Carlton continue to work on deals for lachie whitfield and flynn riley
Written by Marcus Guarnera
Carlton will have plenty to do before the trade period closes on Wednesday, as the Blues are still hoping to trade for Lachie Whitfield. Flynn Riley is also expected to leave Carlton as he has requested a trade to join Collingwood next season. However, Carlton won’t give him up easy according to Callum Twomey and Riley Beveridge via AFL.com.au.
Carlton have suggested a pick swap with Collingwood that would allow the Blues to move up in the draft. This would see Carlton move from their current pick 13 to Collingwood’s current first-round pick, number 11. This was turned down by Collingwood, but Carlton are still setting a high price for Riley - due to the fact he was drafted only four months ago and they offered him a two year contract to stay at Ikon Park.
Collingwood currently also holds pick 30 and 67. Carlton would likely see pick 67 as too low to complete a deal for Riley while the Pies would see pick 30 as too high which, could mean that Collingwood will have to trade a future pick. However Carlton want draft assets for this years draft.
This could be the same reason that Carlton have been hesitant to trade a first-round pick this year to for Lachie Whitfield. GWS continue to ask for a first round pick for Whitfield, which the Blues are still yet to offer. Carlton have offered both picks 25 and 26 individually, and have reportedly offered both picks together for Whitfield and either pick 28 or 31 but this has reportedly been turned down.
There is still a high level of confidence that Carlton will be able to land Whitfield before the trade deadline, even though the deal has some way to go to be completed. The deal will also depend on how Carlton’s draft hand changes as they could try to trade for pick 5 from Port Adelaide. Port are hoping to trade the pick as their other selections, pick 7 and 12 would be enough to match a bid for their academy prospect Dougie Cochrane.
Richmond are seemingly keen on trading for that pick 5 together with Essendon and North Melbourne. For Carlton if they are to trade for pick 5, they could use either of their first-round selections, along side pick 25 and 26 at the beginning of the second round. If this isn’t enough to complete a trade, Carlton hold both theirs and the Sydney Swan’s first-round pick next year or their own first-round pick in 2028.
