Blues weighing up shock senior return for McGovern, The Age.
Quote:Mitch McGovern is in line to make a shock immediate return to Carlton’s senior team for their blockbuster clash with Geelong on Saturday night.
The recast defender will make his comeback to competitive football this weekend, provided he gets through the club’s main training session on Thursday, but it is yet to be decided if that will be at AFL or VFL level.
McGovern had surgery in early May after aggravating a hamstring injury he initially sustained at training leading into round three.
With his injury history, and the fact he has not played at any level in nearly four months, it would be a considerable gamble by the Blues’ match committee to bring him back without any match practice in the VFL.
But they are seriously considering handing McGovern an automatic recall as he would add an extra dimension to the Blues’ play with his intercept marking and high-end kicking skills.
McGovern impressed in the pre-season and in the early rounds, playing in a new role as a third tall defender after three modest, injury-interrupted seasons in the forward line under former coaches Brendon Bolton and David Teague.
The troops are gradually returning for the Blues, who welcomed back vice-captain Jacob Weitering last week from a shoulder injury.
Ruckman Marc Pittonet is edging closer to a return from a knee injury, but is considered less likely than McGovern to play this week. If he is deemed fit, he will almost certainly come back via the VFL.
Forward Jack Martin must pass a fitness test on his calf, though he, too, will likely return in the seconds.
Coach Michael Voss said last week the Blues would treat each player returning from injury on a case-by-case basis.
“We’re not sitting here saying we have to rush anything,” Voss said. “We want sustainability, we don’t just want to fix an acute area and think that’s going to change everything for us.
“We have to play the long game and make sure they’re ready to go and help us get momentum.”
Wingman Jack Newnes is in doubt to hold his place after receiving a corked thigh in the win over West Coast on Sunday.
The Blues remain hopeful Zac Williams (calf) and Caleb Marchbank (knee) will be available at the back end of the season, but the pair are yet to resume skills training.