As the GIANTS get set take on the Blues at Spotless Stadium on Saturday afternoon, we’ve been keeping a close eye on all the news coming out of Ikon Park this week.
New Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has led the Blues to six wins from their past eight games to sit in 11th on the AFL ladder.
Coming off the bye in round 13, Bolton spoke to the Melbourne media from Blues training on Tuesday morning.
“We look forward to all challenges and another one presents so we know GWS has a lot of talent and can play some really powerful, fast football so we’re looking forward to that challenge,” Bolton said.
“They’re a powerful outfit, we’ve seen this year some of their really fast ball movement and pressure in and around stoppages so that challenge is great and it will provide a really great learning experience for us.
“They’re full of high draft picks and we’ve got some young talent as well. It’s not so much about who has the most talent, games are won by system and effort and both us and them are going to have to bring both.”
Carlton will potentially have four ex-GIANTS in their line-up on Saturday afternoon with Andrew Phillips, Lachie Plowman, Liam Sumner and Jed Lamb all playing regular senior football for the Blues this year.
Bolton was asked if the quartet would be out to prove a point against their old side in Sydney.
“I haven’t asked them about that because we’ve really just focused on our system and method but internally if they’re driven that way that’s great for us,” Bolton said.
Carlton leadership group member Bryce Gibbs will notch up his 200th AFL game this week. He was drafted at number one in 2006 and has proven a remarkably durable player, with 2015 the only season he has managed fewer than 21 games.
"We've got a tough game ahead of us. Our form hasn't been great the last couple of weeks," Gibbs said at Carlton on Tuesday.
"We've played some really good footy against quality opposition this year. It's not an easy task travelling to Sydney and playing them on their deck. It basically comes down to our pressure and effort.
"If you're 5-10 per cent off in that, you're going to cop a whack."
Their co-captain Marc Murphy won’t be playing on Saturday and was still in a moonboot when the Blues trained at Ikon Park on Wednesday.
Bolton also said former GIANTS ruckman Andrew Phillips was "a real chance" to return against his old side.
Phillips played this year's opening six rounds before suffering a hamstring injury, but returned in the VFL three weeks ago and quickly found "really good form".
In team news, the Blues coach also said first-year forward Jack Silvagni was in the mix to make his debut against the GIANTS on the back of consecutive four-goal hauls for the Northern Blues.
The GIANTS take on Carlton at home at Spotless Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 4.35pm with tickets starting from just $48 for two adults and two children.
