B: Nick Duigan, Michael Jamison, Jeremy Laidler
HB: Heath Scotland, Lachie Henderson, Chris Yarran
C: Kade Simpson, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs
HF: Mitch Robinson, Jarrad Waite, Jeff Garlett
F: Eddie Betts, Shaun Hampson, Andrew Walker
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Judd, Andrew Carrazzo
I/C: Brock McLean, Dennis Armfield, Zach Tuohy
Sub: Kane Lucas
Injury list
New coach Mick Malthouse has achieved his pre-season aim to hit round one with a healthy list. The only key injury concern is Jarrad Waite, who is unlikely to play in the season opener because of a calf problem. Former skipper Chris Judd was eased back in the NAB Cup Grand Final after overcoming a hamstring strain and will improve by the week.
The big questions
Is it possible for Malthouse to introduce a completely different game plan and methodology from those employed by predecessor Brett Ratten and lift Carlton from 10th to the top four in his first season?
What is the Blues' best ruck/key-forward combination when all of the big blokes – Matthew Kreuzer, Shaun Hampson, Robert Warnock, Jarrad Waite, Levi Casboult and Sam Rowe – are fit and firing?
Can they win at least three of their opening five tough encounters – against Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong, West Coast (in Perth) and Adelaide (MCG) respectively – to stay with the pack?
AFL.com.au experts examine Carlton's 2013 fixture
Summer standout
Difficult to split Kane Lucas and Simon White, both of whom have finally arrested injury issues that have thwarted their attempts to establish themselves at AFL level. Lucas adds spark and run, as he showed when he gathered a game-high 34 disposals in the NAB Cup Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Lions, while White's value is as a key-position swingman.
Fantasy cash cow
As silly as it sounds, Chris Judd is possibly under-priced at $465,800. Without the responsibility of the captaincy, the long-time superstar is focusing on reproducing his best football as he enters the final phase of his glittering career. Might start slowly after recovering from a hamstring strain but he averaged 90.41 points last year and could be back to triple figures in 2013.
Sudden impact
First-year midfielder Nick Graham was impressive in some early practice matches, and resembled a seasoned veteran at times with his hardness and composure, before suffering a knee injury that could sideline him for another 7-8 weeks. Fellow draftees Troy Menzel and Tom Temay also have the potential to add to the Blues' running brigade.
It's crunch time for…
… Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer. If the Blues are to challenge for a top-four berth, they need this sublimely talented pair to fully deliver on their enormous potential by becoming elite players. Both have been impressive this pre-season with Gibbs, just turned 24, relishing a move to the midfield and Kreuzer, 24 in May, making the No. 1 ruck role his own.
Pivotal match
They don’t get any bigger than the Blues' opening two fixtures of the season against arch enemies Richmond and Collingwood in front of packed houses at the MCG – clashes that will provide a decent gauge on their hopes for higher honours. Malthouse coaching against the Pies is a tantalising proposition.
The Blues will have a good year if…
… Sooner rather than later, they grasp and execute the new game plan to the coach's satisfaction. At Collingwood, Malthouse's proven system, based around pillars of team defence and rigid discipline, flourished almost regardless of the personnel available. Which, of course, is the whole idea, particularly at a club that has been accused of relying on too much on too few.
AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish:
Ninth
