Taking back-to-back scalps against two of the competition’s biggest powerhouses could be the making of the Club, according to senior coach Guy McKenna.
“It’s going to be a great on-field test for us and also our growth as a football club,” he told reporters on Friday.
“Hopefully we can come through with a positive result.”
The in-form travelling Blues are seeking their third consecutive win after narrowly escaping with the against North Melbourne last weekend.
McKenna says if there’s one thing he can guarantee from his former coaching mentor, is that he will already have begun prepping his playing group for what promises to be a brutal contest between two determined outfits.
“One thing you can always guarantee from Mick is his team will come out hard from the opening bounce,” he said.
“We won’t be given the same time and space against Carlton, and we’re expecting it to be a real contest – which is what we have told the playing group to prepare for this Saturday.”
After 49 touches against Collingwood last weekend, McKenna has little doubts his coaching counterpart will have his most trusted servants at the ready in a bid to shut-down a Gary Ablett entering in with career-best form.
“I would have thought so (placing a tag on Ablett), maybe more than one,” McKenna told reporters.
“I’ve worked with Mick and I’ve taken on Gary as a Midfield Opposition Coach before and I’ve seen systems that have impacted his performances – you’ll never beat Gary though.
“He is still going to get 20 or 30 touches.”
But Ablett’s superstar skills will be just one Malthouse will have to consider coming in to tomorrow’s Round 18 fixture, with key forward Charlie Dixon set to give the Gold Coasters a significantly taller presence around goals.
“He has been a big out for us over the course of the last 8-9 weeks, and is going to provide us with a big target who can take a catch inside our forward structures because our use with the football inside-50 hasn’t been great,” McKenna said.
“But Charlie has shown he can lock the ball in, if not take the contested mark.
“We haven’t had that from our forwards because of the youth and experience, but Charlie obviously provides that for us.”
With more than 16,000 Gold Coasters projected to make their way through the Gates at Metricon Stadium tomorrow, the stage will be set for another massive Premiership victory.
“It’s a big game for them and a big game for us as we look to make it two games in a row at home.
“It’s a daylight game on Saturday so hopefully the heat will be on them from a weather fashion and hopefully we can put some heat on them on-field as well.”
