Carlton has named debutants Luke Mitchell and Patrick McCarthy in the 25-man squad set to take on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, with Mitchell sure to make his AFL debut after being named in the starting 18.

Mitchell has been named at full forward for Sunday’s match and is set to become the sixth player to make his AFL debut for Carlton in 2012. It is just reward for hard work and patience for Mitchell who has undergone shoulder surgery on three occasions since joining the Blues as a second round selection, number 42 overall, in the 2010 AFL Draft.

Mitchell returned to action with the Northern Blues in the VFL late in the season after resuming from shoulder surgery during the pre-season.

Patrick McCarthy will have to wait until tomorrow to find out if he has been named in the final 22, after impressing selectors in the VFL for the past month he has been named on the extended interchange bench.

McCarthy travelled to the Gold Coast as the emergency for last weekend’s game and if he is selected will take the number of AFL debutants for Carlton in 2012 to seven, joining Mitchell, Bootsma, McInnes, Bell, Casboult and Dale.

Missing from last week’s team for the final game of the season are Andrew McInnes and Levi Casboult, both missing through injury.

McInnes injured his ACL in the opening seconds of last week’s game and is set to undergo surgery early next week and his hopeful to return in May next year. Casboult suffered a lacerated kidney during last week’s game and has spent time in hospital this week and is expected to make a full recovery.

While one or two players are making their debut, Carlton senior coach Brett Ratten will be finishing his career with Carlton after 375 games - 255 as a player and Sunday will be his 120th, and final as senior coach.

After announcing Ratten will not be coaching Carlton in 2013, Sunday is a great opportunity for supporters to be at Sunday’s game to show their appreciation for the Carlton great as also welcome new players to the Carlton team.

The Carlton squad will have their final training session for 2013 on Saturday morning at Visy Park. Supporters are welcome to attend this final session which will commence at 9:00am. The Carlton Shop and Carlton Café will be open on Saturday morning.

A number of Carlton players will wear blue armbands during Saturday morning’s training session in support of the Blue September campaign to raise awareness and funds for Men’s cancer research. Marc Murphy is a Blue September ambassador.

Carlton's Round 23 squad:

B: N.Duigan S.White Z.Tuohy
HB: H.Scotland A.Walker B.Gibbs
C: M.Murphy C.Judd K.Simpson
HF: M.Robinson J.Waite C.Yarran
F: J.Garlett L.Mitchell E.Betts
Foll: M.Kreuzer B.McLean A.Carrazzo
INT FROM: D.Armfield, T.Bell, E.Curnow, D.Ellard, P.McCarthy, K.Lucas & R.O'Keeffe

IN: R.O'Keeffe, K.Lucas, M.Robinson, L.Mitchell & P.McCarthy
OUT: L.Casboult (Kidney) & A.McInnes (Knee)