Carlton coach Michael Voss has ruled out making a play for the out of contract Magpie Jordan De Goey, stressing that the Blues are committed to their long-term strategy.
De Goey's current contract with the Pies ends at the end of 2023, with the club reportedly withdrawing a lucrative offer after recent off-field indiscretions.
Several clubs have been linked to the 26-year-old, but Voss revealed the Blues wouldn't be trying to lure the Pie to Ikon Park.
“That won’t be happening for us,” Voss said to media on Friday.
“We’ve been pretty clear on what our long-term draft strategy is, so we’re not going to deviate off that. We are obviously clearly still in a list-build phase despite what we’re actually doing this year.
“We still take a really long-term approach. You asked me the question about De Goey, but I’d prefer to sort of more answer it around what we’re trying to build towards, so it’s not so much about him specifically.”
Voss' comments come days after Saints coach Brett Ratten spoke on the potential recruitment of De Goey, saying that the club would do their research on the 130-gamer before any possible trade.
“We’d have to do our homework and have a look at exactly what has happened and taking all the evidence as you do when you bring in any player, especially opponents from another club,” Ratten said on Wednesday.
“You’re looking at the on-field performance, and you’re looking at what you’re trying to build as a football club and culture and that as well. So we take in both sides of the equation, and then we make decisions around there and all those free agents will be singled out and sort of maybe targeting one or two, if it’s possible.
“We do assess everything they do on and off the field.”
Carlton currently hold picks 14, 32, 61, 68 in the 2022 AFL draft.