Blues football manager Steven Icke said O’hAilpin, Shaun Grigg and Nick Stevens – who has now served a suspension – were all possible inclusions to the Carlton team in coming weeks.
O’hAilpin, the centre of one of the biggest football stories of the year when he lashed out at teammate Cameron Cloke during an intra-club practice match on February 6, is capable of filling a key defensive post should the Blues require.
Jamison and chronic shoulder victim Andrew Walker – who re-injured his troublesome right shoulder playing for the Northern Bullants at the weekend – both visited orthopaedic surgeon Greg Hoy on Monday afternoon.
The pair received mixed news following their visits.
Walker’s frustrating run will continue, with the former No.2 draft pick set to miss the majority of the season. However, the Blues hope a course of rehabilitation and strengthening will ensure Jamison – who has previously endured shoulder problems – gets through the remainder of the season unscathed.
“In Andrew’s case … they can be as long as 16 weeks,” Icke said on Monday.
The Blues have spent much of the past few seasons without Walker, and have pinned their hopes on building a backline around the talented young Jamison.
“If you take the rehab program I guess it’s a little bit unknown [as to how long he will miss] because it depends on how well he responds to rehab,” Icke said.
The Blues expect Jamison to be missing for two to three matches, however during his absence they might consider turning to O’hAilpin to shore up their once-leaky defence.
After the Cloke incident in February, Carlton suspended the big man from the club.
O'hAilpin, 26, was barred from the senior group and forced to train with the Blues’ VFL feeder team, the Bullants, before being welcomed back a fortnight later.
Now, less than two months on, he may be poised to return to AFL action.
“He’s available; he’s over his suspension so he’d be [in line],” Icke said.
“And his form’s getting better.”
Carlton is also set to be strengthened in coming weeks by the return of silky-skilled midfielder Stevens, who has served a two-match ban.
Grigg also played with the Northern Bullants at the weekend and is believed to be close to a call-up to the senior squad.
