The Northern Blues will be looking to make it three wins in a row against Footscray at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Coming into the game full of momentum after a record-breaking victory over Frankston, a win over the eighth-placed Dogs on Saturday could see the Blues sit just outside the top eight only on percentage.
With a host of changes to the Carlton side, the Blues have lost some valuable AFL talent and experience in Blaine Boekhorst, Blaine Johnson, Mark Whiley and Michael Jamison.
Recalled into the extended squad are Tyrone Armitage, Sean Bolger, Sam Cattapan, Steve Murray, Glenn Strachan, Dyson Stevens and Ben Walton, with Murray and Strachan particularly impressing in the Development side’s win over Frankston last week.
The changes to the side sees just 11 Carlton-listed players in action, with ex-Western Bulldogs and Footscray VFL Premiership duo Liam Jones and Jason Tutt the most experienced.
The two sides couldn’t be coming into the game off two more completely different result. While the Blues trounced Frankston, the Dogs went down by three points in a thriller against Sandringham.
The result was very much a tale of Footscray’s season, who have mixed narrow losses with comprehensive victories for a 6-4 record. While the Dogs have an average losing margin of just over two goals, they have won by an average of 53.3 points in their six wins.
With the loss of Jamison, Tom Fields - flanked by Kristian Jaksch and Kieran McGuinness - will be looking to do the job on Stewart Crameri, whose return to form and fitness has him in the VFL for another week.
Crameri will be supported by Tom Campbell, with Jack Redpath - equal-leader in the Frosty Miller Medal - promoted to the AFL side following his five-goal performance in the loss to the Zebras.
With co-captain Mark Austin out with injury, ex-Blue and fellow captain Jordan Russell may be forced to play tall in an undersized Footscray defence alongside Michael Talia.
Having contributed 12 goals between them last week, Matthew Watson, Jones and Jayden Foster will need to put in a big shift in a relatively undermanned Blues line-up. Watson comes in just one goal off the goal-kicking leaderboard, having recovered from a knock to the hip last week.
The game commences from 2pm at Whitten Oval.
Northern Blues player watch:
Liam Jones: Coming up against the side who he kicked five goals for in their 2014 VFL Premiership victory, Jones enters the match with Footscray in a good vein of form. Fresh from his six-goal haul against Frankston in the 157-point demolition last week, Jones returns to the familiar stomping ground of Whitten Oval.
Jayden Foster: Despite his father Peter having won a best and fairest in his 163 games for the Western Bulldogs, Jayden Foster was overlooked by his dad’s old side in the National Draft, instead making his way to Carlton. Having been swung to both ends of the ground to start the season, Foster put in his most complete performance last week with a three-goal, eight-mark performance against the Dolphins last week and should come into the game brimming with confidence.
Tom Fields: The man known for his booming left foot more than anything else after his torp last week, Fields will have a massive role to play if the Blues are to come away from Whitten Oval with the four points. Having collected 26 disposals and two goals in last week’s rout, Fields will more than likely have first shot at Stewart Crameri down back. Fields has completed a number of roles with aplomb this season, and will be looking to take the scalp of Crameri on Saturday afternoon.
