Carlton are poised to take a punt on discarded St Kilda defender Matt Maguire in the AFL pre-season draft.

While Blues coach Brett Ratten remained non-committal on whether the 25-year-old will be picked up, Maguire is training with the club and was involved in Carlton's first pre-season skills session in Melbourne on Monday.

Carlton have also cleared a spot on their playing list which could accommodate Maguire - axing ruckman Cameron Cloke late last week.

Ratten said Maguire had been invited to train with the Blues, who would take as much time as possible before deciding whether to offer him an AFL lifeline.

"It's an opportunity we get to see him every day and every session, and it's an opportunity for him to prove himself," Ratten said on Monday.

"We'll wait and see how he goes and make a call on that (drafting him) later."

Maguire's career has stalled since he badly shattered his leg in 2006, and he has barely played senior football since.

He has also battled with stress fractures in his foot as well as the aftermath of his sickening leg break - restricted to just 14 matches in the past three years.

He was unable to fight his way back into the Saints side last season as they marched to the grand final.

But before his injury, Maguire was rated one of the competition's emerging defenders and would be a perfect fit for a Blues side looking to fill a key position down back.

"His body seems not too bad, he seems a quality kid," Ratten said.

"He's still got that burning desire to make his name as an AFL player again and maybe our club might be a fit.

"His versatility is something that you look at - that could really help us."

Ratten ruled out any play for ex-Melbourne forward Russell Robertson in the wake of Brendan Fevola's trade week departure for Brisbane.

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