CARLTON has named its side to take on GWS in a crunch clash at Marvel Stadium.
With just one loss between the two sides from the opening five rounds, the Blues will be hoping to rebound from that two-point defeat to the Crows under the roof last week.
Returning to the same venue, all eyes have been on who Carlton has called up to replace the injured Adam Saad and Mitch McGovern.
On the back of impressive showings last weekend for the Carlton Reserves, defenders Lachie Cowan and Lewis Young have both been selected to return to the senior line-up.
Young provides a senior presence in Carlton’s back six in what will be his third match of the season, joining Jacob Weitering and Brodie Kemp against a tall GWS forward line spearheaded by Coleman Medal leader Jesse Hogan.
Returning alongside Young is second-year Blue Cowan, who was identified as the Blues’ best player by the VFL coaches last week in a one-point defeat to Collingwood.
The hard-nosed defender - who had 24 disposals and eight rebound 50s in that VFL game - will join the Blues’ half-backs in Nic Newman, former Giant Zac Williams and Jordan Boyd. It'll also be the youngster's first game in the No.2 jumper after his move from the No.26 in the off-season.
Pressure will be the name of the game for Carlton against a free-wheeling GWS outfit, with Michael Voss lamenting the team’s overall defence last week when it conceded 100 points for just the fifth time under the AFL Senior Coach.
Boyd, Jack Carroll, Corey Durdin, Orazio Fantasia and Matthew Kennedy have been named on the interchange bench, with the Blues’ sub to be named an hour before the bounce.
It will also be Kennedy’s 100th AFL game, coming up against his former side: it’s not the first time the midfielder has achieved a milestone against the Giants, with his 50th Carlton game also coming versus the team where his football journey began.
Round 6 team v GWS |
|||
Backs: |
Lachie Cowan |
Jacob Weitering |
Brodie Kemp |
Half-backs: |
Zac Williams |
Lewis Young |
Nic Newman |
Centreline: |
Ollie Hollands |
Patrick Cripps |
Blake Acres |
Half-forwards: |
Matthew Cottrell |
Tom De Koning |
Elijah Hollands |
Forwards: |
Charlie Curnow |
Harry McKay |
Matthew Owies |
Followers: |
Marc Pittonet |
Sam Walsh |
George Hewett |
Interchange: |
Jordan Boyd |
Jack Carroll |
Corey Durdin |
|
Orazio Fantasia |
Matthew Kennedy |
|
Emergencies: |
Jaxon Binns |
Alex Cincotta |
Hudson O'Keeffe |
In: Lachie Cowan, Lewis Young
Out: Adam Saad (hamstring), Mitch McGovern (hamstring)