By Marc McGowan
Carlton coach Michael Voss has confirmed star on-baller Sam Walsh will return from his back injury next week to help the Blues continue their best start since the club’s 1995 premiership.
Voss’ men are unbeaten through four rounds, including a first-up draw, with twin towers Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay combining for 10 goals in their 23-point victory over North Melbourne in front of a Good Friday-record crowd of 49,062.
The dam wall finally burst on a brave but outmatched Kangaroos defence – missing Ben McKay and Griffin Logue – in the third quarter as Carlton piled on seven consecutive goals either side of three-quarter time to put paid to their challenge.
Matt Kennedy (calf) and Blake Acres (suspension) will also be available, but Walsh’s return will be the most significant of all after he underwent surgery in December.
Return to celebrate: Sam Walsh.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
“He will play next week. He had some milestones that he had to finish off,” Voss said.
“Early on, we communicated that it would probably be this timeline before we really knew where he was at.
“It’s a slightly different recovery process than most, and that he’s got some important milestones to reach. He reached his last one Wednesday, so that means he is available for selection next week, so he’ll be right to go.”
McKay (four goals) and Curnow (six) transformed into the match-winners they always threatened to be after North Melbourne shot to a surprise nine-point lead early in the third term.
McKay, in particular, took over the contest at Aiden Bonar’s expense, hauling in four marks inside 50 for the term after Carlton managed only two as a collective in the first half, then Curnow put the icing on the cake in the final quarter.
“We understand there was a bit of dialogue last week and some clever terminologies used, but it was a bit of a hot take because the reality is, over the course of the last 12 months, we’ve seen that relationship really grow.”
Michael Voss on his forwards
It was a much-needed breakout for McKay, who kicked only two goals in the first three rounds, with Voss revealing afterwards he urged his players to stop playing “too safe” and give their forwards a chance.
Curnow and McKay took turns playing as the deep forward and repeatedly set the other up for shots at goal in an ominous performance.
“We understand there was a bit of dialogue last week and some clever terminologies used, but it was a bit of a hot take because the reality is, over the course of the last 12 months, we’ve seen that relationship really grow,” Voss said.
“They haven’t played a lot of footy together. But it’s also not about those two. It’s about our forward mix. And while they’re threatening, we want our ground level to be threatening as well, and we’ve been able to get that balance in the last couple of weeks.”
An undersized motley crew of Bonar, Jack Ziebell, Luke McDonald and Daniel Howe – a late inclusion for ill teammate Miller Bergman – as well as Aidan Corr, battled valiantly in a musical-chairs approach that relied plenty on Alastair Clarkson’s defensive system.
Corr was chiefly responsible for Curnow; Ziebell minded Tom De Koning when he wasn’t in the ruck and Jack Silvagni otherwise; and the others chipped in where possible while also defending smaller Carlton forwards.
Making matters worse for North was their own spearhead, Nick Larkey, copped an accidental knee to the hip in an opening-term marking contest – and spent the rest of the evening hobbling around.
But Clarkson opted to sub out veteran midfielder Ben Cunnington, who won only 10 disposals without a clearance.
“Cunners has been a great player for our footy club, and hopefully, will continue to be, but he’s a clearance beast, and we need him to be getting clearances for our side,” Clarkson said.
“He’d be disappointed in that, but we just needed to try something different ... we just can’t keep blokes on the field if they’re not playing their role to their capability.”
Logue will return from suspension next week, while Clarkson said McKay was also a good chance to be back from his foot injury.
Voss said injury-prone defender Mitch McGovern (corked thigh) was not in doubt for Thursday night’s clash with Adelaide.
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