Carlton’s season is on the line this Sunday when they face an injury ravaged West Coast at the SCG.
The deck could not be more stacked against the Eagles, who go into this game without Josh Kennedy, Luke Shuey, Jeremy McGovern, Tim Kelly, Oscar Allen, Liam Duggan or Alex Witherden.
West Coast stunningly has not won at the SCG since 1999 either.
The Blues sit 13th on the ladder with four wins at the halfway point of the season, but as Bob Murphy points out: “the draw does open up for them” after the bye.
Close losses to Sydney, Collingwood, Brisbane and the Bulldogs will haunt Carlton, but following their bye and a tough away clash with GWS, the draw does indeed open up.
From Round 15 onwards they play Adelaide, Fremantle, Geelong, Collingwood, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide and GWS.
If they lose to this Eagles side it likely won’t matter, but they could go in favourites against all-but the Cats and Power in the run home if things break right.
“Carlton has to win this game of footy. It’s there, it’s gifted to you,” Andy Maher told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“No team will get West Coast more vulnerable than this.”
Carlton isn’t exactly at full strength either, missing Charlie Curnow, Mitch McGovern, David Cuningham, Michael Gibbons, Caleb Marchbank, Lachie Plowman and Lachie Fogarty from their best side this weekend.
The Blues will however be boosted by the return of Zac Fisher.
Curnow has also returned to full training, with SEN Chief Reporter Sam Edmund believing the star key forward could be back by Round 16.