Carlton young guns Jacob Weitering and Jack Silvagni are in doubt for next week's clash with traditional rival Collingwood after sustaining injuries in the Blues' stirring upset of Sydney at the MCG on Saturday.
Coach Brendon Bolton expects Weitering to overcome a corked left thigh but Silvagni appears less likely to face the Magpies after sustaining a shoulder injury that sidelined him from the second term.
The Blues confirmed Silvagni would undergo scans to assess the extent of the damage.
Bolton was more optimistic about swingman Weitering, who was playing one of his best games as a forward before he was hurt.
"He's corked up, he's sore," Bolton said of Weitering post-match.
"I can't call it yet but he'll get up, I would’ve thought."
Watch highlights of the Blues' victory over the Swans
Bolton was proud of his young team's efforts just a week after suffering a 90-point hammering from Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, when they conceded 6.10 to nil in the third term.
"It's really important for our group that they responded after (last week), particularly our third quarter," Bolton said.
"We've got guys of strong character, good resolve and resilience, particularly when we've got some youngsters mixed in our list at the moment."
In their previous two third terms combined against Port Adelaide and Gold Coast, the Blues had tallied just 1.1 while surrendering 13.12.
Their conscious effort to reverse this trend worked superbly with Carlton kicking the first five goals of the third term against the Swans in a match-defining burst.
Bolton revealed that at half-time he didn't feel the need to remind his players of what was required after the break.
"The pleasing thing about it is that I didn't need to make a point – Bryce Gibbs made a point, Marc Murphy, Sam Docherty, Patrick Cripps, Ed Curnow. Our leaders dealt with that, so I didn't need to," he said.
"That's growth in leadership and maturity.
"We've had a really solid leadership program led by Anthony Klarica for a year-and-a-half now and we're making little steps. It doesn't change overnight. We're only a year and a few games in on our reset."
Bolton talked up the "special" performance of defensive playmaker Sam Docherty – who gathered a game and career-high 39 possessions, including 28 kicks – along with ex-Docker Alex Silvagni (who nullified Swans superstar Lance Franklin), veteran Kade Simpson, youngster Tom Williamson and small forward Matthew Wright (four goals).
Next week Collingwood will be celebrating its 125th anniversary and Bolton is excited by the challenge.
"Those games are a great opportunity," he said.
"Every game we get into our list (is beneficial for) not just the young guys … but it's also the relationships and connections they have with our senior players and it just starts to jell more.
"It's a big rivalry and they'll be pretty determined."
