Besides cant we trade for picks?
This. 1st and 2nd round draft picks for two years equates to four players. Less if in either of those two years we take a F/S that someone else bids high on. Draft penalties impacted Carlton because they were right at the end of a "cycle". A lot of older players, they'd topped up (Elliott: "we dont rebuild at caaaaarlton"). On top of that, after they were hit, their recruiting under Pagan was awful - recycle duds or players past their prime.
Our list is currently quite young, only 4 players over 29 years of age, none
certain to be there next year (yes I know Fletch will play forever). I'd back the club to keep the list going in the right direction, particularly given free agency is something that didn't exist for Carlton back then.
If Hird is adamant he did nothing wrong
and no peds were taken (if they were, all bets are off) then I'll be happy for the club to fight for his right to continue. Not because he's James Hird (sorry, I've been around a while, no one is bigger than the club) but because I'm a big believer in loyalty to people who have served you well.
That said, if he were to stand down to take some of the heat out of the situation I wouldn't blame him at all. I cannot begin to imagine the pressure he's under, it must be immense.