Carlton’s new young guns will have their first chance to shine when the Blues take on West Coast in Mandurah on Friday.
New recruits Blaine Boekhorst, Matt Dick, Tom Fields, Billy Gowers, Kristian Jaksch, Liam Jones, Clem Smith, Jason Tutt, Dillon Viojo-Rainbow and Brad Walsh have all been named in Carlton’s 29-man squad.
Carlton vice-captain Michael Jamison has told Crocmedia’s Sportsday program the new Blues have been impressing on the track.
"Everyone we’ve brought in has been really encouraging,” Jamison said.
"I think a lot has been made of Liam Jones’ pre-season – he’s just an animal on the track and another forward option that we’ve cried out for.
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“His mate Jason Tutt offers us something different and then Kristian Jaksch from GWS has shown some good form after we thought we would lose him for a long period with a foot (injury)."
Jamison also had high praise for West Australian draftees Blaine Boekhorst and Clem Smith.
"Smith’s got a real appetite to defend and hit bodies,” Jamison said.
“It’s really great to see and really what we’re looking for because we know the game’s going that way. The longer you can lock the ball in your forward 50 the better and he’s been great at that this pre-season.
“Boeky (Boekhorst) needs to put a bit more size on, but he’s really silky and if he gets the ball in his hands he’s more than capable of breaking lines and being really penetrating.”
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The Blues will travel to Perth without captain Marc Murphy who suffered a calf strain in last week’s intra-club match. Murphy is expected to return for the final two NAB Challenge games.
Andrew Walker and Matthew Kreuzer will also miss the game against the Eagles with injury, while other senior players including Jamison, Bryce Gibbs, Lachie Henderson, Chris Judd and Dale Thomas are being rested to manage their training loads.
The match kicks off at 4.10pm WST on Friday in Mandurah.
Carlton's 29-man squad:
Number | Player |
2 | Troy Menzel |
6 | Kade Simpson |
7 | Dylan Buckley |
9 | Patrick Cripps |
10 | Matthew Watson |
12 | Blaine Boekhorst |
13 | Chris Yarran |
14 | Liam Jones |
15 | Sam Docherty |
16 | Dillon Viojo-Rainbow |
17 | Sam Rowe |
18 | Kristian Jaksch |
21 | Ciaran Sheehan |
22 | Jason Tutt |
25 | Clem Smith |
27 | Dennis Armfield |
28 | Tom Bell |
29 | Billy Gowers |
30 | Blaine Johnson |
31 | Matthew Dick |
32 | Nicholas Graham |
34 | Bradley Walsh |
35 | Ed Curnow |
36 | Cameron Wood |
37 | Tom Fields |
38 | Ciaran Byrne |
41 | Levi Casboult |
42 | Zach Tuohy |
43 | Simon White |