Blues stacked with options

CARLTON has plenty of options when it comes to replacing injured defender Michael Jamison this week, according to Northern Bullants coach David Teague.

With Jamison set to miss at least a fortnight with the shoulder ailment he picked up against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night, the Blues need to find another key defensive post to replace the 22-year-old.

Teague said there were plenty of encouraging performances in the Bullants' final practice match last weekend, and believed Brett Ratten had a number of alternatives when naming a replacement for this Saturday night's clash with Essendon.

"Nick Stevens played with us, and he's obviously a quality footballer and will probably go back into the team this week," he told carltonfc.com.au on Monday.

"He won't go back to fullback where Jamison plays, but he'll be putting his hand up. Shaun Grigg will definitely be putting his hand up, and Dennis Armfield, Brad Fisher and Steven Browne are the other three who have played solid footy the last couple of weeks.

"None of them play the sale role as Jamison, but they might be able to rotate around and find a different role."

Teague said Fisher and Adam Hartlett kicked three goals apiece in the Bullants' Saturday hit-out, while Browne was "reliable" for the second week running.

Teague added that versatile midfielder Jordan Bannister played his "best game this year" following an unlucky run with injuries in 2008.

"He played at centre-half back and played pretty well. He was very strong and took some overhead contested marks," he said.

"He's missed a lot of footy and missed a lot of the games over the pre-season. He's getting better with each game. He started the game really well and he's starting to feel like he's getting back to 100 per cent fitness."

He said the potentially season-ending injury sustained by Andrew Walker was an innocuous incident that was simply unlucky.

"That was the very first contest of the day and it was very disappointing for him," he said.

"It wasn't even hard contact – he just reached for the ball, got bumped, and it was the right angle at the right time.

"He's done a lot of work to get back in and he'd played really good team football the week before, and he'll be missed."

The Bullants will play their first game of the VFL season this Sunday at Visy Park against the Bendigo Bombers.