SEN Time On host Sam McClure has revealed that Carlton would have traded pick one if they had have received the necessary draft picks to secure either Izak Rankine and Max King, or Max and his brother Ben King.
The Blues are expected to take Geelong Falcons midfielder Sam Walsh with their first pick, but either of those aforementioned combinations would have persuaded them to sacrifice the coveted selection.
“The Blues have been, and publicly it must be said, open to this idea of trading pick one,” McClure told SEN’s Time On.
“If they could have got either Izak Rankine and Max King, or Max and his twin brother Ben, then it’s my understanding that the Blues would have traded away the opportunity to draft Sam Walsh.”
McClure also stated that Gold Coast have flirted with the idea of drafting the King brothers with picks two and three, but opted against the idea.
“Gold Coast have toyed with the idea of drafting both Max and Ben King at two and three, the obvious thought is they would be less likely to go home to Victoria if they were drafted interstate together," McClure added.
"But ultimately, it’s my understanding that the Gold Coast see it as too big a risk to bypass both Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine, who are both in their own right, being talked about as potentially the number one pick.”
Night one of the National Draft gets underway on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium.