AFL club Carlton have gotten their chief trade target, signing Greater Western Sydney’s Kristian Jaksch.

Jaksch, capable of playing as a key defender or key forward, wanted to return to Melbourne and last week nominated Carlton as his preferred club.

The Blues completed the deal on Wednesday afternoon, handing over pick No.7 in exchange for Jaksch, Mark Whiley and pick No.19.

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“Securing Kristian was certainly a priority for us this trade period and were rapt to have got the deal done,” Carlton football manager Andrew McKay said.

“While he is still developing, we believe he will be a 10-year player for our football club.

“Mark is a tough inside midfielder who is terrific around the stoppages.

“This deal is in line with our strategy of injecting youth and lowering the overall age profile of our list.”

Jaksch and Whiley had come off contract, giving Carlton the upper hand in trade negotiations.

“We think this is a good trade which gives us another high first-round selection, which can also be traded if we want to,” GWS list manager Stephen Silvagni said.

The Giants last week received pick No.19 when they traded young gun Jono O’Rourke to Hawthorn in exchange for the reigning premiers’ first-round selection.