‘Resilient’ Carlton Blues Sam Docherty strengthens as shock chance to play finals

INSPIRATIONAL Carlton utility Sam Docherty is strengthening for a stunning comeback from a knee reconstruction in what his captain says will be a huge boost for the Blues’ elimination final.

Docherty suffered a third career ACL tear in Carlton’s season opener against Brisbane at the Gabba on 8 March.

Ahead of a rematch of that match in an elimination final next Saturday night, Docherty trained hard on Saturday to once again impress his captain Patrick Cripps.

“It was flying, wasn’t it,” Cripps told reporters after practice.

“I think he’s going to knock down (coach Michael Voss) Vossy’s door every day at the selection.

“It’s just a great story. He’s been working hard… he’s been doing this for a good month, six weeks, training.

“He put his hand up, but the coaches have to pick the side they think is the best.

“I personally like playing with him. He’s been through a lot, we’ve been through a lot together, and he’s a guy you trust on a football field.

“If he gets picked, you know he’s going to play.”

Cripps said the potential return of Docherty, who has undergone three knee reconstructions and recovered from two bouts of cancer during his 168-game career, would be a massive boost for the Blues.

“You only have a finite amount of time in football so you have to maximize every chance you get,” Cripps said.

“He got something from him at the start of the year that takes a lot of people 12 months (to recover from).

“But it’s amazing when you get the right mindset and set a goal and go after it like he did, you can achieve amazing things.

“It will be a huge boost. But another thing that’s going to really help us is that he’s a great leader there … you know he’s going to hold up in the big moments and that’s invaluable.

“It’s resilient … it takes a special person to do it.

“Obviously he’s had the three knees (reconstructions) now and two bouts of cancer and one thing he’s always done when he comes back from those is he’s worked hard and performed straight away.

“So that shows you a lot of mental toughness and mental toughness. He knows what it takes to perform at a high level.”

The Blues could also make a further six changes for the knockout final against the Lions.

Key forwards Charlie Curnow (ankle) and Harry McKay (thigh), defender Mitch McGovern (hamstring), Zac Williams (hamstring), ruckman Tom de Koning (foot) and full-back Adam Cerra (thigh) are pushing to turns away from them. respective injuries.

“That’s where this (pre)final bye helped us … you have time to really work,” Cripps said.

“If these guys come back, which I think a lot of them will, they just know the role they have to play, they don’t have to do anything special.”