Ratten sweats on gorilla: Blues pre-draft

In the fourth of a club-by-club series, we look at a Carlton list containing a Brendan Fevola-sized hole.

CARLTON
Live selections: 12, 43, 59
Rookie promotion selections: 72, 83 (Sam Jacobs, Aaron Joseph)

The Blues have the minimum three live picks in this year’s national draft, and they have enjoyed one of the lowest list turnover rates in the league. That’s not to say they don’t really need to snare Daniel Bradshaw to replace Brendan Fevola, because they do. Their current crop of tall forwards – comprising Brad Fisher, Setanta O’hAilpin, Lachie Henderson and the Great White Hope of Matthew Kreuzer – is not going to win them any finals. I remain unconvinced that Kroooooze is going to be a CHF of the future.

Last year’s draft focused mostly on small forwards at Carlton, with Chris Yarran taking a while to do anything, Mitch Robinson very up and down and Jefferey Garlett the best of the lot, though he has been relegated back to the rookie list to start 2010. While pick #12 will most likely add to the tall timber in front of Bradshaw, there’s every chance another Robinson type could bob up with that #43.