Waite in doubt for opener

Jarrad Waite is battling a calf injury. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: Herald Sun

INJURY-prone Carlton key forward Jarrad Waite could miss the Blues' opening-round blockbuster against Richmond.

The Blues will already be without their reigning best-and-fairest winner Heath Scotland for the opening two rounds because of a club-imposed suspension.

Waite played just 11 games last season because of back problems and has averaged only 12 games a season over the past four years.

He's currently battling a calf complaint which has the Blues doubting he'll be ready for Round 1.

"I'm starting to think not," coach Mick Malthouse said today.

"I'm not convinced he isn't. He's line-ball."

Malthouse said youngster Andrew McInnes (knee) is the only other Blue expected to miss the start of the season through injury.

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Chris Judd, Matthew Kreuzer and Scotland all skipped Carlton's opening-round pre-season games, but all three trained today.

Malthouse was unsure which of them would play in the Blues' Round 2 NAB Cup match on Saturday night against Fremantle, but wasn't too concerned.

"They don't have to do a lot," he said.

"I don't believe you have to play practice matches. It's for young kids.

"They've got nothing to prove."

Malthouse, meanwhile, has pleaded for the AFL to relax the20-interchange per quarter rule to allow coaches "to coach''.

For the next two weeks of the NAB Cup the league will trial a cap on interchange rotations, with clubs limited to 80 moves a game.

"If we are going to have the 80 rule, please let us coach,'' he said.

"So, if I want to use 50 in first quarter and 10 in the last, let me coach the side ... there's too many restrictions on the coaches (having to use) 20, 20, 20. That might not suit us.''

He tentatively welcomed the team composition being 18 players, three interchange and three subs.

The original plan was for 18-3-1 plus the interchange cap.

"Two or three of my players would not have played this weekend had the rule existed from what they said, which was 18, 3 and one,'' he said.

"It's impossible because I've got players who should only play half a game because they haven't played any football, players who should only play a quarter of a game. What can you do?

"Fortunately, they (the AFL) have jumped on and given us another two (players) which is (still) borderline.''

Malthouse also supported the new rule to stop players diving at the legs of players, and has renewed his call to ban players on the ground from taking possession of the ball.
 

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