St Kilda discard Matt Maguire's chances of resurrecting his career at Carlton may have been boosted by the delisting of utility Cameron Cloke on Friday.

Maguire, who suffered a series of leg and foot injuries between 2006-2008, is doing a pre-season with the Blues in a bid to continue his 99-game career.

The 25-year-old hasn't played a senior match since May last year and languished in the VFL this season as he slipped behind Zac Dawson, Raph Clarke and retiree Max Hudghton in the Saints' key defender pecking order.

However, Maguire showed that he was also capable of being a sound forward target with Sandringham this year and, following the exit of two-time Coleman Medallist Brendan Fevola, the ex-Saint's versatility is appealing to Carlton coach Brett Ratten.

"His versatility really is something that you look at to think, you know, that could really help us," Ratten said prior to Carlton's first skills session involving the entire playing group at Visy Park on Monday.

"If they've got that versatility to play forward, back or middle, you can sort of go with them in that role that if Plan A doesn't work, Plan B and C could work for them."

"He seems to fit in with the group really well at the moment."

"His body seems not too bad ... seems a quality kid and I suppose he's still got that burning desire to make his name as an AFL player again and maybe our club might be a fit."

Ratten said Cloke was unlucky to be shown the door but denied his axing arose due to suggestions the former Magpie had agreed to an in-principle agreement with Port Adelaide to join the Power next season.

Instead it was the Blues' need for an extra draft pick that led to Cloke's sacking.

"It was a very hard decision but that's a view that we took with match committee and (it was) probably more list management," Ratten said.

Cloke could still be awarded a payout from Carlton considering he fulfilled a clause in his contract that dictated if he played 10 matches in 2009, he would be given a contract extension.

Meanwhile, despite Fevola's sensational departure during trade week, Ratten categorically ruled out any chance of Carlton recruiting delisted Melbourne forward Russell Robertson.

Ratten revealed that the goalkicking load in 2010 would be shared among players already on the Blues list, including Jarrad Waite who underwent a full knee reconstruction in May.

"With Jarrad, how he's gone about his pre-season so far he's started really a month ago and he's put some really big steps forward and worked in Queensland with a couple (of) people so it's really pleasing," said Ratten.

The Carlton coach was cautiously optimistic about Waite's chances to be ready for next year's season opener against Richmond.

"He'll be really close, I think it's all about does he have any hurdles along the way," said Ratten.

"I think at the moment you probably would say yes, but we all know about rehabilitation and how it all goes."

"We've got a plan in place and hopefully all the boxes are ticked every month that it's all going well."