OH what a night.
For the second straight year, Carlton shaped the draft with a series of moves which netted the Blues two bright young talents.
Beginning the night with pick No.9, the Blues ultimately finished the night by welcoming Brodie Kemp and Sam Philp with selection Nos.17 and 20.
Carlton made the first move from the 18 clubs by bidding on Academy prospects Liam Henry (Fremantle) and Tom Green (Greater Western Sydney) respectively.
Once those rival clubs matched the bids, the Blues exchanged what became pick No.11 for selections Nos.17 and 22.
View this post on InstagramHe can do it all, and now he's one of our own. ⠀ ⠀ Brodie Kemp is a 'Bagger! ⠀ ⠀ #BoundByBlue
With that first selection, the explosive and versatile Kemp was welcomed to Ikon Park: a new home which isn’t exactly new after all. At the beginning of the year, Kemp trained with Carlton as part of the NAB AFL Academy.
In drafting Kemp, Carlton welcomed one of the most gifted athletes and footballers in the country.
Across his junior career to date, the 18-year-old has featured - and starred - in roles down back, up forward and in the middle.
Seeing himself as a midfielder, Kemp is eyeing a return from an ACL injury in the middle of next year and is destined for a long career in Navy Blue.
The Blues weren’t done yet, trading that pick No.22 acquired from Gold Coast along with pick No.55 for pick No.20 (Port Adelaide).
In doing so, it allowed the Blues to welcome Sam Philp.
Regarded as a ‘bolter’ on draft night, Philp is exactly that on the football field. An inside midfielder with blistering pace, Philp was the fastest player at the draft combine and can back up from contest to contest all game long.
In one foul swoop, the Blues added significant depth and quality in all areas of the ground: and that was just with two picks.
One night of the NAB AFL Draft down, one more to go.
