It’s going to be a huge challenge for Barker’s Blues when they take on reigning premiers Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
The Hawks, who are finding their form at the pointy end of the season, smashed the Swans by 89-points last weekend in a truly dominant performance.
Speaking on Thursday in the lead up to his 200th game, Carlton captain Marc Murphy said the Hawks are “playing unbelievable footy at the moment”.
“You just have to look at what they’ve done to Fremantle and Sydney in the last two weeks to see they’ve been pretty impressive.
“We’re going to go in with a game plan and try to stick to that,” he said.
The Blues, who look like a renewed team under coach John Barker, have changed their game plan and ball moment in the last six or seven weeks in order to play a more “modern brand of footy”.
“We’ve tried to move the ball quickly whenever we’ve been given space, but sometimes the opposition will get numbers back quickly and you have to be smart,” Barker said this week.
“We want to play a modern brand of footy and that means we need to spread the opposition over the full width of the deck and take the options that present when they do.”
Veteran Carlton midfielder Andrew Carrazzo, who racked up 32 disposals the last time these two sides met, will miss the game with a foot injury, while long-kicking defender Tom Fields has been omitted. Liam Jones and Blaine Boekhorst come into the team for the Blues.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson knows his side will have more experience when they line up against Carlton, but Clarkson insists he won’t be taking this game lightly.
“They’re giving some exposure to some younger players, so they’re a little bit inexperienced but you can’t deny they’re having a crack,” Clarkson said.
“They’ve changed up their brand a little bit since JB’s been coaching them.
“They’re a bit more (about) possession and open use of the ball, so that’s something we need to be mindful of when we play them at Etihad (Stadium).”
In tonight’s match the player judged best on ground, who displays leadership, presence, and team values will be awarded the David Parkin Medal.
Carlton takes on Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on Friday night with the match kicking off at 7.50pm.
For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com.au
