Boost for Blues
5:54:09 PM Wed 11 May, 2005
Angus Morgan
Sportal for afl.com.au
Carlton coach Denis Pagan has said he expects the return of key defender Luke Livingston will improve the Blues' structure against Geelong at Telstra Dome on Friday night.
Livingston, who hasn't played in the seniors since injuring his ankle in the opening match of the season against the Kangaroos, was out on the training track early at Optus Oval on Wednesday, putting in a solid 45 minutes with the club's rookies and youngsters before joining the senior squad for the week's main session.
"Livingston will play this week, he's available," declared Pagan ahead of training.
"He played an important part (in the pre-season) and I think it's probably the "in" word in football at the moment, structure. It does give us that.
"We've had Bret Thornton back for two weeks and we've missed Luke. We've tried a lot at full back and we just haven’t been able to get the set up that we like."
The return of Livingston may cost Irishman Setanta O'hAilpin, who made his debut in the disastrous loss to the Tigers last Saturday and scored a goal with his first kick in league football, his place in the line-up.
Pagan wasn't saying as much, but hinted strongly that team balance will be a factor in selection.
"I really feel for the boy because he played in a week, in his first game, when we were really under pressure and it wasn't fair to judge him," Pagan said.
"But the last thing we want to do (against Geelong) is be top heavy."
Pagan said the club would give star midfielder Nick Stevens every chance to prove his fitness from the knee injury sustained at training on Monday.
Pagan said his heart sunk when Stevens, who did some stationary work away from the main group on Wednesday, went down in the final seconds of Monday's session, and that the medical all-clear on his knee was a tremendous relief.
"It was very positive when his knee was declared structurally sound and very stable," Pagan said.
"It was probably the best news we've had for a long while at Carlton."
Pagan confirmed that full forward Brendan Fevola would return to the seniors after completing a two match suspension.
He said that the main thing he expects of Fevola, who doesn’t have a good head-to-head with Geelong full back Matthew Scarlett, is to compete.
5:54:09 PM Wed 11 May, 2005
Angus Morgan
Sportal for afl.com.au
Carlton coach Denis Pagan has said he expects the return of key defender Luke Livingston will improve the Blues' structure against Geelong at Telstra Dome on Friday night.
Livingston, who hasn't played in the seniors since injuring his ankle in the opening match of the season against the Kangaroos, was out on the training track early at Optus Oval on Wednesday, putting in a solid 45 minutes with the club's rookies and youngsters before joining the senior squad for the week's main session.
"Livingston will play this week, he's available," declared Pagan ahead of training.
"He played an important part (in the pre-season) and I think it's probably the "in" word in football at the moment, structure. It does give us that.
"We've had Bret Thornton back for two weeks and we've missed Luke. We've tried a lot at full back and we just haven’t been able to get the set up that we like."
The return of Livingston may cost Irishman Setanta O'hAilpin, who made his debut in the disastrous loss to the Tigers last Saturday and scored a goal with his first kick in league football, his place in the line-up.
Pagan wasn't saying as much, but hinted strongly that team balance will be a factor in selection.
"I really feel for the boy because he played in a week, in his first game, when we were really under pressure and it wasn't fair to judge him," Pagan said.
"But the last thing we want to do (against Geelong) is be top heavy."
Pagan said the club would give star midfielder Nick Stevens every chance to prove his fitness from the knee injury sustained at training on Monday.
Pagan said his heart sunk when Stevens, who did some stationary work away from the main group on Wednesday, went down in the final seconds of Monday's session, and that the medical all-clear on his knee was a tremendous relief.
"It was very positive when his knee was declared structurally sound and very stable," Pagan said.
"It was probably the best news we've had for a long while at Carlton."
Pagan confirmed that full forward Brendan Fevola would return to the seniors after completing a two match suspension.
He said that the main thing he expects of Fevola, who doesn’t have a good head-to-head with Geelong full back Matthew Scarlett, is to compete.
