TWO out of five players who don the navy blue each week are aged under 22. 

With a fortnight remaining in the home-and-away season, Carlton’s investment in its youth is evident.

The stats show that out of the 22 players fielded each week, just shy of nine players (8.95) are in the 18-21 age bracket.

The Blues’ opponents this weekend — the Western Bulldogs — are next best with 8.5. The two sides are comfortably ahead of the rest of the pack in the statistic.

Each side has had eight players between 18-21 who have played a dozen or more games in 2018. That is expected to rise to nine on Sunday, with key forwards Harry McKay and Josh Schache having played 11 games so far this year.

For 26 consecutive games, Carlton has used six or more players under 22 in its side. 

A factor in that has been the injuries sustained over the course of the season. If not for injuries to promising young defenders Harrison Macreadie and Tom Williamson, the tally could be even higher for the Blues.

Yesterday, it was announced that Charlie Curnow and Zac Fisher had been nominated for the AFL Players’ 22under22 squad. The Blues’ list also boasts seven Rising Star nominees since 2016, including Paddy Dow this year.

While 2018 has been a difficult one in the wins-and-losses column, the future is bright for Bluebaggers.