CARLTON is not expecting another dramatic list overhaul later this year, with the Blues set to persist with their plan of trying to find stability within their current developing group.

While the club remains set on targeting mature bodies in order to provide midfield support for young star Patrick Cripps, coach Brendon Bolton has warned supporters not to expect another round of mass changes during this year's trade and draft period.

Carlton has made 42 list changes in the three years since Bolton arrived at the club, but said last November that it would now attempt to maintain a settled squad going forward.

"We've had a lot of list changes over the last three years," list boss Stephen Silvagni said after the draft. "We need some stability on our list now. I wouldn't imagine we'd be making a lot of changes at the end of next season."

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Despite a difficult season in which the Blues have won just two matches, that message is still one Bolton expects the club to follow through with at season's end.

"I wouldn't like to put a number on it just yet," he said.

"Clearly on this build, we went that way to get the underbelly of young talent in, which we have. But there's been a real trade-off in that process that in the 22- to 27-year-old (age bracket), there's a gap. If possible, we do need to find players in that demographic, as well as draft.

"There is a cost to cutting a lot of players around cohesion, continuity, synergy – all of those words that people talk about that great teams have. There is a trade-off for that.

"We've just got to be mindful about how many. I wouldn't have thought there's double figures though, like we've had in the last two or three years."

Carlton has a number of experienced players coming out of contract at the end of this season, including Kade Simpson, Dale Thomas, Sam Rowe and Matt Wright.

While Bolton said the club hadn't opened contract discussions with those mature bodies just yet, he said he expects that process to begin in the coming weeks.

"We'll start those discussions probably now leading into the back end of the year," Bolton said.

"There's lots to talk through on any decision on whether or not guys stay or don't stay on a list. There's the obvious one around form, but then there's other things that people don't always see – the dynamic, the culture and how well they educate others.

"There's lots to take into account. There's also their own mind and body when they reach a certain age. All of those things, we'll be taking into account when we make those assessments and have conversations with players."

Carlton declared in May that it would not ask for a priority pick at season's end, but may backflip on its stance following a season where it is likely to claim its fifth wooden spoon in 17 years.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said on Monday that he would have no problem in the Blues asking for assistance at this year's NAB AFL Draft. However, Bolton was reluctant to talk about the possibility of applying for a priority pick.

"I know there's been so much conversation around that as a club, but I think you can really appreciate my stance here," Bolton said.

"I'm the coach of a footy club and I want to talk about performance and not be distracted at all. We've still got games to play, but I'm sure our club will revisit that at the end of the year.

"Early in the year – and still now – it's a season. You're not thinking or wanting to turn anyone's focus away from trying to perform and grow."