CARLTON has made one forced change for Saturday’s clash with North Melbourne.
In what will double up as the Club’s Cultural Heritage Series game, the Blues have gone for a like-for-like replacement, with Marc Pittonet returning for his second game of the season.
Pittonet returns to the side in place of fellow tall Hudson O’Keeffe, after the second-gamer injured his hamstring in the second half of the win against West Coast.
The experienced ruckman was the clear best-on-ground in last week’s VFL win for the Carlton Reserves, registering 20 disposals, 40 hitouts and 10 clearances while receiving 10 coaches’ votes in an 86-point win.
It will be the first time in 2025 that Pittonet has been in the same side as long-time ruck partner Tom De Koning, with the duo to share the load against North Melbourne’s Tristan Xerri.
In a boost for the Blues, Charlie Curnow has been named to play against the Roos, ready to go for the Round 15 encounter after training fully on Thursday - the key forward was subbed out in the second quarter of last week’s game due to calf soreness.
Pittonet has been named on the bench alongside Matthew Carroll, Corey Durdin, Orazio Fantasia and Jesse Motlop, with the Blues to name their sub an hour before the bounce.
Saturday’s game will be a landmark for Adam Saad, who will play his 100th game in the Navy Blue, on a weekend where the Blues just announced they have ticked over the 100,000 member milestone for the second consecutive year.
