CARLTON entered the 2022 AFL Draft looking to cover key list needs, and the Blues’ recruiting team did so exceptionally well with their four National Draft selections. In our next review of the latest draft intake, we put Carlton’s haul under the microscope to recap what went down, and analyse what each new player may offer to the rising Victorian giant.

NATIONAL DRAFT:

#11 Oliver Hollands (Midfielder, Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country)
#30 Lachlan Cowan (Medium Defender, North Launceston/Tasmania Devils)
#32 Jaxon Binns (Wing/Forward, Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
#47 Harry Lemmey (Key Forward/Defender, West Adelaide/South Australia)

ROOKIE DRAFT:

#10 Ed Curnow (re-listed)

A club known to dabble in live trading, Carlton did not see the need to do so on night one of this year’s draft, instead utilising its pick 11 to acquire Oliver Hollands. The Murray Bushrangers graduate is a lifelong Blues supporter and offers an ideal amount of outside run to balance out his new side’s midfield.

Having stayed off the phone in round one, the Blues picked it up on night two to end up with a pair of second round selections. They traded a future second rounder for Collingwood’s pick 30, putting them ahead of St Kilda and in prime position to snap up Lachlan Cowan – another childhood Bluebagger.

The standout Tasmanian prospect is a damaging rebounder who may bring back the ‘woof’ with his long left-foot kicking off half-back. He skippered his state throughout a phenomenal NAB League season so blends substance with flair, and should be a long-term piece in the Blues’ back six.

Just two picks later, Carlton was back on the clock and would have been stoked to see Jaxon Binns available. The hard-working Dandenong Stingrays product adds even more of that outside run the Blues save been seeking, capable of playing on a wing or as a high half-forward. He has a crack.

Having been quite specific with their first three choices, the Blues went more projective with the fourth. West Adelaide tall Harry Lemmey was their man, a player who has potential to grow at either end of the ground and was pegged as a top five prospect coming into the year.

Carlton will hope its rich key position stocks can help Lemmey fulfil his potential, having endured a frustrating top-age campaign. He could yield enormous value at pick 47. The Blues’ only other point of call came in the Rookie Draft, where they re-listed club stalwart Ed Curnow.