Carlton are set to roll the dice with two fresh faces for Thursday night’s high-stakes clash against Port Adelaide, but the bigger story may be at the other end of the experience spectrum.
Patrick Cripps, the club’s heartbeat and captain, is battling illness and was a conspicuous absentee from the final training run at Adelaide Oval.
The club remains hopeful that Cripps will be fit in time for the bounce, but multiple reports have cast doubt over his availability.
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Seven’s Mitch Cleary reported on Wednesday that second-year defender Billy Wilson and mid-season recruit Flynn Young are locked in for debuts, adding a layer of intrigue to Michael Voss’ line-up after last week’s shock defeat to North Melbourne.
Wilson, who has quietly impressed in the reserves in recent weeks, will bring energy to a backline still without the likes of Sam Walsh and Harry McKay. Young, meanwhile, gets his shot in a forward line that desperately needs bite.
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With key players still sidelined, there’s no relief on the injury front, but Carlton’s match committee have tough decisions to make.
Cooper Lord was subbed off in the North loss, and Corey Durdin and Alex Cincotta may also face the axe after subdued outings.
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The return of Lachie Cowan from injury puts further heat on the backline mix, while strong VFL performances from Ben Camporeale and Ashton Moir have not gone unnoticed. However, neither is expected to leapfrog the two confirmed debutants.
Cripps’ status will remain the major watch in the lead-up to Thursday night. Should he miss out, the Blues could be without both their midfield engine and leadership spine, not an ideal scenario as they look to reset after a horror outing last week.