Carlton’s chief has praised Blues recruiters after a big week that netted a host of new fresh faces, all eager to don the navy blue jumper.
After selecting key defender Jacob Weitering with pick one in Tuesday night’s national draft, the Blues went on to secure tall forward Harry McKay, versatile player Charlie Curnow, speedster David Cuningham and father-son recruit Jack Silvagni.
Speaking to SEN on Thursday morning, Trigg said Carlton’s plan heading into the draft was to set up a “solid foundation” for the future.
“The broad strategy was to get in the draft early and get as many picks as we could to be able to build a solid foundation, and to be able to do so with four key position players and a really quick running midfielder has really strengthened our spine for the future,” Trigg said.
Starting with the backline, the CEO admitted the Blues had their eye on Weitering halfway through the season.
“Probably mid-season he (Weitering) was nestling himself as the standout,” Trigg said.
“It’s quite extraordinary – the maturity and the sense of calm, his awareness, and just the way he carries himself is exemplary.”
Not wanting to add any extra pressure on the 18-year-old, Trigg believes Weitering will be a long-term player for the Blues.
“He plays with that maturity and every recruiter will tell you that he’s ready to play.
“Without putting too much heat on him or pressure ahead of time, he looms as being a safe bet in the long term.”
Carlton’s second pick in the draft snared key forward Harry McKay, and standing at 200cm tall, Trigg says the young man has “hands like plates”.
“In the old language I’m 6’3” so to stand alongside him is quite intimidating given he’s a 17-year-old, and when you shake his hand it wraps around yours twice – so he’s got a fair frame to grow into,” Trigg said.
Many in the industry have said if Harry was born a week or so later (he turns 18 on Christmas Eve), he would have been playing U18s this year and probably would have been the No. 1 or No. 2 draft pick in 2016.
Carlton coach Brendon Bolton led the new draftees at training for the first time on Friday, and Trigg has no doubt ‘Bolts’ and his coaching team will give them all a thorough football education.
“I’m confident the group of people around Brendon, all the coaches, will develop this young crew as quickly as they possibly can,” Trigg said.
“Quite genuinely there’s a real bubble…he’ brought real enthusiasm and a real energy to the place and he’s brought a way of coaching the coaches and using every second in and around the club.”
Although there’s an air of optimism around Ikon Park, the CEO knows building sustained success will take time.
“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. We’ve built some really terrific foundations and we’ll go again next year,” Trigg said.
“We need our members and we need our supporters to become members –we need them to back us in and get to the games.”
