CARLTON will be looking for a competitive, four-quarter performance when they take on the Hawks on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
Facing their second top-four side in as many weeks, the Blues were well and truly in the contest last week against Fremantle in the west, as they trailed by only 21 points at three-quarter time, before going down by 42.
Blues Coach John Barker will be hoping his side can stretch their intensity to a full four quarters this week after he was left to lament a final quarter fade out.
“I think we had some really good effort for three quarters and then we just were overwhelmed in the end,” Barker said post-match.
“Our skill level was shown out, not just in the last quarter but especially in the last quarter when it got a little bit wet.”
The Blues will again field an inexperienced side due to a bevy of senior players unavailable with injuries, with the Blues' coach realistic in terms of what his young side can bring against an in-form Hawthorn.
“I think we’re going to get committed effort like we have the last six or seven weeks… whether that’s good enough to compete with the Hawks, time will tell,” Barker told the media on Tuesday.
“We’ve got eleven players who have played less than 50 games.
“We know where we’re at, and we’ve just got to make the most of the situation we’re in and keep driving these boys to higher standards.”
Friday night will be the first time Alastair Clarkson will face off against former assistant Barker since he has assumed the senior coaching duties at the Blues.
Players to Watch
Captain Marc Murphy has averaged almost 29 disposals in the last six matches, impressing with his leadership since the mid-season departure of former coach Mick Malthouse.
Rising star favourite Patrick Cripps is enjoying a break-out season, and will be one the Hawks will need to keep an eye on, providing the Blues with strength in the midfield contest while accumulating plenty of the ball.
Twenty-one year-old Sam Docherty also enjoyed a season high 27 disposals in the loss to Fremantle.
Potential Changes
Troy Menzel was subbed out in the third quarter in the loss to Fremantle with a corked quad and according to Carlton’s Head of Football, Andrew McKay, will be a test to play.
Should Menzel not bounce back, Mark Whiley (20 disposals) and Blaine Johnson (two goals, 14 disposals) put in solid performances last week for VFL side Northern Blues, while Blaine Boekhorst travelled to Perth as an emergency.
Talls Kristian Jaksch and Liam Jones could also come into the frame for selection, with the pair each bagging two goals for the Northern Blues last weekend.
Jaksch in particular has been working hard to develop his versatility playing between both back and forward and could be brought in to help combat the Hawks’ plethora of mobile talls.
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