Even Harry Dean's No.3 draft selection has a strong Carlton connection.

The last key defender to be picked this high in the AFL draft was a decade ago, when the Blues used the No.1 pick to recruit Jacob Weitering.

"I saw something (about it) ... I'm pretty honoured to be in a bit of history," Dean said.

Now Weitering will be a massive influence as Dean finds his way in the game.

Carlton matched West Coast's bid to pick Dean, who only turned 18 last week.

He is the son of two-time Blues premiership great Peter Dean, who played 248 games for the club.

Dean is a product of Carlton's academy and the expectation had always been he would end up there, but as the Eagles' bid showed there was plenty of interest in him.

"I'm so happy. I have no words," he said after ending up at the Blues.

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