But with picks one and three in November's national draft, the Blues are well-placed to satisfy what is certain to be high demands from West Coast in terms of a trade for a player who has already won a Brownlow Medal, a Norm Smith Medal, two best and fairests and captained a premiership team - all by the age of 24. Carlton chief executive Greg Swann said on Tuesday the club would immediately begin working on a suitable trade package with the Eagles and Judd's manager Paul Connors in order to secure the champion midfielder, ahead of Friday week's trade deadline. "We are delighted that Chris has seen fit to nominate the Carlton Football Club as his future home at a time when the club is embarking on what will be a new and exciting era," Swann said.
"Now that Chris has selected Carlton, we will formally commence discussions to finalise a trade appropriate to all parties." "We are extremely confident that we can strike a suitable deal but are mindful that there is still much to be done to secure Chris' services." While Swann said the club would not comment on any 'rumours or speculation' regarding the terms of a Judd deal, it is believed the club had already offered pick three and Kennedy even before Judd agreed to move to Princes Park.
Kennedy, who hails from Western Australia, was taken at pick four in the 2005 national draft and has played 22 games in his two seasons with the Blues. Standing at 195cm and weighing 99kg, he is expected to develop into a future key position player capable of playing either forward or back. However whether pick No.
3 in the draft and Kennedy is enough to satisfy the Eagles as compensation for losing the best player in the AFL remains to be seen. The Eagles are likely to demand two first-round draft picks for Judd but the Blues have consistently said they will not trade away their prized first pick in the national draft - which they are reserving for exciting teenage ruckman Matthew Kreuzer. The Blues' next pick after selection three is not until pick 20 so the only way the club could come up with another early pick to give to the Eagles for Judd is by trading a player and or picks to another club.
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