And therein lies our point.
Nowhere, at any point, has Judd or Connors come out and said that Carlton are the only club Judd wants to play for. The only person to say that is Swann, so it means bupkis.
The word is preferred. Judd's statements have all used the word. It means that while he would like to end up at Carlton, he's realist enough to know that he may end up elsewhere. The fact that Connors has said more than once that Judd accepts the fact he may end up in the PSD reinforces that point.
Carlton hold most of the aces here. But not all of them by a long shot.
The other thing to take into account is Nisbett and Swann. Any Eagles person here will tell you that Nisbett is untouchable. The only way he could possibly lose his job is if he was sleeping with Gooding's wife and daughter on the side. The Board will back him to the hilt and beyond with whatever decision he makes about a trade or not. He will not suffer in the slightest if we get nothing.
Swann is a brand new CEO, answering to a brand new President, one who has less than privately told him that his first major task is to get Judd. He doesnt quite have that same security.
Carlton should end up with Judd. They are certainly in the strong position to do so. But they need to watch that they dont blow it.
