INJURY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY AT DRIVEN DEMONS

A FINGER injury to Luke Jackson opened the door for Sam Weideman to walk in to a winning Melbourne side and coach Simon Goodwin has confirmed he will play Carlton.

Despite kicking 14 goals in just three VFL games after a pre-season injury, Weideman couldn’t break in to the unbeaten Demons line-up in recent weeks, with recruit Ben Brown preferred.

Goodwin, pictured, said Weideman was well aware only the good form of those in the side was keeping him out, but was excited to bring him back for Sunday’s clash with the Blues.

“It is disappointing for Luke but it has opened the door and Sam will play. He’s ready to play AFL footy and we are excited by that,” Goodwin said on Thursday morning.

“He’s kicked 14 goals in three weeks, he’s in really strong form. What’s been keeping him out is the form in the team.

“He’s a mature kid, he understands, we have had some good conversations. He’s a really important player to us. He knows he missed the opportunity through injury.

“He knows the team has performed well.

“He has had to wait. “He’s got that opportunity now.

“We’ll see what we get.” Weideman, who is offcontract at the end of this season and being courted by other clubs, is poised to take up some of the ruck duties Jackson had been performing, which allowed skipper Max Gawn to go forward more often. Goodwin said Tom McDonald and even Ben Brown could be called on to help Gawn against the Blues,

“Whoever we use needs to come in, have an impact and allow Gawny to go forward,” Goodwin said.

The Demons haven’t won the opening nine games of the season since 1956.

Goodwin said his team has been building to its current position for three years, working as much on what his players do without the ball, forming an impenetrable defence, working together for success.

He said the selfless attitude of his players had “gone to another level” in 2021 as they capitalised on a lot of hard work.