Zac Williams and Eddie Betts have been ruled out of Carlton’s AFL crunch clash with St Kilda, while Coleman Medal leader Harry McKay is only an “outside chance” to return this week.
The news is a hit to the Blues’ footy department, which is under the blowtorch of a wide-ranging external review that began this month.
It comes with Carlton’s finals hopes hanging by a thread as they sit six points out of the top eight with four rounds left to play.
Williams (hamstring) and Betts (ankle) were injured during last Saturday’s horror defeat to last-placed North Melbourne, which McKay missed because of a toe injury.
“Zac Williams injured his hamstring on the weekend, just before halftime,” Carlton high performance boss Andrew Russell said.
“It’s a pretty low-grade hamstring and we expect him to miss two or three games, so we’re a good chance to see him right at the back end of the season again.
“Eddie’s ankle, he was sore initially but actually settled down pretty well.
“He was a bit restricted during the game but has pulled up pretty sore and swollen.
“We certainly won’t see Eddie for the next week or two.”
Betts’ injury could potentially signal the end of his wonderful career, with the 347-game veteran out of contract at the end of the season.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
He has kicked 637 goals in stints with Carlton and Adelaide but will turn 35 in November and is no certainty to be offered a new deal.
The Blues have been bullish on Charlie Curnow’s progress in recent weeks but it remains to be seen if the key forward will make his long-awaited return from a series of knee injuries against St Kilda.
Curnow has not played a senior match in more than two years but has impressed in two scrimmages this month.
“He had an increase in game minutes (last week) and we were pleased with the way he moved and more pleased with the way he has pulled up,” Russell said.
“His knee is great. He’s progressing really, really well.”
Mitch McGovern has played just three matches this season, most recently in Round 7, and will play at the lower level this week after overcoming a hamstring injury.
Former captain Marc Murphy has “pulled up well” after returning from a calf injury as the medi-sub against North Melbourne.
The veteran midfielder, who needs three more appearances to reach the 300-game milestone, is in the selection mix to face St Kilda this week.
Meanwhile, Kangaroos rising star Tarryn Thomas will miss Saturday’s clash with Geelong in Tasmania after suffering a delayed concussion.
Thomas copped a hit to the head in the win over Carlton, but only developed symptoms after the match and will now undergo the AFL’s 12-day concussion protocol.
Consigliere
Guest
A good start for Carlton recruiters going forward is to stop recruiting guys with nasty injury records on a hunch and think they will be the next Joel Selwood.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
4 wks out from finals it’s heating up :stoked:
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Got to love a good walk across the coals don't you, couldn't hurt doing that at a pre season camp now could it. Oh wait hold on.lol.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
So serious it’s drowning but gee man l’ll dip my toe into hot coals later on :silly:
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Lmfao. Must be a full moon or something, I've had Bdosi carrying on like a child in another feed. The Hate for Port Adelaide is real.lol. for a team he doesn't care about, he really does seem to get rather upset.lol.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I’ve been giving Cat some grief today but he kept coming back for more he reminds me of a starving animal looking for a free meal.Funny sh.t he clearly has some wires crossed he’s a different breed that’s for sure!
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Theres definitely more pressure on them than anybody else i think. Be interesting to see if they start to feel that pressure too or are they already.lol.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Cat supporters are feeling the pinch gee it must be painful knowing the rein is nearing the end :silly:
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Speaking of comments vanishing.lol.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
wheres the wonka. :laughing:
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Wonka bar fiasco occurred again damn!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Man it’s funny sh.t writing how we feel in reflection to this crazy world we live in it’s like an amusement park for the insane Love this site l’m glad l found my Utopia on steroids, go figure :silly:
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
:laughing: I could probably think of a few other things too but whether they'd get through or not.lol.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Came in after being dust particles like a Wonka Bar!
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
:laughing: Inbetween comments not getting through or being jetted off to adverts halfway through an answer, I try to remember to copy my comments these days if theres any substance to them or there just plain long and chances are I won't remember it all again or be bothered.lol.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I wrote a awesome response but it didn’t arrive all l will say is ‘Helicopter Parents’ scourge on society!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Gee man it starts with Helicopter parents kids can’t fart without a parent worrying they have some internal bad gut health off to the Chemist or GP We are seriously conditioned by our parents & school education programs! What happened to a liberal life of being free & expressing yourself. If the kid falls over it’s healthy if they decide to eat dog food when they are two it builds good bacteria the list goes on!
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
100%, what do you reckon the main reason is countries are starting to make weed legal for medical and personal use, $$$ and the old theory, if you can't beat em(dealers) join them basically.lol. thats the only problem with common-sense these days, its not very common at all. I mean just look at the warning labels you have to have these days, hair-dryers for example, if you know somebody that needs a warning label for a hair-dryer to not use it in the shower, i suggest we let them, its surely got to be a good thing for the world wide gene pool doesn't it.lol.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
So true that’s what makes us human. Man the world is governed by drugs legal or illegal. Our governments make an absolute killi.n. Literally! For instance COVID 19 Pfizer-company have made an astonishing 45.7 billion this year alone. This list is longer than space & time.It puzzles me how uncommon common sense truly is in society!