MICK Malthouse has refuted criticism of Carlton's recruiting this year, saying the Blues' decision to trade their first-round draft pick had netted them three "fantastic" players for the price of one.
Carlton traded pick No.7 to Greater Western Sydney in October for highly touted key-position player Kristian Jaksch, midfielder Mark Whiley and pick No.19.
The Blues then used pick No. 19 to draft 21-year-old Swans Districts midfielder Blaine Boekhorst, the first mature-age player selected in this year's NAB AFL Draft and a selection that raised eyebrows among some opposition recruiters.
But Malthouse told Carlton's annual general meeting on Thursday night that it was important to judge the Blues' trade with GWS on the entirety of what it had delivered to the club.
"There is always going to be criticism of some description about giving up your first pick," Malthouse said at Visy Park.
"Mark was touted as a throwaway. Is he just a 'stack-on' for the numbers? No way. If anyone has watched enough footage you can see the type of job that I want him to do and we as a match committee want him to do.
"Then you look at Blaine and I look at that video and I know it's only highlights, you never see lowlights, but it's full of highlights and he's the type of player we need.
"So these three lads are going to be fantastic. I feel very excited about this group here and the No.1 thing I think we've got to look at is they're our No.1 pick, not one player but three, a trilogy.
"I think they're all capable of playing and have a fantastic opportunity to play a lot of senior football at this football club and I'm so excited about it.
Malthouse also had high hopes for former Western Bulldogs forward Liam Jones.
The Carlton coach said Jones had struggled with the weight of playing as the Bulldogs' principal forward for much of his 66-game career at the Whitten Oval.
But he said Jones had special traits that could see him thrive with the support of fellow Blues tall forwards such as Lachie Henderson and Levi Casboult.
"Every now and again you come across things and you think I know this player. I've watched him now at training and I've seen one of the most explosive animals that I've ever seen and I mean that – he is totally explosive," Malthouse said.
"It would be fair to say Liam also has, I think, a very odd approach to the ball in the air, which to simplify it is more a 'long jump'.
"We will practise and practise the 'high jump', where he is able to hit the ball better, from a better distance and at a better height, and actually lands where the ball is going to fall.
"I've got the utmost faith that Liam will make a massive impact for us."
Earlier on Thursday night, Carlton cut its maximum board size from 13 to 10 directors when an overwhelming majority of about 300 members voted in favour of a special resolution to change the club's constitution.
The special resolution also established an independent nominations committee, consisting of club president Mark LoGiudice, John Davies and Andrew Mansour, to scrutinise applicants for the board, and expanded the eligibility criteria for club directors.
LoGiudice also announced that directors Zac Fried, Adrian Gleeson and Jeanne Pratt had all been re-elected unopposed.
