Carlton’s imploding AFL season has been dealt another blow with captain Patrick Cripps potentially among a raft of injuries ahead of their must-win game against Melbourne.
Cripps’ ankle was stood on late in the loss to Sydney last week but is expected to play.
But the Blues will be forced to make at least five changes for Friday night’s MCG clash.
Ollie Hollands (collarbone), Marc Pittonet (hand), George Hewett (concussion), Nic Newman (hamstring) and Corey Durdin (knee) are all sidelined.
In a much-needed dose of good news for Carlton, Adam Cerra is free to face the Demons after overturning his one-match ban for a dangerous tackle at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.
But the injury carnage is a massive blow to the Blues, who have lost six of their last seven games.
Adding to the air of crisis at Ikon Park, board member Craig Mathieson quit suddenly on Monday.
Hollands needs surgery and is out for two months, while Newman is unavailable until after their mid-season bye.
Pittonet’s hand fracture also needs an operation and is sidelined for their next two games.
Durdin has a lateral collateral ligament injury and surgery will put him out of action for six to seven weeks.
Lachie Cowan (finger), Jack Martin (calf) and Jack Cunningham (calf) will be tested ahead of Friday night, while Sam Durdin (hamstring) is out for at least two games.
Also on Tuesday, in-form St Kilda midfielder Hunter Clark is out for up to six weeks with the knee injury he suffered in Saturday’s upset loss to Hawthorn.
It looked like Clark’s luck had turned this season after several years of injuries, but he has a high-grade medial collateral injury.
Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard could return from his latest calf injury against Port Adelaide on Saturday, but defender Changkuoth Jiath (calf) might miss another game.
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said on Tuesday star onballer Clayton Oliver will not return from his hamstring injury until the King’s Birthday blockbuster against Collingwood.
Port Adelaide’s Mitch Georgiades was put on their inactive list after his season-ending knee reconstruction, with the mid-season draft to be held on Wednesday.
Australian Associated Press