Carlton will be without crucial midfielder George Hewett for its Thursday night showdown with premiers Geelong.
Plus the Blues look to have overlooked ruckman Marc Pittonet once again despite coach Michael Voss declaring he was “ready to go” in support of young star Tom De Koning.
Hewett, whose hand was stood on in the draw against Richmond, was assessed on Wednesday and has not been named in the 26-man squad, further weakening a midfield group already missing Sam Walsh.
Pittonet is one of the emergencies but naming a ruckman as the sub would be a bold move.
Small forward Corey Durdin makes his return to the side after missing the season opener with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile the Cats confirmed earlier on Wednesday they will hand an AFL debut to Cooper Whyte plus a club debut to ex-Sun Jack Bowes.
Bowes was part of an infamous salary dump trade which saw Geelong also obtain Pick 7, having pledged to the former top-10 pick he would get AFL game time if he joined them.
“We brought him in thinking his best spot would be as an inside midfielder … I think he will be in there a little bit but he will be in other spots as well,” coach Chris Scott told reporters on Wednesday.
Whyte, the 64th pick in the 2021 draft, will slot into the Cats’ backline with Tom Stewart (knee injury) absent. However he has been named as an emergency meaning he will debut as the sub, unless he’s brought in as a late change.
Brandan Parfitt, last week’s sub, is also an emergency along with Sam Simpson and Jon Ceglar.
Teams for the rest of Round 2’s games will be announced on Thursday evening.
AFL ROUND 2 TEAMS (All times AEDT)
CARLTON v GEELONG
Thursday March 23, 7:20pm at the MCG
BLUES
B: Newman, Young, Cowan
HB: Docherty, Weitering, McGovern
C: Acres, Cripps, E.Curnow
HF: Martin, Fisher, Silvagni
F: Durdin, C.Curnow, McKay
FOLL: De Koning, Cerra, Kennedy
I/C: Saad, Hollands, Owies, Motlop
EMG: O’Brien, Honey, Plowman, Pittonet
IN: Durdin
OUT: Hewett (injured), O’Brien (sub)
CATS
B: O’Connor, De Koning, Tuohy
HB: Smith, Ratugolea, Z.Guthrie
C: Bruhn, Bowes, Holmes
HF: Stengle, Cameron, Close
F: O.Henry, Hawkins, Rohan
FOLL: Stanley, C.Guthrie, Dangerfield
I/C: Bews, Blicavs, Atkins, Miers
EMG: Whyte, Simpson, Ceglar, Parfitt
IN: Bowes
OUT: Stewart (injured), Parfitt (sub)
BRISBANE LIONS v MELBOURNE
Friday March 24, 7:55pm at the Gabba
LIONS
TBA Thursday evening
DEMONS
TBA Thursday evening
COLLINGWOOD v PORT ADELAIDE
Saturday March 25, 1:45pm at the MCG
MAGPIES
TBA Thursday evening
POWER
TBA Thursday evening
ADELAIDE CROWS v RICHMOND
Saturday March 25, 4:35pm at Adelaide Oval
CROWS
TBA Thursday evening
TIGERS
TBA Thursday evening
WESTERN BULLDOGS v ST KILDA
Saturday March 25, 7:25pm at Marvel Stadium
BULLDOGS
TBA Thursday evening
SAINTS
TBA Thursday evening
FREMANTLE v NORTH MELBOURNE
Saturday March 25, 7:30pm at Optus Stadium
DOCKERS
TBA Thursday evening
KANGAROOS
TBA Thursday evening
SYDNEY SWANS v HAWTHORN
Sunday March 26, 1:10pm at the SCG
SWANS
TBA Thursday evening
HAWKS
TBA Thursday evening
ESSENDON v GOLD COAST SUNS
Sunday March 26, 3:20pm at Marvel Stadium
BOMBERS
TBA Thursday evening
SUNS
TBA Thursday evening
WEST COAST EAGLES v GWS GIANTS
Sunday March 26, 6:20pm at Optus Stadium
EAGLES
TBA Thursday evening
GIANTS
TBA Thursday evening
