If every AFL team could steal one player: Carlton Blues

Carlton exploded out of the blocks in season 2022 and looked every inch like a top-four side for the first half of the season. At their best, they were scintillating and irresistible, yet as the season wore on, things took a turn.

Injuries and form hit them at the worst possible moment, stalling their momentum and bringing them back to the peloton chasing the top four.

The Blues have addressed a number of key areas over the last few years, namely inside midfield grunt with Adam Cerra and George Hewett, while a resurgent Matt Kennedy was a nice cherry on top.

This year the target has been outside run to take the pressure off star Sam Walsh, with the Blues acquiring Blake Acres at the trade table and Oliver Hollands at the draft with Pick 11.

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They finished just outside the top eight, with a couple of winnable games being the difference in the end between a finals run and a season that ended in frustration. While not the ideal scenario for Carlton fans, there's no doubt this club is heading in the right direction.

List Needs

Key position defender depth was an issue that blighted the Blues this season. The loss of Liam Jones has hurt and injuries to key position personnel decimated their backline, resulting in their season veering off course.

Jacob Weitering is so important to this team, some depth in this area to support him is essential. While the Blues have the likes of Lewis Young, Lachie Plowman, Caleb Marchbank and Mitch McGovern in this area, every one of them has had his injury concerns.

Without a reliable option to take the pressure off Weitering, the Blues were exposed at times and in the mid-season draft were forced to give lifelines to the likes of Sam Durdin. That's not to denigrate Durdin, more to highlight the disastrous spate of injuries they copped.

While the injury curse in the backline caused headaches, the Blues have other areas they could address. Ruck depth appears to be one where they could come up short if things go wrong.

There's no doubt Tom De Koning will be a star and Marc Pittonet is serviceable but they could use some experienced grunt in the ruck and around the ground to give their A-grade midfielders first use.

Should injury hit one of these two the Blues are pretty light on with reinforcements to call upon, so a reliable ruckman with a big tank fits the bill.

Finally, they're lacking a wealth of small-forward craft at the moment. With two of the most exciting big men in the game, the forward line is already seriously dangerous, however an extra dimension would make them top-four contenders.

This is nothing new for the Blues, it's an area they have wanted to address for a while. They took the first steps in the right direction by drafting Jesse Motlop, who looks exactly like the player they need. Perhaps just a bit more experience is what's required.

Here are four options the Blues would love to steal in an exercise that takes salary caps and other restrictions out of the equation, and a verdict one which player is most needed.

SEE ALSO: IF RICHMOND COULD STEAL ONE PLAYER

Sam De Koning

The younger De Koning fits a need and his age profile is perfect, not to mention that his brother is already at Carlton.

After a breakout year where he established himself as the brightest young defensive talent in the competition, he'd be on most clubs' wish lists.

Given he can lock down or play as an intercept defender, De Koning has the versatility that the Blues could depend on and build around, while at just 21 years old he is a premiership player and already looks like he'll be a star of the competition for the next decade at least.

For one so young, his stats make for impressive reading. In his 23 games in 2022 he averaged 5.2 marks per game, 2.5 rebound 50's and is ranked 10th in the competition for total intercepts. Those are numbers any club would love.

Reilly O'Brien

As mentioned, Carlton are not in dire straights in this area, however Tom De Koning still has some development left in him and Pittonet has his limitations. O'Brien fits the needs for right now, while his durability is something that can't be ignored.

He could offer support for De Koning while he continues to break out, adding aerial grunt around the ground without necessarily having to go forward. The midfield is there to be a top-four side, so first use is crucial, something that O'Brien's competitiveness, strength and tap work would help deliver.

In season 2022 he averaged 37 hit-outs, which made him the number two ranked player in both total hit-outs and hit-outs per game. His marking and disposal numbers were down this year however he has shone in the past he put up strong numbers in these areas as well.

Putting all of that together paints a pretty clear picture and it's not difficult to see how the Blues could benefit from him, as could most clubs.

Tom Papley

It may be an obvious one but it's obvious for a reason. Carlton have already made a major play for the gun small forward and given the opportunity they would gladly take him. Papley is almost the best in business when it comes to small-forward craft.

He brings X-factor, nous, competitiveness and class to a Swans side that made it all the way to the big dance. Having already drafted Motlop, the Blues would dearly love a gun All-Australian quality small forward to help him develop into the A grader he looks destined to be.

With 15.3 disposals, 1.7 goals, 1.9 tackles and 3.3 inside 50's per game in season 2022, he was ranked fifth in goal assists per game and ninth in total goal assists, yet Papley's value is much more than stats.

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He is a big moment player, someone who loves to get under the opposition's skin and lift his teammates at the same time. He would be warmly welcomed at Princess Park.

Jake Lever

A premiership star, the Demons targeted him heavily for a reason and Carlton would love his intercept ability at the club.

As one of the premier key defenders in the competition, a combination with Weitering would be mouth-watering for Blues fans.

Lever appears to have put his injury woes behind him and has been nothing if not consistent across the past few seasons. At Carlton, Lever could essentially play the same role he does for the Demons as the Blues' chief interceptor.

Since his career began, the lowest marks per game Lever has averaged is 4.4, while his best season in 2019 saw him average 6.9 marks per game, with a career average of 5.3.

It's not hard to imagine that Lever would slot in seamlessly at the Blues, giving them the chance to become genuine premiership contenders purely by being in their lineup.

Verdict

While another shot at Tom Papley would give the Blues some extra spice in their forward third, and the services of Reilly O'Brien would hand Carlton's dazzling midfield group a greater chance of attaining the Sherrin, Michael Voss would love to bolster his backline as the Blues plot a finals return.

Carlton would've strongly considered a key defender when they entered the draft this year, however opted for the aforementioned Hollands to boost their wider midfielder stocks.

Both Sam De Koning and Jake Lever bring a wide range of capabilities as key defenders, but with the Blues in a win-now window and Lever likely to complement the lies of Weitering and Young, the Demons star gets the nod.

Arguably the best intercept target in the league, the addition of Lever would see Carlton's planned rise to premiership contention accelerated.