http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-pre ... 7551115724Quote:
CARLTON will not get an ideal Weitering-Schache package at the draft after its request for a priority pick was rejected by the AFL, but it is still set to lock away its long-term bookends.
The Blues are poised to take 195cm defender Jacob Weitering with pick one at the draft and will target 21-year-old GWS backman Lachie Plowman via a trade.
The 192cm Plowman is one of four GWS youngsters that has been tipped to arrive at Princes Park during next month’s exchange period, joining midfielder Liam Sumner, forward Jed Lamb and ruckman Andrew Phillips.
Blues list chief Stephen Silvagni, who spent four years at the Giants, is central to the club’s plans to secure the quartet.
He is an admirer of Plowman and recruited Lamb from Sydney in the 2013 pre-season draft.
However, Carlton’s head of football Andrew McKay poured cold water on reports the Blues could land all four players for a second-round pick, telling SEN: “Don’t believe everything you read.”
But it’s strongly tipped that a deal for the four Giants players will go through relatively early in the trade period.
“We’re interested in many players and obviously GWS has got some good players there,” McKay continued.
“We’d be silly if we didn’t have a brief look at their list and see if we can do something with those guys.”
Plowman has played only 20 games since being taken with pick three at the 2012 national draft, of which only two came in 2015.
Sumner, another top 10 pick, has managed just 12 games, while Phillips and Lamb have featured only 24 times for the Giants between them.
Meanwhile, Carlton is still hoping to stockpile draft picks this off-season and will aim to secure first-round selections for Lachie Henderson and Chris Yarran.
But the Blues will not trade highly rated forward Troy Menzel.
High picks for Henderson and Yarran could see Carlton land up to four top 20 picks at the draft, but the club may anticipate complications with both trades.
Geelong may be forced to use its first pick on Patrick Dangerfield, rather than Henderson, while Richmond could be reluctant to part with its first selection given Yarran’s waning form.