Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes believes Carlton “100 percent” wants a priority pick, even if they deny appealing for one in the public sphere.
The Blues have constantly stated they aren’t seeking the extra draft selection, but Cornes says that may just be a PR mechanism.
“I think they 100 percent want it and they’ve been reasonably smart about the PR battle,” he told SEN Mornings.
“Look, we aren’t lobbying the AFL because we aren’t going to spend time on it but if the AFL give it to us, we will certainly take it, as they should.
“They need it.”
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Chris Judd, who sits on the Blues’ board, opened up about the topic on Channel Nine’s Footy Classified last night, admitting the club hasn’t completely closed the door on an idea of the priority pick.
“There’s a belief out there that Carlton got offered a priority pick and knocked it back,” he said.
“Now that’s not the case.
“Cain Liddle (Carlton CEO) and the footy club and the board came to the place where we’re not going to lobby the AFL for a priority pick.
“We weren’t of the belief that we were going to get one anyway so why would we spend energy lobbying them for something when there’s so many things we need to work on and improve and, more importantly than that, accept responsibility for where we find ourselves.
“I think it was a strong message that I think’s been misinterpreted by a lot of the industry.”
Longtime Demon Nathan Jones told Fox Footy’s On The Couch that he would want the priority pick if he played for Carlton.
“I find it quite bizarre really that Carlton have come out so strongly for instance over the last few weeks and said that they don’t want a priority pick,” Melbourne’s co-captain said.
“If I was at Carlton, 100 per cent I want a priority pick.
“From all my experience I want every bit of help when you’re in a position like that to give yourself a chance to get back up the ladder.”