CARLTON will make at least one forced change ahead of Sunday’s Round 16 clash with Melbourne at the MCG.
Charlie Curnow is set the miss the clash after sustaining a low-grade medial ligament injury during last week’s contest against Fremantle. It was confirmed earlier in the week that the dynamic forward will miss the next 3-4 weeks.
Patrick Cripps and David Cuningham won’t return to the fold this week, having undergone fitness tests on Thursday: both were not quite right to play this weekend.
The Blues have named five potential inclusions as part of an eight-man extended bench ahead of the clash at the home of football this Sunday.
Matthew Cottrell, Alex Fasolo, Hugh Goddard, Darcy Lang and Andrew Phillips make up the potential inclusions as Carlton return home in the hopes of going back to back.
It's back.
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) July 4, 2019
Get your hands on the 2019 Blueout training guernsey today. #BoundByBlue
Lang was arguably best afield for the Northern Blues last weekend, collecting 25 disposals and seven clearances in last week’s game against Geelong.
Potential debutants Matthew Cottrell and Hugh Goddard have also mounted their cases in recent weeks in the VFL, as they look to break through for their first performances in Navy Blue.
After returning to familiar ground last weekend and proving to be vital in the closing stages, Levi Casboult has once again been named in the forward line while Liam Jones, Caleb Marchbank and Jacob Weitering are the pillars in defence.
In the absence of Curnow and Harry McKay, Casboult will be joined by Mitch McGovern as the key forward targets this Sunday.
Ed Curnow will once again take the reins as stand-in skipper in the absence of injured co-captains Cripps and Sam Docherty.
In: Matthew Cottrell, Alex Fasolo, Hugh Goddard, Darcy Lang, Andrew Phillips
Out: Charlie Curnow (knee)
New: Matthew Cottrell* (Dandenong Stingrays), Hugh Goddard* (St Kilda)
* denotes named on extended bench