Blue blow: Saad sidelined with hamstring injury

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Carlton will be without speedy defender Adam Saad for up to two weeks after scans revealed a low-grade hamstring strain.

But Blues ruckman Marc Pittonet has been cleared of any damage to his eye and will be available to play when his side takes on St Kilda on Sunday.

Adam Saad has a low-grade hamstring strain.Credit: AFL Photos

Saad and Pittonet were injured in the loss to Adelaide last Thursday, Carlton’s first of the season. Pittonet came off the ground bleeding from the head in the second quarter and was subbed out shortly after. Saad finished the game on the bench.

Mitch McGovern was a late out on Thursday night with calf tightness, replaced in the side by Lachie Plowman. The Blues said he would aim to train fully on Friday and needs to pass a fitness test to face the Saints.

Saad’s loss is a blow for Carlton. Before last Thursday’s defeat to the Crows, he had been in career-best form, averaging a career-high 23.8 disposals, 7.3 contested possessions and 9.3 intercept possessions and has been the Blues’ No.1 ranked player.

His absence is magnified by the injury to fellow defender Sam Docherty, who is sidelined for at least a month.

The 29-year-old reported knee soreness after the Good Friday win over North Melbourne and has had surgery to repair a meniscus tear. The initial prognosis for Docherty was a four-to-six week stint on the sidelines.

Jack Martin, David Cuningham and Caleb Marchbank, who have had luckless runs with injury, have all been dealing with calf issues. Martin and Cuningham will return to skills training next week, while Marchbank is back training this week. Matthew Cottrell is in full training and expected to be available for selection next week.

The fourth-placed Blues will host top-of-the-table St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, where a large crowd is expected.

With both teams performing well this season, general public tickets are exhausted for this weekend’s game, although members can still scan in at the gate on the day.

The record crowd between the Blues and Saints at Marvel Stadium is 50,820 in 2009, when St Kilda hung on for a nine-point win.

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