MATTHEW Kreuzer is no certainty to hold his place as Carlton's No.1 ruckman this season, with a three-horse race developing for the role ahead of the club's round one clash with Richmond.

Kreuzer, 29, has long held the mantle of Carlton's primary ruckman, but has recently seen his place come under pressure from capable deputies Andrew Phillips and Matthew Lobbe.

Phillips proved a solid back-up option when Kreuzer was absent through injury last season, before Lobbe played in the final six matches of the year when both were unavailable.



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Phillips and Lobbe have enjoyed strong pre-seasons on the track and worked well in tandem during last Thursday night's JLT Community Series victory over Essendon at Ikon Park.

Phillips had 12 disposals and 23 hit-outs from 60 per cent game time, while Lobbe played just the second half and had five disposals and 20 hit-outs from 38 per cent game time.

Kreuzer remains in the rehab group following minor knee surgery in January, though is an outside chance of returning for the side's second JLT match next Monday.

While Carlton coach Brendon Bolton expects Kreuzer to be fully fit by round one, he revealed the battle for the once secure spot in the club's ruck division is thriving.

"I think for the first time at Carlton there's a fair bit of competition for that ruck spot if we do go with just the one," Bolton told AFL.com.au on Tuesday.

"If we go with multiple, we'll assess that from week to week. But it's fantastic because we've now got healthy bodies there.

"We've also got young Tom De Koning, who is a developing ruck, so it's game on and there's a healthy competitiveness."

Carlton played with two out-and-out rucks just twice last season, with Kreuzer and Phillips featuring in its round seven clash with Adelaide, then again in round 16 against Brisbane.

Instead, the Blues preferred forwards Harry McKay and Levi Casboult as their second option, with both continuing to spend extensive periods with the ruck group in summer training.

However, when pressed on which ruckman might be leading the race approaching the club's season-opening fixture against the Tigers in just over a fortnight's time, Bolton was non-committal.

"They're all fighting it out pretty hard at the moment," he said.

While healthy competition is developing in Carlton's ruck stocks, a similar situation is unfolding within the club's promising young midfield group.

A series of off-season arrivals forced youngsters Matthew Kennedy and Lochie O'Brien out of the side's opening JLT match against Essendon last week.

Instead, they were among eight AFL-listed players to take part in the Northern Blues' practice match against Port Melbourne at Ikon Park earlier in the day.

The addition of top draft pick Sam Walsh and former Giants onballer Will Setterfield, as well as the continued emergence of young midfielders Zac Fisher, Paddy Dow, David Cuningham and Sam Petrevski-Seton, means the Blues now have depth through the engine room.

"I spoke about the rucks, but it's competitive through the midfield as well," Bolton said.

"It's no more complex than that. The great thing about our guys is that they're competing internally, but they're also trying to grow each other.

"It's a healthy competition. That's the best way to summarise what's happening at the moment."