CARLTON captain Chris Judd could be set to spend more time in the forward line after turning in a dynamic injury-enforced cameo during the Blues' two-point loss to Geelong on Friday night.

The dual Brownlow medallist was in the midst of a typically dominant midfield game, having amassed 13 touches including six clearances, when he limped from the field late in the second quarter with what coach Brett Ratten later said was a sprained right ankle.

Returning at the start of the third term, the inspirational skipper was sent forward and remained there for most of the half.

"He just couldn't get the last five or 10 per cent of his power to run through the midfield, so we thought we'd play him forward," Ratten said.

The Carlton coach was pleased with both his captain's efforts in attack, and the ability of the Blues' other midfielders - so often criticised for being too Judd-reliant - to step up when needed.

"It's good for our group to have to adjust when Chris is not in there, because he's a great player to play forward," Ratten said.

"I think for Chris' longevity, he needs to play forward a bit more in his games.

"I think he pretty much spent the second half as a forward.

"We'd like to get a bit more of a mix in our midfield, but I think it's good for our group to have to adjust and take up the slack."

The highlight of Judd's attacking foray was a brilliant left-foot goal that capped off a stunning piece of end-to-end play by the Blues at a critical stage in the match.

The passage started with Jeremy Laidler tackling Mathew Stokes into the ground as the Geelong goalsneak was poised to run into an open goal that would have given the Cats a 13-point lead five minutes into the final quarter.

Carlton raced the ball to the other end of the ground in the direction of a leading Setanta O'hAilpin, but the Irishman was unable to mark and the ball spilled over the back, where Judd swooped.

He hit the contest at full pace, scooped the ball up in his left hand and put it immediately onto his boot and through for a superb goal, moving Carlton to within one point.

"It was a great goal that left-footer, and he just looked dangerous all the time up there, so it was worth keeping him up there," Ratten said.

Ratten said Judd is expected to be fit for next Friday night's clash with Melbourne at the MCG.