KEEPING options open. 

Carlton Head of List Management Nick Austin said the Blues would enter this year’s Continental Tyres Trade Period with an open mind, but with a focus on retaining a key presence in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft. 

After announcing the acquisition of Nick Haynes as a free agent on Friday, the Blues will enter trade period - which kicks off of Monday morning - with a view to bolstering their emerging talent. 

Mentioning that the Blues would look to improve their list “in any way possible”, Austin said the Blues would look to replenish after taking one player in the top 25 over the last four years. 

“Our first pick is in a really good spot, in a very even group but also with positions of need for our footy club. We’ll get stuck in and do the work, we think we’re going to get some pretty good players,” Austin said. 

“Clearly the draft is the priority but you never say never, we’ve got some flexibility with what we can do. We’ll go in with an open mind to see what happens, but anyway we can improve our list we’ll look to do that.”

That flexibility of course comes from the capacity to trade future picks, with Austin mentioning the Blues would be happy to shift 2025 selections into this year. 

With that comes the potential of either adding in more young talent, or giving Carlton more room to move for potential trades with other clubs, with contracted Port Adelaide player Dan Houston linked with a return to Victoria. 

“All our future picks are on the table. We’re looking to improve our hand this year, not only for the draft but to potentially provide flexibility in trade time . . . Our priority is improve our draft hand for 2024 as best we can. 

“Dan’s a very good player . . . A contracted player at Port Adelaide, a fair bit to work through. We’ll head into the trade period with an open mind.”

For Austin's full comments on Nick Haynes as well as those linked with departures from IKON Park, watch the interview via the player above.