Carlton will bolster its back six with two first-choice defenders against Collingwood.<\/p>\n
The Blues are set to welcome Jacob Weitering and Harry Dean back in time for their Thursday night bout at the MCG.<\/p>\n
Both Weitering and Dean missed the trip to Gather Round with concussion, leaving Nick Haynes and Wade Derksen to play out of their weight class against Adelaide.<\/p>\n
Carlton coach Michael Voss confirmed the pair would return to take on Collingwood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll both be available,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey trained under the protocols last week on Friday and they\u2019ve trained fully this week. I expect them to be available, they\u2019ll end up back in the side.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll fit Jacob back in somewhere I reckon, he\u2019ll find a spot. They\u2019ll be two important additions for us \u2013 both the old and the new.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carlton played its best football for the year against Adelaide during last Thursday\u2019s first quarter.<\/p>\n
But the Blues benched captain Patrick Cripps for the first part of the second term and his absence allowed the Crows to storm ahead.<\/p>\n
Voss defended his decision to rest Cripps at that point last week and doubled down on the rotation tactic on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand there was some commentary on it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut correct me if I\u2019m wrong, you all had him traded last week didn\u2019t you? Now he\u2019s playing 100 per cent game time. We do what the team needs, it\u2019s team-first.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a rotation that we want to make sure we execute, there\u2019s some immediate impact that we need to have.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we also take into account that it\u2019s the whole game we need to be able to play and bring intensity around the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
Voss said the Blues would consider bringing reigning best and fairest winner George Hewett back into the side after omitting him last week.<\/p>\n