CARLTON stoppages coach Dale Amos says competition for spots in the injury-impacted side has increased, with a number of players in the frame for selection for Friday night’s clash against St Kilda.
Veteran Kade Simpson (tight calf) was a late withdrawal against Brisbane on Saturday, while Andrew Phillips (hamstring), Caleb Marchbank (heart) and Jacob Weitering (calf) didn’t finish the game.
The Blues will need to replace Phillips, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season, while Simpson, Marchbank and Weitering will face fitness tests this week alongside youngsters Angus Schumacher (groin) and Kym Lebois (knee).
Harry McKay, Aaron Mullett and Pat Kerr – who were emergencies against Brisbane – may also be considered for selection, but didn’t play at the weekend because of a bye for Carlton’s VFL affiliate the Northern Blues.
Amos spoke to Carlton Media about injuries, the upcoming match against the Saints and the team’s response to the disappointing loss to Brisbane, among other things.
On the injuries:
“The injuries on the weekend meant that we had to be flexible in terms of positions. Sam Rowe went into the ruck and forward for a period of time and Caleb Marchbank got thrown around a little bit. One of those things that we really try to emphasise is the flexibility of players and the capacity to play multiple positions. That gets tested a little bit in those sorts of games when you do have injuries, particularly for key players like your ruckman like Andrew Phillips.”
On players ready to step up:
“There’s a competition for spots. With the VFL program, that’s the top environment with players trying to step up all the time. The players are looking to perform. Our new players to the club and our younger players are really trying to push their way into the senior side as quickly as possible, which is definitely the case at the moment with a few injuries.”
On the team’s response to the Brisbane loss:
“The players have taken some ownership over the week off the back of the weekend and not performing to the level they wanted to. The leaders have been really strong in what they wanted this week. The first couple of days this week have been really positive in terms of moving forward and really getting ready for the Saints this week.”
On their focuses this week:
“In terms of focuses for this week off the back of the Brisbane game, it’s pretty consistent messaging in terms of our pressure around the ball and our capacity to be able to win the ball at the contest and defend really strongly. There are things we didn’t do well on the weekend, so they’re going to be important against the Saints this week. It’s (pressure) been a focus for us throughout the whole year.”
On Friday night’s clash against the Saints:
“The Saints’ form has been really strong since the bye, so they’re playing pretty fast and have been able to score a little bit more since then. Etihad is obviously a fast ground to play at so we’re expecting them to be pretty offensive and challenge us defensively. That will be good for us off the back of a pretty average performance defensively against Brisbane.”
On players’ growth:
“For Carlton supporters the really exciting growth in Lochie O’Brien and Paddy Dow, who got a Rising Star nomination a couple of weeks ago, and the emergence of someone like Charlie Curnow, are really exciting signs for the footy club for the future. There are some young players, who are new players in the Club, who are really starting to forge their way in the AFL. Hopefully Carlton supporters can get along and support them, and really get to seize those encouraging signs on Friday night.”
