CARLTON will have a number of ways in which it can fill Sam Docherty’s void in 2018.

The reigning All-Australian defender and former best and fairest will miss the entirety of next season after rupturing his ACL in the club’s first week of summer training.

However, the Blues have recruited smartly in order to ease the pain of Docherty’s injury, giving Brendon Bolton a number of ways in which he can fill the chasm across half back.

Aaron Mullett was picked up from North Melbourne as a delisted free agent, while former Port Adelaide defender Cam O’Shea joins following a year with the Northern Blues.

Finals Week 1

Angus Schumacher and Jarrod Garlett were both taken in the 70s at last week’s draft and both spent periods across half back with Bendigo and South Fremantle respectively last year.

Meanwhile, young duo Tom Williamson and Harrison Macreadie showed plenty of promise in their maiden campaigns at the club and should benefit from a second pre-season.

The Blues will also welcome Irish defender Ciaran Byrne back from a series of injury setbacks that have limited him to just 15 games over the last three years.

Those players will add crucial depth to a Carlton back line that already features young key pillars Jacob Weitering, Lachie Plowman and Caleb Marchbank.

Elsewhere, Carlton will be hoping recruits Matthew Kennedy and Darcy Lang can go straight into the team’s engine room — while Paddy Dow will also push for a Round 1 debut.

The Blues will also hope to bring through a number of other fresh-faced youngsters including David Cuningham, Harrison Macreadie, Cam Polson and Lochie O’Brien.

Carlton recruited Aaron Mullett from North Melbourne. Source: Getty Images

THE LOCK

After a 2017 campaign plagued by injury, Patrick Cripps will be desperate to hit the ground running next season. Cripps missed the back half of the year due to a broken leg sustained in Round 16, but had enjoyed a prolific season up until that point. He was averaging 24.9 disposals, 6.7 clearances and 6.0 tackles per game to well and truly establish himself as one of the best young midfielders in the competition. Set to enjoy a full pre-season this time around, expect Cripps to enhance his standing within the competition in 2018.

THE BUBBLE

A knee injury sustained in Round 9 ruled Sam Rowe out for the majority of last season. Now, the stopper could have his work cut out for him in order to get back into this Carlton team. The form of Liam Jones throughout the second half of the year means he’s a certain starter, while Brendon Bolton may favour a couple of the club’s younger bodies in the early stages of next year. At 30, Rowe will get his opportunity, but he may have to be patient.

THE RISING STAR

Big things are coming for Charlie Curnow. The gifted 20-year-old enjoyed an impressive end to last season and looks to have finally figured out how to use his best assets in the AFL arena. He kicked 13 goals from his final nine games last year, while he also averaged 16.4 disposals and 6.6 marks per game during that time. He’s got an incredible leap, a great set of hands and a strong endurance base, making him a versatile prospect.

Charlie Curnow is one of the game’s best young players. Source: Getty Images

IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR ...

There’s a different type of pressure facing Liam Jones in 2018. In the past, the majority of pundits and fans would have entered an AFL season questioning whether he deserved to be on a list. Now, many are wondering whether he’ll end 2018 as an All-Australian. Such was his form behind the ball last year, the battle for Jones is to now live up to loftier expectations next season. If he can string together the type of performances that he displayed after winning back his place in the side last year, there’s every chance he could end 2018 as one of the game’s best intercept defenders.

BEST 22

B: Lachie Plowman, Liam Jones, Ciaran Byrne

HB: Caleb Marchbank, Jacob Weitering, Kade Simpson

C: Ed Curnow, Patrick Cripps, Sam Petrevski-Seton

HF: Darcy Lang, Charlie Curnow, Dale Thomas

F: Matthew Wright, Levi Casboult, Harry McKay

FOLL: Matthew Kreuzer, Marc Murphy, Matthew Kennedy

I/C: Tom Williamson, Paddy Dow, Jack Silvagni, Zac Fisher

EMG: Jarrod Pickett, Sam Rowe, Jed Lamb

OTHERS: David Cuningham, Tom De Koning, Jarrod Garlett, Nick Graham, Patrick Kerr, Sam Kerridge, Matthew Lobbe, Harrison Macreadie, Aaron Mullett, Lochie O’Brien, Cam O’Shea, Andrew Phillips, Cam Polson, Angus Schumacher

ROOKIES: Jesse Glass-McCasker, Kym LeBois, Cillian McDaid, Matt Shaw, Alex Silvagni

LONG-TERM INJURIES: Sam Docherty