New West Coast rookie Kane Lucas says he was surprised to have been cut from Carlton, after being told by the Blues he was a required player.

Lucas was delisted by Carlton after five seasons and 42 games with the by the Blues but then given a life line by the Eagles in Wednesday’s Rookie Draft.

The 23 year old said he was given the news of Carlton’s decision not by coach Mick Malthous but by Blues executive Andrew McKay over the phone, while on his family holiday in Bali.

"From the review at Carlton I was kind of under the expectation that I would stay at Carlton," Lucas told 6PR.

"I think they were telling a few guys at Carlton the same thing but we were doing the numbers and it didn’t quite add up that enough players were going to make the list. 

"It was a great opportunity to come back to a great club and start over here.