Docherty knee blow for Blues

CARLTON superstar Patrick Cripps will have to lead the club’s revival alone next season after co-captain Sam Docherty ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at training yesterday.

Docherty suffered a second successive injury to his left knee following an innocuous mishap during pre-season training at Ikon Park.

“It’s clearly a huge disappointment for Sam to experience such cruel luck,” Blues football boss Brad Lloyd said.

“We are all feeling for him right now. The way he tackled his rehab this year was simply incredible and he could have played at the end of last season before the decision was made to hold him back.

“If the last 12 months have shown anything, it’s that Sam is made of everything that is required to return to his elite best once again.”

Lloyd said the Blues would “work through what sort of procedure Docherty will undertake”. But unless Docherty undergoes revolutionary LARS surgery the All-Australian looks set to be unavailable until 2020, the year when his contract expires.

Docherty, 25, has not played since 2017.

In 2017, Docherty became Carlton’s first All-Australian since 2011.

Carlton swapped firstround picks with Adelaide in a bold live trade at last month’s national draft and the Docherty blow will leave list boss Stephen Silvagni feeling uneasy.

If the Blues finish in the bottom four for a third season straight, it will be the Crows who profit with their top-four draft pick. Carlton’s first draft pick in 2019 is tied to where Adelaide finishes.