CARLTON will get a big defensive boost when they take on Richmond this Sunday.

Defensive duo Liam Jones and Dale Thomas have been named in the senior side to take on the Tigers after spending a week on the sidelines.

Thomas makes his way back into the side after missing last week’s clash with West Coast through illness.

The veteran defender was given a clean bill of health to take on the Tigers, and will add another level to the Blues’ backline in what will be his 18th AFL game this year.

Jones’ return will also be handy, as Carlton prepare themselves for Richmond’s dangerous forward line combination of Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch.

Youngster Angus Schumacher and off-season recruit Hugh Goddard are the unlucky Blues who will make way for the returning Thomas and Jones.

The Blues will also be bolstered at the other end of the ground, with Mitch McGovern returning to the line-up after a month on the sidelines.

McGovern re-joins the side for the first time since the Blues’ Round 16 loss to Melbourne, poised for return after completing an intensive conditioning block with Director of High Performance Andrew Russell.

The versatile Blue comes in for Matthew Kennedy who will join the Northern Blues when they face Richmond VFL in Sunday’s curtain raiser at the MCG.

Rounding out the changes for Sunday’s clash will be Matthew Kreuzer coming in for Andrew Phillips in the ruck.

Kreuzer makes his way back into the line-up after two weeks out with general soreness, having trained strongly ahead of the clash with Richmond.

 

Ins: Thomas, McGovern, Jones, Kreuzer

Outs: Goddard, Kennedy, Schumacher, Phillips