Gerard Whateley believes Carlton would have “buyer’s remorse” over the high-profile recruitment of Zac Williams.
The 26-year-old signed with the club at the end of last year as a restricted free agent from GWS, but has largely struggled and has since been moved back to defence after originally been slated to play more midfield minutes.
Carlton coach David Teague conceded this week that Williams needed to “get fitter” if he wanted to keep up with the demands of senior footy.
“It’s a tough game and it requires a lot of you and (Zac Williams has) had quite a few little niggles and an interrupted season,” he said this week.
“We think that there’s still a lot of upside there, we think he can get fitter and he’ll become a good player for this football club in the long term.”
Whateley said Williams was performing in line with his recent form at the Giants, saying Carlton shouldn’t be surprised by his output so far.
“Carlton abandoned their protectionism around Zac Williams this week,” he said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“David Teague made it public that he’s not as fit as he should be and they can’t play him (in the midfield) where they wanted to play him.
“The other side of that is he’s exactly what Carlton has bought, they had an idea in his mind that he was going to be more but so far, he’s exactly what they have bought.
“He can’t play lengthy midfield periods just like he couldn’t at his previous club, there was one or two games to suggest he could do, but on wet days.
“They bought exactly this and now they’re lamenting it, they have buyer’s remorse despite all the evidence that says this is exactly who he is.”
Williams has averaged 18.7 touches from his 10 games in Carlton colours so far, having missed matches through suspension and injury during his maiden season at the club.