Baby Blues to take on Port Adelaide
Carlton’s AFL rebuild is set to come under the spotlight at Adelaide Oval, with 10 players aged under 21 to line up against Port Adelaide.
Ruckman Paddy Ryder is back to help Port take on a very young Carlton side. Photo: Michael Errey/InDaily
The Blues will blood their sixth debutant for the year, with Cam Polson named to face the seventh-placed Power on Friday night along with Andrew Phillips.
Veteran duo Dale Thomas and Matthew Kreuzer have been ruled out with general soreness.
Coach Brendon Bolton said the pair were still feeling the effects of the round-three win over Essendon, which was played in a torrential downpour.
“We’ve had two six-day breaks … they haven’t come up. They’re too sore and won’t play footy at all this week,” he said.
The 19-year-old Polson follows Harrison Macreadie, Jarrod Pickett and Sam Petrevski-Seton (round one), Tom Williamson (round three) and Zac Fisher (round four), all of whom donned the Blues guernsey for the first time in 2017.
Port have been bolstered by the return of Paddy Ryder, who replaces Matt White after serving a one-game suspension.
Across town, Adelaide’s Brad Crouch is also set for his first run of the season on Saturday when the Crows face Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.
The talented midfielder comes in for Jake Kelly, who has an eye injury, while Callum Ah Chee will replace Steven May (hamstring) for the Suns.
Sydney’s hopes of upsetting Greater Western Sydney in Saturday night’s derby at the SCG have been bolstered with Isaac Heeney, Kurt Tippett and Gary Rohan named alongside debutant Lewis Melican.
Youngsters Aliir Aliir, Nic Newman and Oliver Florent have all been omitted along with Robbie Fox (knee), but Steve Johnson will return for the Giants.
North Melbourne will welcome back big man Mason Wood to face Fremantle on Saturday night, while Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch will play his first game for the season against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.
Western Bulldogs defender Shane Biggs has been named to replace Travis Cloke (broken ribs) for Saturday’s game against Brisbane, with ruckman Tom Boyd cleared to play after being concussed last week.
Several clubs have opted to manage players, including Kangaroos ruckman Braydon Preuss, Giants rookie Tim Taranto and the Saints’ Tom Hickey.
West Coast’s Sam Mitchell (ankle) headlines the injury list and will miss Sunday’s clash against his old side Hawthorn at the MCG.
– AAP
