CARLTON recruit Dale Thomas has missed the start of his club's high altitude training camp at Flagstaff, Arizona, with the Blues preferring the 26-year-old continue his rehabilitation in Melbourne for the remainder of this week.
The late departure was planned, as the Blues decided there was no value in Thomas being in Arizona this week as he would have been unable to join the group on its treks to the Grand Canyon and Mt Humphreys.
The highly prized midfielder trained at Visy Park with the team on Monday before receiving a positive report from a specialist in his regular check up during the week and he is expected to leave for Arizona on Saturday.
Although about a dozen Carlton players have remained in Melbourne, including Chris Judd, Andrew Carazzo and Matthew Kreuzer, the club felt the trip was a good chance for Thomas to get to know his new teammates.
Carlton football operations manager Andrew McKay told AFL.com.au from Arizona that Thomas would do cardio work on the trip and would be able to join in the activities planned for the second week.
"We thought that given 'Daisy' [Dale Thomas] is new to the club it is a good chance for him to come over and mix with the other guys and get to know them," McKay said.
"We thought we'll do it for a week and he can hook into the bike ride and that sort of stuff."
Thomas had a difficult 2013, only playing five senior games for Collingwood in 2013 due to a troublesome right ankle and decided to join Carlton as a free agent at the end of the season.
He had undergone surgery on his right ankle in May and then suffered a fresh injury on the ankle when he came back in August.
He signed a four-year deal with Carlton as a free agent after a glittering 157-game career with the Magpies that included a premiership and All-Australian selection.
Thomas’ performances in 2010 finals series stamped his reputation as one of the game's best big game players but he decided he needed a fresh start.
Blues coach Mick Malthouse waved away concerns about the midfielder’s ankle at a media conference on Monday before the team left for Arizona.
"We wouldn't be picking a player who couldn’t tick the boxes. He's ticked all those that need to be ticked at this stage," Malthouse said."He'll be very, very good for our football club."
Malthouse said that for a variety of reasons, a number of Blues would not be going to Arizona. Among them are Matthew Kreuzer and veterans Chris Judd, Andrew Carrazzo and Heath Scotland.
The main party left on Tuesday for the United States and are due to return on December 19.
