AFL decision to fixture five Carlton prime time games in 2018 even riskier after Sam Docherty injury
SAM Docherty’s knee injury hit Carlton fans like a ton of bricks — and the aftershock reached all the way to Channel 7 and the AFL fixturing department..
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NEWS of Sam Docherty’s season-ending knee injury on Wednesday hit Carlton supporters like a ton of bricks.
The Blues’ senior players had just returned to training and Docherty’s knee buckled when he put weight on his left leg to change direction during a routine run at Princes Park. By the afternoon he was booked in for surgery and the All-Australian’s season declared over.
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The shockwave then hit SuperCoach players, with Docherty’s ACL robbing more than 200,000 fantasy players of the highest-scoring defender in the game.
By the end of the 2017 season the Carlton star was in 44 per cent of SuperCoach teams, averaging 115 points a match (behind only Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin and Tom Mitchell for total points).
Then the staff at Channel 7 looked around uneasily as the building shook and rubble fell from the ceiling.
Less than three weeks ago the AFL released its 2018 fixture that scheduled Carlton for four Friday night games, plus the season-opener on a Thursday night against Richmond. That placed the Blues equal-third on the prime time ladder.
League boss Gillon McLachlan admitted it was a risky call, but expressed hope the Blues were on the rise.
“There’s clearly a bit of risk in them if you took the end of 2017 (as a guide on their form next season) but I think Carlton are building a strong team and they’re well coached.”
That was days after the Blues traded Bryce Gibbs to Adelaide. Now Docherty is gone, meaning two of the top four in last year’s best-and-fairest won’t be running out in Round 1.
What was a big risk then now looks like a massive gamble.
“It (Docherty’s injury) hits Carlton where it hurts most,” the Herald Sun’s Sam Edmund said.
“Bryce Gibbs has gone to Adelaide, they’ve lost another good player now — what’s going to happen if inevitably another player gets injured during the season or before the season?”
The Blues’ six Friday night games in 2015 resulted in hefty losses — 69 points, 75, 77, 60, 30 and 138 — and cost legendary coach Mick Malthouse his job.
Next year Carlton faces the premier in Round 1 then Collingwood (Round 3), the Western Bulldogs (Round 6), Sydney (Round 11) and St Kilda (Round 17) on the Friday night stage.
In the Blues’ most recent game they lost to Sydney by 81 points with Lance Franklin booting 10 goals. Buddy has kicked 32 goals in his past five games against Carlton.
Dustin Martin, who picked up 63 disposals and kicked four goals in two games against Carlton last year, will also be licking his lips.
The AFL and its main broadcaster might be more nervous.
Originally published as AFL decision to fixture five Carlton prime time games in 2018 even riskier after Sam Docherty injury