Carlton's potential trade plans have become clearer as the Blues now turn their attention to the off-season following their finals exit.
The Princes Park club managed an astounding run home to finish in the top four through a preliminary final placing and will now look to fine-tune their list for 2024 in the hope of going one, or two, steps further.
The coming weeks will see the Blues commence their list cullings as several fringe performers face an uncertain future, with each of David Cuningham,ย Paddy Dow,ย Sam Durdin,ย Josh Honey,ย Caleb Marchbank,ย Sam Philp and Lachie Plowmanย yet to sign new deals for next season.
Any potential departures will open list spots for draft selections or trade targets, with Carlton having been quiet on the latter among the rumour mill this year.
However, the Blues are said to have their sights on a former first-round pick in Gold Coast midfielder Elijah Hollands this year.
According toย SEN'sย Sam Edmund, the Blues are keen on bringing the contracted Suns onballer back to Victoria in a move that would see the 21-year-old reunite with his younger brother Ollie in the navy blue.
"Highly likely to leave. I think it is going to be Carlton," Edmund said of Hollands' status.
"The Blues might have Honey, Plowman, Dow, certainly Ed Curnow leaving.
"Elijah Hollands, there is an expectation they can nab him with a future pick to satisfy Gold Coast. He was Pick 7 in the 2020 draft, he's played only the 13 games in that time.
"For the right deal, my understanding is, Gold Coast would allow him to leave. Carlton obviously has the family link there, but it goes beyond that, they've got a real interest in the player.
"He missed his draft year with that ACL injury. He was touted as a potential number one pick before that. A largely untapped and unfulfilled talent.
"You'd have Carlton in the box seat to land with his brother Ollie."
Hollands, who was a key contributor in the Suns' VFL Grand Final win over Werribee on Sunday, isn't the only name tied to the Blues by Edmund, with off-contract Bulldogs defender Hayden Crozier also believed to be on Carlton's radar.
Crozier is yet to learn where his future lies at the Kennel and could be delisted by the Dogs in the coming weeks, with the Blues said to be ready to pounce on the former Fremantle forward.
Edmund detailed that Carlton have an interest in the Rowville junior, who could find his way to the Blues via the delisted free agency window.
"Hayden Crozier, who has fallen out of favour at the Whitten Oval in more recent times after crossing from Fremantle, some interest from Carlton here," Edmund added onย Whateley.ย
"That might yet be as a delisted free agent. It's hard to know what is going to happen there with Hayden Crozier, who is out of contract at the end of the year.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Carlton pursue him a little bit further come the coming weeks and months."
The trade period will commence Monday week on October 9, while delisted free agency will open and close on multiple occasions from Wednesday, November 1 through past the National Draft later that month.
