Blues to lock out Eagles for Judd
Greg Denham | October 05, 2007 | The Australian
CARLTON has masterminded a potential deal that could secure former West Coast captain Chris Judd.
The deal would work even if the Blues cannot strike a satisfactory trade deal with the Eagles.
The Australian yesterday learned of the plan to involve a third club -- Richmond -- which would provide win-win situations for both Carlton and the Tigers but would freeze out the Eagles, who could end up with nothing in compensation for losing their 2004 Brownlow medallist.
Carlton and West Coast were still in deadlock yesterday over a trade that would satisfy the Eagles and allow for a smooth transition for Judd to cross next week to Carlton, the club of his choice.
Should that stand-off continue, it is understood that the Blues will attempt to involve Richmond in a perfectly legal trade strategy, but one which could be perceived to be outside the spirit of the game.
The deal would involve Carlton swapping pick No3 for selection No18, Richmond's bonus second draft selection as a result of it finishing last this year with fewer than four wins.
The deal would probably also involve a fringe Richmond player being traded to the Blues.
In return, Richmond would bypass Judd in the pre-season draft in December where it has the first selection. The Blues would then be able to secure the Eagles premiership captain with the second pick.
That scenario would mean Carlton, in effect, gives up its second national draft selection for Judd and does not have to lose Josh Kennedy or its third selection (No20) to the Eagles.
"This is an absolute realistic proposition," a Carlton source said yesterday.
The benefit for Richmond if it agrees to the proposal is that the Tigers would end up with the second and third selections in the national draft and still retain their first pick of another uncontracted player in the pre-season draft.
While Richmond football director Greg Miller is not yet officially in the loop, the Carlton deal would have appeal as the Tigers are only a remote chance of either trading directly for Judd or getting him in the pre-season draft. The Tigers have not completely closed the door on Judd, but Miller last week told The Australian that he would be too expensive, even though Richmond has room in its salary cap.
Because Carlton has already reserved its priority draft pick for teenage Northern Knights ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, the Tigers, who are pinning their faith on a youth policy, would then have the choice of the next two best kids in the country.
Carlton's firm stance on retaining the No1 pick has created a verbal slanging match with the Eagles, and the war of words continued yesterday.
West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett threatened not to deal with the Blues.
"If they don't hand over the No1 selection, then he's not at Carlton, simple as that," Nisbett said. "That's the way it's been all the time.
"Hopefully (chief executive) Greg Swann and (general manager of football operations) Steven Icke can come to their senses, otherwise it is not going to happen. I find it staggering that Carlton doesn't think Chris Judd is worth the first pick in the draft."
The groundwork in attempting a satisfactory trade is being done by Icke and his West Coast counterpart Steve Woodhouse, who were both in Canberra yesterday at the draft camp.
Swann, who was told by club president Richard Pratt on Tuesday to follow the deal through after Judd picked the Blues, yesterday did not deny that Richmond could be involved in the Blues' bid to secure Judd.
"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge before we can say he's our player, but we're confident we can do the deal," Swann said on Tuesday.
Even before Carlton was nominated as Judd's top choice, the Blues took the initiative and offered the Eagles pick No3 and 20-year-old West Australian Kennedy, who has played 22 games in two years since he was the fourth player selected in the 2005 national draft. But it is understood that Kennedy is not keen to return to Perth.
While Carlton's proposal to involve Richmond will be scrutinised by the AFL, it does not break any league rules.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22532875-5012432,00.html
