Carlton is set to stick with its “hybrid” four-tall backline when it takes on Brisbane’s rampant forward group in Saturday’s preliminary final.
Backline coach Aaron Hamill says the Blues think their mix of defenders can deal with the demands of the Lions, who were led by Joe Daniher (five goals) and Cam Rayner (three) in their qualifying final win over Port Adelaide but also boast All-Australian Charlie Cameron among a raft of other threats.
Hamill, who played 190 games at Carlton and St Kilda and joined coach Michael Voss’ team as an assistant coach ahead of 2022, was confident the Blues’ “unique blend” would hold up against a significantly more potent forward line than what was offered by semi-final opponents Melbourne.
He backed Caleb Marchbank (193cm) to continue playing alongside Brodie Kemp (192cm) and Mitch McGovern (190cm) in addition to fullback Jacob Weitering.
The Blues have smaller options Jordan Boyd and Zac Fisher waiting in the wings should they wish to alter the balance, but Hamill suggested it was unlikely.
“We feel we’re quite a hybrid back seven with McGovern, Marchbank and Kemp, they’re quite hybrid,” Hamill said.
“We’ve got quite a unique blend back there … we feel that we’ve got a good balance of speed and power and endurance there, and we need a fair bit of punch with run and overlap. We feel we can cater for any type of forward line.”
Hamill said Marchbank’s effort to re-establish himself in the Blues’ best 22 after playing only four games between 2020 and 2022 had been remarkable.
He said St Kilda great and former teammate Nick Riewoldt had repeatedly checked in about when Marchbank would be fit after the defender left an impression on Riewoldt with his strong performance opposed to him during his first season at the Blues in 2017.
“The number of years that he sat out, it’s a credit to him. While he’s had some really strong moments and some good times, he’s had a heap of lows as well,” Hamill said.
“So just to see him up and running, and his ability to keep going and churning them out in terms of the rehab sessions and the diligence his shown, it’s no surprise to see him back there.
“It’s a credit to him and our performance staff to keep him on the park – he’s done well.”
Hamill said McGovern, who looms as the likely match-up for the in-form Rayner, had been a maligned player but was of vital importance to Carlton’s premiership tilt.
“He’s had a significant journey, and a maligned one hasn’t he externally, but internally we knew that if we were able to get him right what he was able to offer, and that’s just what he’s done,” he said.
“We know what we’re getting with Gov, he’s quite an intelligent footballer and we know the skill that he’s got at either end of the ground.
“He gives us a real point of difference with his intercept game but it’s what he does with ball in hand. We missed a little bit of that with Zac Williams not being there … we needed a bit more punch out of there, and Gov’s given us that as well.”
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