Carlton are anticipated to be one of the busier clubs come the 2023 AFL trade and free agency space, with the proud Victorian club likely to be moving for star personnel as much as they'll be looking to retain their own.
The Blues enjoyed a quieter off-season exchange window in 2022 and placed the majority of their attention toward the draft, while this year they're expected to see a more even balance in how they look to fine-tune their list.
A bevy of senior players are still unsigned for next year and could find new homes come the trade period, while the Blues have already been linked with rival assets that they'll be hoping to lure to Princes Park.
Focussing on the latter, we've identified five players that could suit the Blues' list planning, with a focus on improving their attacking options and depth building.
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3. Sam Sturt
Fremantle forward Sam Sturt has been an intriguing watch at the Dockers since swapping Victoria for Western Australia as a first-round selection in 2018.
The 23-year-old made his debut in 2020 and would boot three goals in his first match in purple, before playing two further games that year prior to going unused until 2021. Sturt would then make one appearance under Justin Longmuir until this season - missing the entirety of the 2022 season and left to prove his worth in the WAFL.
In 2023, Sturt has been swung in and out of the Docker's AFL side, playing seven games in total with three matches as either the sub or being subbed out.
The 189cm forward has struggled to cement his place in the top flight despite strong showings as a taller-framed forward that can work in the air and at ground level. Trailing the likes of Michael Walters, Nat Fyfe, Sam Switkowski and Lachie Schultz come selection, opportunities at senior level are likely to be easier away from Cockburn.
Off-contract and potentially of interest to Victorian clubs looking to add to their forward line, Sturt could be a cheap trade target for Carlton to weigh up. The Blues have their tall forwards sorted in Coleman Medal pair Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, but a complementing medium-sized option like Sturt could fill a hole if out-of-contract pair Tom De Koning and/or Jack Silvagni leave the Blues at the end of 2023.
