Former AFL forward Josh Jenkins has praised the Blues for their win in difficult circumstances against Greater Western Sydney in Round 9, but questioned their forward line personnel in the absence of Harry McKay.
The Blues triumphed the Giants by 30 points on Sunday afternoon despite losing McKay during the week to a knee injury. Up against a GWS outfit keen to send off Leon Cameron in style, Michael Voss’ troops kicked their fifth 100+ score of the year to seal victory without McKay.
They had 10 individual goal kickers and five Blues kicked multiple goals, however Charlie Curnow had one of his quieter games of the year.
Curnow kicked late goals after competing hard to bring the ball to ground across the afternoon, but it was clear he was the only focal point in McKay’s absence.
“I saw the hole that Harry McKay left, it was larger than I thought,” Jenkins told SEN’s The Run Home.
“It didn’t cost them (but it will worry Michael Voss).
“GWS just blanketed Curnow, he got off the chain twice early in the last quarter, important stages of the game, but there wasn’t a lot else to go to at different stages.
“It was Curnow or bust.
“So that’s a hole, (but) they stood up, they won the game, that’s a win.”
McKay has a lateral meniscus tear in his knee and was ruled out for at least six weeks in the club’s previous win over Adelaide the week before. He had kicked 20 goals in eight games to start the season.
Jack Silvagni played as the second tall for the majority of the clash with GWS, however Voss will likely look at other options in the coming weeks.
Carlton could potentially swing Brodie Kemp forward after he played in defence to act as another key target, assuming Lewis Young returns from COVID protocols.
The Blues don’t have another healthy key forward on their list, with swingmen Mitch McGovern and Oscar McDonald both injured, coupled with ruckman Marc Pittonet, who would allow Tom De Koning to push inside 50.
Carlton plays four top eight teams in their next six games and currently sit fourth on the ladder with a percentage of 114.3.