Carlton are right in the premiership mix this year and could be one list piece away from going that extra step or two in the coming years.
Come the trade and free agency period, the Victorian powerhouse may look toward sharpening its spear and add medium or smaller-framed forwards who can support their threatening Coleman Medal-winning combination of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.
The Blues are also keen to add to their draft hand this year instead of moving on picks given their ties to father-son duo Lucas and Ben Camporeale, meaning free agents and cheaper trade deals will be preferred.
With a handful of suitable targets still without deals for next season, we've named five potential targets for Carlton to consider this off-season.
OTHER TRADE TARGETS: ADELAIDE, BRISBANE, COLLINGWOOD
2. Tyson Stengle
A move for the Cats forward would be an aggressive one from the Blues, but given their need for more ground-level threats in the front half and the fact Stengle is an unrestricted free agent, it's a move worth considering.
With suggestions Carlton's high-end players are open to shifting their contracts around to accommodate the club's list planning, they could potentially find space in their salary cap to secure Stengle.
It'd require some wiggle room, but the benefit of not having to cough up draft capital for Stengle could be worth the inflated price stage that would come with the All-Australian forward compared to other targets.
Stengle looks more likely to remain at Kardinia Park, but it's worth asking the question given he's still unsigned in the second half of the season.
