Sam Walsh is also going to be missing for at least the first month of the Blues’ season.Credit:AFL Photos
Carlton’s key defensive stocks were hit particularly hard in 2022,with Jacob Weitering,Mitch McGovern,Caleb Marchbank,Oscar McDonald and mid-season recruit Sam Durdin all sidelined at different stages.
The injury bug hit at the worst of times,with the Blues blossoming in recent seasons after their prolonged struggles,to the point they are rated a top-four chance this year. They lost 109 games to players considered to be “best 22”,in stark contrast to the Brisbane Lions (32) and Sydney (39).
Williams missed 19 matches to injury and another two through suspension in his first two seasons at Carlton after crossing from the Giants,while his third will be a complete wipeout. Halfway through his monster six-year deal,which is believed to be worth about $800,000 per season,he will have made only 23 senior appearances.
The Blues will also be without All-Australian midfielder Sam Walsh for at least the first month of this season after he underwent back surgery in December,but captain Patrick Cripps is making no excuses.
“I try not to think about last year too much,in terms of[injuries],” Cripps said.
“We can only control the things that we can control,and you’ve got to keep doing the work and try and make your body as durable as possible. We’ve always talked about next man up – we spoke about that last year.