Blues won't target injured Eagles duo
Carlton tagger Andrew Carrazzo says the Blues won't waste their focus targeting the injuries of West Coast pair Daniel Kerr and Dean Cox in Saturday night's AFL semi-final at Patersons Stadium.
Kerr has been named for his first match in almost a month after finally shaking off the back injury sustained when he got crunched by Essendon's Nathan Lovett-Murray.
Cox, who was subbed out of last week's qualifying final loss to Collingwood due to back spasms, has also been given the green light to take on the Blues despite failing to train on Wednesday.
Although the star Eagles duo will enter the cut-throat clash with question marks surrounding their fitness, Carrazzo - who is in line to get the job of quelling Kerr - said it would be folly for the Blues to target them specifically.
"I think at this time of year the majority of guys are carrying injuries," Carrazzo said after touching down at Perth airport on Thursday afternoon.
"So whether they're publicised or not, the game's too fast and too much other stuff is going on to worry about trying to get into guys with different injuries."
The sudden-death clash looms as a battle of height versus speed, with the Eagles boasting the AFL's tallest attack and the Blues the quickest.
Carlton forward Bret Thornton said the long and narrow Patersons Stadium ground - which at 175m is 15m longer than the MCG or Etihad Stadium - should suit the Blues well.
"Probably West Coast and Collingwood are the two best zoning teams and they deny you the space better than anyone, obviously I don't think we'll get as much space," Thornton said.
"In saying that, Subiaco's probably the longest ground in the comp, so hopefully we can get them over the back a few times as well."
Carlton has won all four of their interstate games this year, and got the finals monkey off their back with last week's elimination final romp over Essendon.
The Eagles have lost just once in Perth this season, but Carrazzo said the Blues were quietly confident of pulling off an upset.
"I don't think it matters whether we're interstate or not," Carrazzo said.
"There was a bit of weight lifted off our shoulders having won last week.
"We've played some really good footy interstate and were just pipped last year (by Sydney) in a similar game.
"So I don't think it's going to have a huge bearing the fact we're playing interstate.
"The pressure's on both teams, pressure being whoever loses is out."
West Coast utility Brad Ebert became the unlucky omission following Kerr's inclusion, while Carlton brought in Irish recruit Zach Tuohy for injured midfielder Bryce Gibbs (shoulder).
"He (Tuohy) has fantastic leg speed and his defensive skills are really good," Carrazzo said.
"If he can bring that to the table he is going to be a real asset for us."
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