CARLTON coach Brendon Bolton has called on the AFL to consider whether the current free agency mechanisms are helping or hindering equalisation.
The Blues look poised to request draft assistance in the form of a priority pick later this year, after a brutal 104-point loss to the Crows on Saturday night condemned the club to its worst season in 117 years.
The club had already secured the wooden spoon ahead of its round 23 encounter, its fifth last-placed finish in 17 seasons.
CROWS FEAST ON BLUES Full match details and stats
But while much of the debate around how the AFL can help fast-track rebuilds has revolved around priority picks, Bolton questioned whether there needs to be a wider discussion centred on player movement.
"My big feeling, irrespective of our club, is mechanisms in place generally that allow the competition to be as even as possible," Bolton said.
"I think supporters and all clubs like that. So how and what that looks like, I think there's many things. I don't think it's just about us talking about assistance.
"What does free agency look like? Does it support those at the top so that it just keeps reinforcing that? I think it's a bit broader than just that priority pick conversation. I think this is a broader topic that the AFL needs to consider.
"We've made some really Carlton-first decisions in the last few years. There is some lag in that when you go young and you've got to rebuild, you can only look at other clubs. It takes time. But you also don't want the gap to get totally ridiculous in our competition.
"I think it's broader than just priority picks, it might include free agency and some other mechanisms that are being discussed at the moment."
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Free agency has typically benefited the AFL's more successful clubs, with Sydney (Lance Franklin), Hawthorn (James Frawley) and Geelong (Scott Selwood) benefiting from its introduction in recent years.
A similar situation looms this season, with Gold Coast's star forward Tom Lynch tipped to join reigning premiers Richmond after announcing he would exercise his free agency rights.
But while Bolton does not believe Carlton's two-win campaign will thwart its ability to sell the club to potential trade targets and free agents, he did concede that it may make it harder.
WATCH Brendon Bolton's full post-match media conference
"Internally, we've got a really strong vibe," Bolton said.
"That doesn't mean we're satisfied, or that it's all calm and calculated all of the time – there's high rigour and challenge. But it's a place where people know that it's real.
"What's challenged needs to be challenged, and that which needs to be celebrated gets celebrated. So, it's a place where people grow, not only as footballers.
"When you create an environment like that and potential trade targets understand it, I think you can get them through the door.
"But there are some challenges with that, because some people want instantaneous success. I understand that, and that's the conversation I had about the free agency scenario."
