AFL 2020: Carlton coach says players embracing the hype

In the eight for the first time since 2013, Carlton is eyeing off ladder leaders Port Adelaide and Blues captain Patrick Cripps will play.

Blues star Patrick Cripps will play against Port Adelaide. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Carlton co-captain Patrick Cripps has spent the week tackling at training and will definitely take on Port Adelaide as the Blues lap up building expectations around their 2020 potential.

Cripps was impacted by a sore shoulder in last week’s romp over the Western Bulldogs, in which Carlton was the only team to boot more than 100 points for the round, and had to leave the ground in the first quarter.

But he’s showed no signs of trouble this week and will play in the clash with ladder leaders, and fellow fast scorers Port, in a match which is drawing unexpected anticipation.

Carlton coach David Teague said his players were feeling the new buzz around them, having jumped in to the top eight for the first time in Cripps six years at the club.

Teague said the players belief was driving their performances, and being able to match it with Port was the next great test.

“I think they know if they continue to develop and grow that yeah, we have a strong believe that we are going in the right direction,” Teague said.

“The players definitely believe that.

“It’s being able to control that and that’s what he really good teams do, they turn up each week and pay near their best. They are not always at their best but they pay near their best.

“All of a sudden you get a bit of expectation and we want that expectation, we want to play in the big games, to play the teams at the top of the ladder. That’s our opportunity this week.”

Marc Murphy had to leave the field last week. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Teague said Carlton would likely take an unchanged line-up in to the game, with former captain Marc Murphy having overcome some hop soreness last week.

The rookie Blues coach said he felt his team had great depth to deal with the potential for a cramped fixture too, and that his players were prepared for quick backups which could be as little as four-days.

“We’re prepared for it in the sense that we started training the guys five days apart in the (isolation) period with really solid sessions because that’s what we thought we were coming back to,” he said.

“What I do love is we have a lot of depth, we have 10 guys that aren’t playing in our side that we would be happy to come in and play a role. We might get tested in that sense.

“I feel really comfortable that we are in as good a position as anyone to attack the condensed scheduled.”