MICK Malthouse has declared Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer off limits.
Gibbs and Kreuzer – both former No. 1 draft picks – have been touted as potential draft carrots if the Blues were to try to snare this year's No.1 pick in a trade in order to obtain highly-rated teenage forward Tom Boyd.
Asked about the pair on Friday, Malthouse was unequivocal.
"I can categorically tell you that Gibbs and Kreuzer are untouchable," he said.
"I don't know how plain I can make that. Do I need to make it any plainer?
Pressing the assembled media for its understanding, Malthouse added: "Untouchable."
But while Gibbs and Kreuzer, both 24, appear safe, Malthouse has flagged changes for the Carlton list come season's end.
"The scrutiny goes on players in good times, bad times, bad losses, good wins, playing top sides, playing bottom sides," Malthouse said.
Boyd appears the perfect fit for the Blues; a 199cm, 102kg key forward who has dominated both the TAC Cup competition and the recently-completed NAB Under 18 Championships, and is unanimously regarded as the best player in the coming draft.
Last-placed Greater Western Sydney is prepared to trade the No.1 pick should it hold it come November's draft.
Calls for the Blues to dangle Gibbs and Kreuzer as trade bait came in the fallout to the club's loss to Collingwood last Friday night.
Malthouse apologised to fans on the club's website following the loss, calling the match his team's worst performance under his reign.
Before the match, Carlton CEO Greg Swann forecast "fairly radical" changes to Carlton's list come the end of 2013.
On Monday, AFL.com.au's Luke Darcy called on the Blues to trade Gibbs or Kreuzer - or both - to secure the No.1 pick, saying the club needed to "get aggressive" at the trade table.
Kreuzer addressed his future on the club's website on Thursday, saying he wanted to remain a Blue.
"I love the club, I've played here for my whole career so far and I'd like to keep it that way," Kreuzer said.
