CARLTON coach Brett Ratten has backed his players to maintain their focus on round one despite the distraction caused by Brendan Fevola’s latest indiscretion.
Ratten described the punishment handed down to the full forward as “fair and square” but was eager to move on when he spoke to the media at MC Labour Park on Wednesday morning.
“I think it’s a good outcome and we’re really focussing on round one now. That’s behind us and we’re really looking forward to Richmond on Thursday night,” Ratten said.
“It’s not ideal in your preparation but I think we are pretty professional. We are here a lot of the time and we can refocus as a group.”
Fevola was fined, dropped from Carlton's leadership group and threatened with the sack if there are any more alcohol-related incidents after he was captured on closed-circuit video urinating on a window at Prahran’s Candy Bar nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Ratten said all of the options, including suspension, had been considered by the club and felt the path that was chosen was the correct one for the remorseful 27-year-old, who has sworn off alcohol for the rest of the season.
“I thought the penalty was fair and square, but I think we try and help Brendan and there’s also something hanging over his head so if you don’t follow the rules at the club, you’re out,” he said.
“Are we helping Brendan by suspending him? No, I think the [threat of] termination from the club, that’s the biggest penalty hanging over his head, so that’s ongoing.
“A suspension only lasts for one or two weeks, but this is ongoing and is something, from the club’s point of view, we thought was very important.”
Meanwhile, Ratten revealed that star recruit Matthew Kreuzer will not make his AFL debut in round one with a recurrence of a hip complaint to keep him from taking the field against the Tigers at the MCG.
“He’ll be out this week, he just sort of hurt himself at training with a little mishap, but he’ll be right for St Kilda the following week as will Shaun Hampson,” he said.
Chris Judd and Nick Stevens are definite starters, but with Cain Ackland and Aisake O’hHailpin also injured, Cameron Cloke will be left to shoulder most of the ruck work.
Ratten was delighted with Judd’s last hitout against the Bulldogs in which he gathered 21 touches from about 60 per cent of match time with the former Eagle expected to play about 80 per cent of Thursday’s match.
Despite not playing in the VFL last weekend, Stevens will play his first AFL match since a serious neck injury sidelined him after round three of last season.
Ratten admitted his injury list left him with some juggling to do against what promises to be a tall Richmond side and confirmed 192cm key position prospect Jake Edwards will make his AFL debut.
