CARLTON co-captain Sam Docherty concedes he is "unlikely" to make his long-awaited return from a second successive ACL injury this season.
Docherty, who penned a one-year contract extension taking him through until 2021 on Monday, now looks set to miss a second straight full campaign due to the injury.
The Blues had initially signalled the former All Australian defender's intentions to target a late-season return from his most recent injury, sustained last December.
However, despite his recovery progressing as planned, Docherty has revealed a 2019 comeback was always a long-shot and still appears a distant possibility.
"It's still on the agenda, we're just progressing as we go," Docherty said.
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"If that puts me in a position late in the year to be able to get back and play, then I'll do that, but it's probably looking more unlikely than likely for later this year.
"We're still progressing through. If I get lucky enough that it feels really good and I complete all of the training and we feel like it's a safe decision to make, then we might.
"But it's probably looking more unlikely at this stage."
Carlton's leaders, including Ed Curnow and Sam Docherty, pose for a photo back in December, 2018. Picture: AFL Photos
Having won Carlton's best and fairest in 2016 and been named in the Virgin Australia AFL All Australian side a year later, Docherty now hasn't featured for the Blues at any level since August 2017.
However, despite the club's on-field struggles throughout his time on the sidelines, the highly rated defender has said he will continue to take a sensible approach to his recovery.
"It is what it is," Docherty said.
"I can't push any harder than what I am. I have to stay safe and I have to keep my long-term future in order, so obviously signing on is an important part of that.
"I understood that it was going to be hard coming back this year anyway. From last year, I could've come back and played the last month and (this time) I did my knee a month later than I did before, so I always knew it was going to be a stretch.
"Like most footballers who want to get back and play footy, I'll always keep the door ajar."
Docherty re-signed alongside another member of Carlton's leadership group in Ed Curnow, with the experienced Blues midfielder also penning a one-year extension into 2020.
Curnow, who has successfully completed a number of shutdown roles on some of the game's best midfielders this season, expects either Nat Fyfe or Michael Walters this Sunday.
"I haven't played on Nat before," Curnow said.
"We used to tag him with Simon White, who was a big defender. But they've certainly got some talent through their midfield, then there's Bradley Hill as well.
"Who knows which one I'll take. We'll keep Freo guessing."
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