AFL: Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet out for up to three months with serious knee injury

Carlton will have to turn to a young ruckman to keep on track for finals after No.1 big man Marc Pittonet suffered a major setback.

Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet faces up to three months on the sidelines with a left knee injury. Picture: Getty Images

Carlton is set to hand the ruck reins to emerging big man Tom De Koning for up to three months, with Marc Pittonet forced to the sidelines with a PCL rupture.

Pittonet suffered the injury in a first-quarter ruck collision and was subbed out of the 35-point loss to Fremantle before scans in Melbourne confirmed the extent of the damage.

Coleman Medal winner Harry McKay (knee) will have to pass a fitness test to play North Melbourne on Saturday night, while Matt Kennedy (soreness) and Jack Silvagni (ankle) could return.

Pittonet has blossomed into the Blues’ main ruckman since crossing from Hawthorn at the end of the 2019 season but they will need to rely on 27-gamer De Koning in his absence.

Carlton’s head of football Brad Lloyd said the 25-year-old’s injury was “a significant one”.

“(It) will sideline Marc for an extended period of time, which is unfortunate, given the amount of work he put in throughout the entire summer,” Lloyd said.

Marc Pittonet hurt his left knee in the first quarter of last week’s loss to Fremantle. Picture: Getty Images

“We were really starting to see the results of that during the early parts of the season.

“While Marc won’t be able to have an impact on-field for the coming months; we have no doubt the energy and positivity he brings to our football club every day he walks through the door will continue.

“For now, it’s about supporting Marc through his recovery, as he approaches his rehab with a focus to be available later in the season.”

De Koning struggled in his only opportunity this season to lead the Blues’ ruck division in round 4 against Gold Coast’s Jarrod Witts, when Pittonet missed with a back injury.

But the 22-year-old is highly rated as a ruck-forward prospect and the hope is the extra responsibility will fast-track his development.