Betts,34,told Fox Footy on Tuesday night that his limited preparation could count against him.

“If I was the coach,probably not,I wouldn’t pick me,” Betts said.

“Just say give me a full game under my belt. That’ll probably cost me,saying that.”

Betts also missed the season-opener last year because of a calf injury.

When Teague spoke on Wednesday morning the Blues still didn’t know whether they would need to name 22 or 23 for the date with the Tigers,though theAFL later announced the introduction of the injury substitute for 2021.

Teague added that the Blues were weighing up two options for the substitute spot if the rule was enacted,but didn’t elaborate on who those players were.

Teague said ex-Geelong small forward Fogarty had earned his spot.

“His pressure and the way he’s played,his ability to hold balance and give some really good system ahead of the ball and on-ball has been really good for us.”

With Carlton having missed the finals for seven straight seasons,the gauntlet had been laid down by Blues premiership coachRobert Walls that Carlton must make the final eight this year for Teague – in his second full season as senior coach – to secure his job.

Teague played down the commentary but said the Blues were determined to make the eight.

“I’m not too concerned about the commentary. I understand our players have worked really hard,and last year we were in a lot of games and didn’t get the results,and we probably got a bit frustrated. The expectation comes from within,and we understand that. We’re going to drive that. We set the standard high. The way they’ve trained,the way they’ve prepared,they’ve set the standard high.

“I think the close games we were in last year will hold us in good stead. We had lots of learnings,now we need to get better. We’ve won plenty of quarters but we’ve had lapses.

“We want to play finals. That’s what this football club’s here to do and we need to get better to do that. That’s where we’re at.”