CARLTON will seek to lure some established talent to Ikon Park this off-season, according to outgoing football boss Andrew McKay.
With Rory Sloane's decision to remain in Adelaide, the Crows could hold the key to lighting up October's NAB AFL Trade Period in a bid to keep leading draft prospect Jack Lukosius in South Australia.
"I do know that Adelaide are desperate to have Lukosius go to them, local boy, very good player," McKay told Macquarie Sports Radio on Wednesday.
The Crows already hold two first-round picks in November's NAB AFL Draft but could be willing to construct an attractive package of picks to move to the top of the draft order.
THE 'OTHER' RUN HOME Who's getting the top picks?
While McKay insisted it was too early to discuss 'bundling picks up', he did confirm the Blues have a gap in their current list profile that they want to fill.
"We're in the window now where we're looking at free agency and getting some more mature trades in to balance up our list," he said.
"We've been to the draft the last three years getting good young players, but we're a bit light on through that 24 to 27 age bracket, so we need to strengthen that up a little bit.
"But we do need to still go to the draft, it's always really important that we do get one or two young players each year."
If the Blues stick to their guns and do use pick No.1 on Lukosius, he could be seen as a flight risk, with a potential to return home to South Australia in as soon as two years, but McKay says clubs have to back themselves.
"Certainly that's a consideration there, but you back your culture, basically," McKay said.
"If your culture's strong then a player's going to stay."
Carlton has had a disastrous season so far, recording just one win from 15 outings.
The Blues face St Kilda on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
Podcast: What a week of 'hard questions' means for the Blues
Find AFL Exchange on iTunes, Audioboom, Acast, Mixcloud or RSS.
