Bronx Bomber
Club Legend
Former Geelong midfielder David Spriggs has joined Carlton for the start of its pre-season campaign in the hope of being drafted by the Blues.
The 23-year-old, who played 64 matches for the Cats from 2000-04, was delisted by Geelong last month and did his chances of being selected by Carlton no harm when he finished first in the 3km time-trial held at Princes Park on Wednesday morning. He recorded a time of 10:21.
Carlton coach Denis Pagan said before the trial that it was too early to tell whether the Blues would take Spriggs in the upcoming National Bank AFL Draft - or the December pre-season draft if he decides to nominate just for that meeting.
"We've got to give a few guys an opportunity and David is one of them and he's certainly going to add to our pre-Christmas program," Pagan said before Spriggs beat former Eagle and new Blue Callum Chambers in the trial.
"We can't give anyone guarantees because of where we are in the draft and where our picks are and where we are at pre-season, so we've got to see what happens and take it as it comes.
"I think he's (Spriggs) probably as good an endurance runner in the AFL."
Pagan was also excited at gaining ball-winner Luke Blackwell, the son of former Blue Wayne, as a father/son selection. Blackwell has also started pre-season training with the club.
"It's been amazing. He came and trained with us last year and I think our guys were at sixes and sevens about Luke and he went back and played senior football over there (for Swan Districts in the WAFL) and he kept on improving and improving and he played really well in the finals," Pagan said.
"If you had of put Luke Blackwell in our under-18 TAC (Cup) competition, everyone would've been drooling and saying he's an outstanding prospect.
"We looked at him and he's only tiny, but he just kept playing well and in the finish there we just had to pick him because if we didn't, I'm sure someone else would've."
Meanwhile, Pagan conceded the club 'would've loved to have got a ruckman' during the recent trade period, but he said the Blues were determined to keep their first two selections - No.9 and No.25 - in the upcoming draft.
But Pagan did not rule out the possibility of selecting Eastern Ranges ruckman Fabian Deluca - the younger brother of Carlton tall Adrian - with the Blues’ No.9 pick or claiming former Blue and Roo Mark Porter later in the draft.
The 23-year-old, who played 64 matches for the Cats from 2000-04, was delisted by Geelong last month and did his chances of being selected by Carlton no harm when he finished first in the 3km time-trial held at Princes Park on Wednesday morning. He recorded a time of 10:21.
Carlton coach Denis Pagan said before the trial that it was too early to tell whether the Blues would take Spriggs in the upcoming National Bank AFL Draft - or the December pre-season draft if he decides to nominate just for that meeting.
"We've got to give a few guys an opportunity and David is one of them and he's certainly going to add to our pre-Christmas program," Pagan said before Spriggs beat former Eagle and new Blue Callum Chambers in the trial.
"We can't give anyone guarantees because of where we are in the draft and where our picks are and where we are at pre-season, so we've got to see what happens and take it as it comes.
"I think he's (Spriggs) probably as good an endurance runner in the AFL."
Pagan was also excited at gaining ball-winner Luke Blackwell, the son of former Blue Wayne, as a father/son selection. Blackwell has also started pre-season training with the club.
"It's been amazing. He came and trained with us last year and I think our guys were at sixes and sevens about Luke and he went back and played senior football over there (for Swan Districts in the WAFL) and he kept on improving and improving and he played really well in the finals," Pagan said.
"If you had of put Luke Blackwell in our under-18 TAC (Cup) competition, everyone would've been drooling and saying he's an outstanding prospect.
"We looked at him and he's only tiny, but he just kept playing well and in the finish there we just had to pick him because if we didn't, I'm sure someone else would've."
Meanwhile, Pagan conceded the club 'would've loved to have got a ruckman' during the recent trade period, but he said the Blues were determined to keep their first two selections - No.9 and No.25 - in the upcoming draft.
But Pagan did not rule out the possibility of selecting Eastern Ranges ruckman Fabian Deluca - the younger brother of Carlton tall Adrian - with the Blues’ No.9 pick or claiming former Blue and Roo Mark Porter later in the draft.
