A MONTH after missing its man during the Telstra AFL Trade Period, Carlton has finally recruited long-term target Jack Martin for nothing at the NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft on Friday morning.
The Suns confirmed on Thursday night that they wouldn't be selecting Martin, a 97-game player with the club, with the first pick in the pre-season draft. It enabled the classy midfielder to walk to the Blues with the third pick shortly after.
Martin, 24, requested a trade from Gold Coast to Carlton ahead of the exchange period earlier in the year, but the two clubs were unable to reach an agreement before the October 16 deadline.
Hello, is it me you're looking for? #BoundByBlue pic.twitter.com/4n77Cl79lw
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) November 29, 2019
It left the West Australian's future up in the air for more than a month, before the Blues were finally able to pounce on the talented and versatile 186cm prospect who had spent the last six seasons at Metricon Stadium.
Martin was one of two players selected in the pre-season draft, with Hawthorn also pouncing on former Essendon defender Michael Hartley later in the morning.
As reported by AFL.com.au earlier this month, the Hawks leapt at the chance to grab the hardened 198cm key defender after he delisted himself from the Bombers at the start of November.
Hartley played 44 games for Essendon across four years, having also spent two seasons on Collingwood's rookie list earlier in his career.