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CARLTON coach Brett Ratten says his club could try to repeat Hawthorn's treatment of Collingwood match-winner Alan Didak when the two teams meet in Friday night’s blockbuster at the MCG.
Didak will be hoping to celebrate his 150th match but Ratten, speaking from Visy Park on Tuesday, said the Hawks' ability to shut down the dangerous midfielder hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Ben McGlynn wore Didak like a glove in Hawthorn's 45-point win on Saturday night, with his close-checking tactics not only successful in nullifying the Pie's influence but also testing his temper.
Ratten said the Blues would discuss their plans for Didak at match committee later in the week and that youngster Aaron Joseph was capable of the run-with role.
"We’ve sort of got players who could do that," he said. "Whether we do it will sort of be determined tomorrow."
Friday night's encounter could have a massive bearing on both teams' seasons with the top four within reach.
Carlton also has the knowledge of its 51-point defeat of Collingwood in round eight, a match Didak missed with injury.
Ratten said the Blues weren’t thinking of the double chance come finals and admitted such distractions had perhaps got the better of his players earlier this season.
"Let’s just worry about Collingwood and trying to win the game of football," he said.
"I think we got lost in the finals approach a bit earlier in the year. That’s an ambition of ours as a club and rightly so, but I think we need to worry about just getting the week-to-week right.
"Maybe we took our eyes off the footy a bit and thought, 'You know, let’s have a look at the finals or later in the year', but we know that you've just got your opponent coming at you that’s a pretty good one this week, I tell you."
Carlton has several players on the comeback trail from injury with recruit Robert Warnock likely to play his first game for the club – albeit at VFL level – this weekend.
The ruckman has fought back from a serious foot injury and, adding around 10kg during his recovery, is ready to resume.
"If everything goes right on the training track he’ll play this week at Bullants level," Ratten said.
"He’ll probably play 60 to 70 per cent game time in the ruck which will be great."
Ratten was uncertain whether the former Fremantle big man would have time to make an impact at AFL level this season.
"Does he need three weeks back [at VFL level]? Four weeks? I think we’ll sort of find out in what we see on game day at Bullants level," he mused.
Utility Andrew Walker is likely to play in the VFL again this week as he continues his return from shoulder surgery, while Setanta O’hAilpin and Michael Jamison are considered 50-50 chances to resume after missing through injury.
It was also confirmed on Tuesday that the clash between the Blues and Pies would be for the inaugural Richard Pratt Cup.
The annual fixture, whenever Carlton hosts Collingwood, will pay tribute to the Blues' former president and also raise awareness of prostate cancer.
Didak will be hoping to celebrate his 150th match but Ratten, speaking from Visy Park on Tuesday, said the Hawks' ability to shut down the dangerous midfielder hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Ben McGlynn wore Didak like a glove in Hawthorn's 45-point win on Saturday night, with his close-checking tactics not only successful in nullifying the Pie's influence but also testing his temper.
Ratten said the Blues would discuss their plans for Didak at match committee later in the week and that youngster Aaron Joseph was capable of the run-with role.
"We’ve sort of got players who could do that," he said. "Whether we do it will sort of be determined tomorrow."
Friday night's encounter could have a massive bearing on both teams' seasons with the top four within reach.
Carlton also has the knowledge of its 51-point defeat of Collingwood in round eight, a match Didak missed with injury.
Ratten said the Blues weren’t thinking of the double chance come finals and admitted such distractions had perhaps got the better of his players earlier this season.
"Let’s just worry about Collingwood and trying to win the game of football," he said.
"I think we got lost in the finals approach a bit earlier in the year. That’s an ambition of ours as a club and rightly so, but I think we need to worry about just getting the week-to-week right.
"Maybe we took our eyes off the footy a bit and thought, 'You know, let’s have a look at the finals or later in the year', but we know that you've just got your opponent coming at you that’s a pretty good one this week, I tell you."
Carlton has several players on the comeback trail from injury with recruit Robert Warnock likely to play his first game for the club – albeit at VFL level – this weekend.
The ruckman has fought back from a serious foot injury and, adding around 10kg during his recovery, is ready to resume.
"If everything goes right on the training track he’ll play this week at Bullants level," Ratten said.
"He’ll probably play 60 to 70 per cent game time in the ruck which will be great."
Ratten was uncertain whether the former Fremantle big man would have time to make an impact at AFL level this season.
"Does he need three weeks back [at VFL level]? Four weeks? I think we’ll sort of find out in what we see on game day at Bullants level," he mused.
Utility Andrew Walker is likely to play in the VFL again this week as he continues his return from shoulder surgery, while Setanta O’hAilpin and Michael Jamison are considered 50-50 chances to resume after missing through injury.
It was also confirmed on Tuesday that the clash between the Blues and Pies would be for the inaugural Richard Pratt Cup.
The annual fixture, whenever Carlton hosts Collingwood, will pay tribute to the Blues' former president and also raise awareness of prostate cancer.
