Carlton’s Head of Football Andrew McKay says the club was “rapt” to recruit former Crow Sam Kerridge to the Blues.

The goal-kicking midfielder is a known hard-runner, having won the Crows’ 3km time trial earlier in the year.

Since making his debut in Round 3, 2012 against Hawthorn, the 22-year-old has played 27 senior games and kicked 23 goals.

Speaking to Adelaide radio station FIVEaa on Wednesday, McKay says they targeted Kerridge due to his running capability and scoring ability.

“We really liked Sam’s endeavour and another thing Sam has got is a good tank,” McKay said.

“With the decrease of rotations coming down to 90 this year – and I’m sure they’ll keep coming down – we’re going to rely on people like Sam to carry some of that burden and not be rotated so much.”

Kerridge also knows where the big sticks are. The midfielder constantly hits the scoreboard, even kicking a bag of six against North Melbourne in 2013.

Four former Giants, Lachie Plowman, Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips and Liam Sumner will also pull on the navy blue jumper next year after being traded by GWS.

McKay believes these young men will be “very very good players” for Carlton.

Senior coach Brendon Bolton, along with his team of assistant coaches, will have the task of educating and developing these young players as they build towards success – something McKay is confident ‘Bolts’ can do.

“We’re really looking forward to him (Bolton) teaching our players a different way of thinking about the game and that’s going to take some time.

“He’s going to bring a different style, a different game plan to the club…we just want to see improvement and our long term goal is to improve year on year – we’re not setting a timeframe on it.

“Certainly we just want to see improvement and build it up to a very sustainable and successful club and team.”