.
“If my club turned their back on the idea of improving themselves with a priority pick, I’d say fool to you.”
SEN Breakfast with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson can be heard Monday-Friday 6-9am, and you can subscribe to the podcast here.
The Herald Sun’s Sam Edmund made the point Carlton has all the ingredients of receiving the priority pick.
The criteria for a priority pick takes into account premiership points over a period of years (they’ve won 25 of 98 games), percentage year upon year (averaging 74 percent), finals appearances in recent seasons (last September match was 2013), any premierships, injury rates and more.
“They deserve one more than Brisbane did two years ago,” Edmund said.
“When you’re applying the criteria for this rule, then Carlton has every right to put their hands up to receive one.”