Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has said that "healthy competition" has developed over the pre-season between players ready to step into Sam Docherty's position.
After Docherty's season was ended before it began, when he ruptured his ACL in November, Bolton told AFL.com.au, that it was "really emotional", once the Blues learnt the fate of Docherty's injury.
Since his arrival at the Blues in 2014, Docherty, was coming off two outstanding seasons – winning Carlton's best and fairest award in 2016 and securing his maiden All Australian selection last year. He was also appointed joint vice captain - alongside Patrick Cripps - for the 2018 season.
Bolton has said that mature age recruits Aaron Mullet and Cam O'Shea were among many players pressing their case to fill Docherty's position, along with second year player Tom Williamson and Irishman Ciaran Byrne.
Bolton expressed, however, that it will be a collective effort from the back six to cover the absence of the All Australian defender.
"I don't think one player will fill [the hole left by Docherty]. You can't replace an All Australian that easily," Bolton said.
"Multiple players will need to step up to fill a percentage of Sam Docherty's role, particularly with regards to his leadership.
"All of the players are committed to doing that, which is great."
With Docherty out for the season, the quest to fill the position left by Bryce Gibbs is also one that has seen healthy competition. Gibbs has shouldered the midfield for the past couple of years, and is a player that you cant replace overnight.
"I don't think you can replace a 200-plus-gamer in Bryce Gibbs overnight but it gives opportunity for Sam Petrevski-Seton, Matthew Kennedy, Darcy Lang, Paddy Dow, Zac Fisher and Lochie O'Brien to grow in and around Paddy Cripps," Bolton says.
"We lose some experience but we gain more players – young in age but with a lot of talent – and they get an opportunity to grow this club and take it forward."
Exciting top 10 draft picks Lochie O'Brien and Paddie Dow, are "in the mix" to make their AFL debut against the Tigers in Round 1.
"Paddy had an interrupted start with his shoulder but since then what we've liked is how he comes out of a stoppage. He moves really quickly and gets out the front of stoppages," Bolton said.
"Lochie O'Brien is a running machine, an outside mid with a long left foot. He competes with the Curnows (in running drills), which says what sort of engine he's got.
"They're now just learning how to play in a team structure, but their natural talents are exciting and let's see where that gets to."
Carlton play their opening JLT fixture on Wednesday the 28th of February against St Kilda at Ikon Park, which will give players the opportunity to impress ahead of the opening round of the season.
