Carlton’s Andrew Carrazzo has become the third Blue in four days to learn his AFL season is over.
A setback with the calf injury which forced the Carlton vice-captain to miss Saturday’s loss to the Western Bulldogs has prompted the Blues to rule him out for the year.
Ex-skipper Chris Judd had already learnt his season is over after injuring a knee medial ligament against the Bulldogs.
Young defender Matthew Watson sustained a foot fracture in the same game.
It’s a major triple-blow for Carlton, who sit in ninth spot, which could be upgraded to eighth and a finals berth if Essendon are stripped of points over their supplements saga.
Blues football manager Andrew McKay tried to find the bright side of Carrazzo’s disappointment, after he missed a large chunk of games earlier in the season with an injury to his other calf.
“What it does do is it enables him to get both of his calves right for next year,” McKay told the club’s website.
“It’s obviously a huge bonus for us getting him on the field with his leadership and his skill on the field, so we’re looking forward to having a good year with him next year.”
Judd is to spend the next fortnight wearing a knee brace, but the injury is not expected to stop him completing a full pre-season.
Watson is also expected to recover in time for pre-season.
But the Blues could also lose forward speedster Jeff Garlett for Saturday’s MCG clash with Richmond.
Garlett sustained a glute injury against the Bulldogs, for which he faces a fitness test on Friday.
Ruckman Matthew Kreuzer also faces a fitness test as he seeks to return from a calf injury.