Injured Blues spearhead Jarrad Waite set for return

CARLTON forward Jarrad Waite is in line to make his long-awaited comeback in the crucial clash against Sydney on Sunday.

Jarrad Waite

CARLTON forward Jarrad Waite is in line to make his long-awaited comeback in the crucial clash against Sydney on Sunday.

In a big boost to the club's finals hopes, Waite will be strongly considered for a senior call-up after an impressive return through the VFL last weekend.

Midfielders Kade Simpson (jaw) and Mitch Robinson (calf) and forward Andrew Walker (calf) are also in the selection frame.

Waite, the club's ace spearhead, has been sidelined with a serious back injury since Round 7, robbing the club of its central marking target.

But the 29-year-old is back in the selection mix and will run out for his 150th AFL match if he can complete training this week.

Carlton VFL coach Darren Harris was optimistic Waite would be ready, after booting two goals from 13 touches for Northern Blues.

"He got through a full week of training before the VFL game and has pulled up well today, which is a very encouraging sign," Harris told the club's website.

"His performance on the weekend was solid across all four quarters. I think the real positive was late in the game, when he was putting a lot of pressure on it and was still able to run and play good football."

Despite a heavy injury toll this year, Carlton's finals hopes remain alive after three wins in the past four games.

Importantly for Brett Ratten, the spirited performances without key players has underlined the team's faith in the contracted Carlton coach.

Carlton has won only one of its past five matches at Etihad Stadium, but beat the Swans by 34 points last time they met at the indoor venue last year.

The club is a keen onlooker in the Travis Cloke contract saga, but has made no moves to trade the injury-riddled Waite.

Former Carlton great Mark Maclure said Waite's injury issues meant the club had to develop other tall goalkicking options.

"Jarrad Waite is one of those players (who) I don't think you can actually rely on to last a whole year," Maclure said.

"So what you need to do is have a contingency plan . . . you develop some of these other young kids or maybe you get a Travis Cloke.

"One or the other, it doesn't actually matter which one. Don't bank on Jarrad Waite playing 22 games a year because he just won't."