Carlton are set to unveil two AFL debutants of their season-opening blockbuster in opposition to outdated rivals Richmond.
Ollie Hollands and Lachie Cowan – recruited with picks 11 and 30 respectively ultimately 12 months’s draft – have been instructed of their choice at Monday’s workforce assembly.
The youngsters, who each grew up barracking for the Blues, will line up in entrance of about 90,000 followers at a sold-out MCG on Thursday evening.
“I don’t think we’re going in hoping,” Carlton coach Michael Voss instructed Fox Footy.
“We’ve got a fair body of work that we’ve seen since December when they came on board and they’ve slowly been able to adapt to our way.
“They’ll develop inside the roles that they have been given however they’re two thrilling additions, for certain.”
Voss has been buoyed by what he has seen from Hollands and Cowan in pre-season practice matches against Collingwood and Sydney.
“When you begin enjoying in opposition to AFL opposition you begin measuring them like for like and we have performed in opposition to two high quality opponents,” Voss stated.
“They’re enjoying in opposition to some top-quality opposition, so that you get to measure them in opposition to that and so they’ve achieved fairly properly.”
Hollands was the Blues’ first selection at last year’s draft, having starred on a wing for the Murray Bushrangers and Vic Country.
He is the younger brother of Gold Coast midfielder Elijah Hollands.
Tasmania product Cowan, a tough half-back who runs well, will be asked to step up as a replacement for Zac Williams, who will miss the entire season with a knee injury sustained last month.
“(Cowan) is basically calm, actually collected, nothing appears to faze him an excessive amount of,” Voss stated.
“He’ll deal with it very well.”
Carlton and Richmond will name their full round-one teams on Wednesday, with former Fremantle and St Kilda wingman Blake Acres also set to play his first game for the Blues.
Meanwhile, Carlton defender Lewis Young has signed a three-year contract extension with the club.
The 24-year-old emerged as a daily lockdown defender final season and led Carlton for intercept marks.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
