Carlton remains unsure how long injured duo Matthew Kreuzer and Matthew Kennedy will be out

WHEN you’re a young team, you can least afford injuries to your star players. After Thursday’s season opener, Carlton remains unsure how long Matthew Kreuzer and Matthew Kennedy will be out of action.

CARLTON is no closer to learning of the severity of injuries to Matthew Kreuzer and Matthew Kennedy after both went down against Richmond.

Kennedy was lost to a game-ending ankle sprain in the first half while Kreuzer was severely restricted by a groin injury in the third quarter. RELIVE ALL TODAY’S FOOTBALL NEWS IN OUR BLOG BELOW ROUND 1: NEW YEAR, SAM OLD DUSTIN MARTIN ANALYSIS: ATTACKING BLUES BEGIN EXCITING NEW ERA STAR MIDS: PATRICK CRIPPS COMING FOR DUSTY’S THRONE DAVID KING: JAKE STRINGER ‘ISN’T A MIDFIELDER’S BACKSIDE’ The Blues on Friday said the pair would be assessed next week and remained hopeful they would feature in Saturday’s Round 2 clash with Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium. Carlton coach Brendon Bolton admitted after the game that Kennedy was a “significant loss” but said his players needed to learn how to cope with adversity. “Our players need to learn to fight through that ... we won’t make excuses,’’ he said. “Our group is pretty edgy - they’re holding themselves to high account,” Bolton said. “That’s a step in maturity. They were a bit edgy with each other tonight, which is good. “There’s no doubt about the effort, but we’re here to win games.” RELIVE ALL TODAY’S FOOTBALL NEWS IN OUR BLOG BELOW

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