2 weeks Ago By Scott Spits
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. 1 of 1 Carlton forward Harry McKay was absent from training on Wednesday and was not named to play in the Blues’ blockbuster game against Collingwood. McKay played in an intraclub scratch match on the weekend and trained with the main group on Tuesday but was not among the 26 players who took part in a light session at IKON Park.
Harry McKay did not train with Carlton’s main group on Wednesday. Credit: Getty Images The Blues made three changes to their side for Thursday night’s match at the MCG, with Ashton Moir, Cooper Lord and debutante Will White coming in while Matthew Cottrell, Jordan Boyd and Francis Evans were left out. The Magpies made two changes with Billy Frampton and Brody Mihocek coming in at the expense of Reef McInnes and Mason Cox.
Blues coach Michael Voss refused to give an update on McKay’s progress at his weekly press pregame press conference. “[I] probably won’t go into the ‘H’ stuff,” Voss said. “The important thing for us is we don’t go into the dialogue weekly about where he’s at.
I think we’ve been pretty sound on our position as a club that when he’s named in the team he’ll be ready to go. “When we get to the point that he’s named you’ll just know that he’s ready to go.” Click here to read the story Small forward Will White will make his AFL debut, just 38 days after being signed to Carlton’s list as a replacement for No.
3 draft pick Jagga Smith, who suffered an ACL injury in the pre-season . After letting Matt Owies go to West Coast in the off-season, the Blues have struggled for goals out of their small forwards. Carlton had just four goal-kickers - Brodie Kemp, Charlie Curnow, Lewis Young and Jesse Motlop - in last Friday night’s loss against the Western Bulldogs.
Carlton have made three changes, with only utility Matt Cottrell injured and unavailable. Small forward Francis Evans and defender Jordan Boyd make way for Ashton Moir and Cooper Lord. Elijah Hollands, who took personal leave on the eve of the season, will make his comeback via Carlton’s VFL team this weekend.
“Elijah’s been able to take some time away from the club, but I guess over the last little while he’s had more presence within our program,” Blues coach Michael Voss said. “I guess how he finds his way back into the team is by putting in a solid performance.” Collingwood have picked premiership player Billy Frampton as the replacement for injured young defender Reef McInnes.
Set for a breakout season, 22-year-old McInnes ruptured his ACL in the Magpies’ last-start win against the Western Bulldogs and won’t play again this year. Premiership veteran Mason Cox has been axed in favour of forward Brody Mihocek, who missed the clash with the Bulldogs due to soreness. After winning 10 of their last 12 matches against Carlton, Collingwood will start as warm favourites to move to 3-1 and send their bitter rivals to 0-4.
The Magpies won both games last season by combined tally of nine points. AAP These statistics paint a picture of how Carlton have faded out of matches. Yes, all of a sudden, it’s round four of the AFL season.
And, yes, the round launches into action with a Thursday night blockbuster. Tonight Carlton will be desperate to avoid a 0-4 start to the season. There’s much at state for Collingwood, too.
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