CARLTON is "open-minded" to trading for an experienced body at season's end, but insists it will not take a scattergun approach to its recruiting strategy, coach Brendon Bolton says.
The Blues have been steadfast in their plan of going to the draft over the last three years, building the foundation for the club's long-term future with seven first-round picks.
However, the Blues are now making no secret of their desire to top up their list with an experienced body in an effort to provide midfield support for young star Patrick Cripps.
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"We were in a position as a club a few years back where we needed to go to the draft," Bolton told reporters on Friday.
"The plan, which we haven't deviated from, was going to the draft. We've now had three solid drafts, in our opinion. That's building the underbelly of youth and talent.
"At the right time and with the right deal, we're open-minded to trading now. That was always the plan. But it's got to fit your salary cap, it's got to fit your plan, the type of player, it's not a scattergun approach.
"We need to make decisions for this football club that are in our long-term interests, not just the short-term."
Carlton's focus at the draft has turned to midfield depth recently, with the club recruiting Sam Petrevski-Seton with pick five in 2016 and securing Paddy Dow and Lochie O'Brien with top-10 selections last year.
However, having lost senior players such as Bryce Gibbs over recent years, much of the responsibility in the team's midfield has fallen on the shoulders of emerging star Cripps.
Finding support for the 23-year-old will subsequently be the club's main focus at season's end.
"There's no secret in that age bracket of our list build – that 22 to 26-year-old – we haven't got a lot in that space," Bolton said.
"We've got a lot from 18 to 21 that is really young and talented and we've got some older heads who have been around and who you've seen over a number of years.
"Over time, we've got to build that. That's a given."
Cripps has produced a fine season to date, leading the League for contested possessions and ranking second across the competition for clearances.
Nearly 70 per cent of the young midfielder's possessions this season have been contested, with Bolton confirming he finished the club's last match against Sydney feeling sore.
However, the Carlton coach does not believe more support will see Cripps change the way he plays, saying he will continue to attack each and every contest.
"Crippa loves it," Bolton said.
"If you're talking about our ability to rotate him out of there and move him forward, we'd do that with more midfield depth. But we manage him during the week exceptionally well and we make sure we take no risks.
"I think it's really difficult to manage Patrick on game day. What are you going to do, tell him to stay away from the contact? It's an impossibility. He'll play like that for the rest of his career.
"We haven't got a lot of people rotating through the midfield, but wherever he plays in whatever position, you can't hide Cripps and the way he plays, he crashes in."
