Carlton’s Charlie Curnow will join suspended brother Ed on the sidelines after all, with a quad injury ruling him out of Sunday’s MCG clash with Melbourne.
Curnow survived the AFL’s tribunal and appeals process to avoid a one-match ban for touching an umpire in last week’s win over Essendon.
But Carlton coach Brendon Bolton revealed on Saturday that the exciting forward experienced some quad tightness at training during the week and will not take his place against the Demons.
“It’s not a significant injury, we are pretty hopeful it’s only a week but he plays really dynamic footy so we weren’t prepared to take that risk,” Bolton said.
Curnow’s injury paves the way for Pat Kerr, Carlton’s fourth-round draft pick in 2016, to make his AFL debut against the Demons.
The 19-year-old tall forward is the grandson of Carlton legend Laurie Kerr, who played 149 games for the Blues between 1950 and 1959.
“He’s been working away really hard for the last year and a half,” Bolton said.
“Carlton’s in his blood, it’s in his family and he was just buzzing this morning when I told him.”
Bolton was also thrilled with the news that captain Marc Murphy will play on Sunday having recovered from a plantar fascia injury suffered in round four.
“Geez, we are happy to have him back,” he said.
“It just puts a different feel through the group, he organises in and around our structure and we know what a quality ball user he is.”
Melbourne have climbed to sixth spot on the ladder following three-straight wins and will be strengthened by the return of co-captain Jack Viney after a long battle with a foot stress fracture.
The Demons are leading the way in centre clearances, contested possessions and inside 50s this season and Bolton knows his young squad must match them in these areas if they hope to pull off back-to-back wins.
“They’ve been really consistent over a number of games now, they are playing some good football,” Bolton said.
“They’ve got quality midfielders – I know Viney’s back now, (Clayton) Oliver, (Max) Gawn in the ruck – so I think that midfield battle is the most critical.”
