NICK Stevens will captain Carlton against Port Adelaide in the club's round-one NAB Cup clash at AAMI Stadium.
Carlton coach Brett Ratten confirmed on Thursday morning the on-baller will skipper the Blues for their opening encounter of 2007 on February 16 which will mark his return from a long-term neck injury.
Stevens last played in round three last season and is seen as the main rival to star recruit Chris Judd for the Blues' captaincy once the season proper begins.
Judd continues to struggle with his recovery from groin surgery at the end of 2007, but Ratten said Stevens had done everything right during the pre-season.
“He’s done all the work and his neck seems fine,” Ratten said.
“He crashed and bashed and got into the contests over in South Africa so he’s feeling confident which is great.”
Stevens kicked a goal in Carlton's 14-point loss to Fremantle in a South African exhibition match last week and looked comfortable on his return to competitive football.
Ratten also quashed speculation Chris Judd had reinjured the adductor that had been operated on over summer.
The Blues' coach said Judd was still on track for a round-one debut in the navy blue.
“I’ve heard the rumours and people have been ringing me about Chris but he’s fine to go,” Ratten said.
“He’s in a program that’s trying to get him to round one right on time and he is right on track for us so there are no hiccups.”
Ratten said Judd would play at least one practice match before the home-and-away season starts and said the champion midfielder was understandably annoyed with being in rehabilitation mode.
“It’s the first time the young man has had an injury that has kept him off the track,” Ratten said.
“Some players are a little bit impatient with their injuries and it is frustrating when it is the first time they are kept out of the team environment.”
“I think that is what has frustrated Chris the most. He wants to get out there and mingle and do all the training with all the boys.”
Ratten said all the players had benefitted greatly from the club’s Telstra AFL Community Camp in South Africa.
“I think we’ve seen players in an environment where we are together for 11 days and how they can bring the team together and people together,” he said.
“A couple were ahead of where we thought and on the flip side there were a couple not advanced as we thought.
“I thought [Adam] Hartlett did well,” Ratten said.
“To kick three goals in a half after an interrupted preparation was pretty good and Shaun Hampson’s ruck work was outstanding.”
No.1 draft pick Matthew Kreuzer will play in the NAB Cup opener but Ratten said he was careful not to burden him with too big a workload.
“We are mindful that it is Matthew’s first season in the AFL and to make sure we don’t cook him,” Ratten said.
“He’s got all the attributes to play the game for a long time and we don’t need to ruck him against Dean Cox and blokes that could physically harm him.”
