Wouldnt carlton back themselves in to have a better year next year and possibly push for top 8? Meaning next years pick could possibly be around 9 or 10
Yes but only if Gibbs stays.
This... and even then it would be optimistic to think we will be looking like playing finals if he stays. Do I expect us to improve and finish higher? Probably. But it wouldn't be a disaster for how we are tracking IMO if we finished 15th-10th. Finals is out of the question IMO, 2019 is when we
should start heading that way, but who knows? Things can happen quickly...
Our midfield is so paper thin, if Gibbs goes we would probably finish last, he's that important in many aspects. Throwing Cripps (probably physically ready but injuries and load would concern me) and the young brigade (SPS, Cuningham etc.) to the wolves full time not the mention the pressure and reliance on Murphy would be a disaster and something we will have to be well compensated in order to do so willingly.
There would have to be a Godfather offer for us to give up our first selection next year in this trade period, it just doesn't fit with our plan.