According to The Age, the AFL is set to give struggling clubs Gold Coast and Carlton first access to state league players as a means of “special assistance”.
These players would have to be within the salary cap and it’s likely no extra list spots will be granted, but it’s something these clubs should take full advantage of.
Carlton in particular has a glaring need for players in the 23 to 26 age bracket – as they’ve repeatedly stated – and should grab this opportunity with both hands.
However, the Blues also own an unwanted history of having players in this category under their nose and letting them slip through their fingers.
Kane Lambert is the obvious example. The Tiger finished third in Richmond's best and fairest in a premiership side and spent multiple years playing for the Northern Bullants/Blues in the VFL from 2011 to 2013.
For whatever reason, Carlton deemed him not good enough to warrant a chance, but to be fair, 16 other clubs passed on him as well.
Another example is Billy Gowers, who Carlton had rookie listed, but cut at the end of 2016.
He got a second chance playing for Footscray in the VFL and was picked up by the Western Bulldogs this year. Gowers has kicked 22 goals across 18 games and the talent is obvious.
The Blues used him in the midfield and across half-back in the VFL, but never got the best out of him.
Carlton list boss Stephen Silvagni will be the first to admit the club’s previous regimes never put much stock into the draft and player development, and although that is changing, the Blues have glaringly missed a few in their own backyard.
Nick Holman up on the Gold Coast is another example.
With the Blues set to be one of the teams given priority access to the current group of mature age players, it therefore makes sense for them to look within their own club for potential targets first.
They have a number of players in the Northern Blues side who would be worthy of consideration at AFL level as well.
The player seemingly of greatest interest to the Blues is defender and vice-captain Mason Blakey who is quickly proving to be an AFL-calibre lockdown defender.
Blakey is given jobs on AFL listed players every week and is rarely beaten. On top of that, Carlton has a desperate need for a defender who can shut down small forwards.
They have rebounding defenders with Sam Docherty, Ciaran Byrne, Tom Williamson, Dale Thomas and Kade Simpson, but none are what you’d consider lockdown or defensive types.
Blakey fits that bill and at only 19, has his whole career ahead of him. He has already caught the attention of those that matter at Ikon Park.
Carlton has another three players in their VFL side who they’d have to consider before looking elsewhere.
Jesse Palmer is another who has turned heads at VFL level after his three years at Port Adelaide came to an end.
He joined the Northern Blues this year and has averaged nearly two goals per game, 14 disposals and five marks.
Carlton has tried a number of players in that small forward role, but is yet to really find someone to make it their own.
Former Sydney rookie Sam Fisher has had an incredible second half of 2018 and has averaged 21 disposals, six clearances and kicked nine goals in his last eight appearances.
Fisher was signed as a Category B rookie by the Swans in 2016 and at 20 has plenty of development ahead of him.
Finally, there’s Northern Blues captain Tom Wilson who has been a long-time servant of the club and a multi best and fairest winner.
Wilson is the heart and soul of Preston City Oval and continues to show he’s elite at state level.
He’s averaged 24 disposals and seven clearances (ranked third in the competition) this year and the question obviously becomes whether that would translate to AFL standard.
The 26-year-old is frequently compared to Lambert as a player continually overlooked who simply needs someone to take a chance on him.
Comparing the two, Lambert is a better athlete, but Wilson is the superior kick and is better on the inside of stoppages.
Lambert got his chance and his making the most of it, while the Blues don’t seem to have any real interest in rolling the dice on their VFL skipper.
They rookie listed defender Cameron O’Shea this year after he won the Northern Blues’ best and fairest in 2017, so clearly they are paying attention. It’s unlikely O’Shea will remain on the list next year, but he was absolutely worth a shot.
Regardless, the Blues would be remiss not to consider Wilson or the others if they do get this early state level access.
Of course, there are others elsewhere who will be equally worthy of consideration if the AFL does grant Carlton access to these players, but it’s fair to say Blues fans will be a little cross if someone else grabs a Mason Blakey and turns him into a regular starter.
They’ve read that script before.
Listen to Terry Wallace and Andy Maher discuss the VFL players worthy of another chance below.