Inspirational Carlton utility Sam Docherty is firming for a stunning comeback from a knee reconstruction in what his captain says will be a huge boost for the Blues' elimination final.
Docherty underwent a knee reconstruction after being injured in Carlton's season-opener against Brisbane at the Gabba on March 8.
Ahead of a rematch of that fixture in an elimination final next Saturday night, Docherty trained strongly on Saturday to again impress his captain Patrick Cripps.
"He was flying, wasn't he," Cripps told reporters after training.
"I reckon he will be knocking down (coach Michael Voss) Vossy's door every day to selection.
"He is just a great story. He has done a lot of work ... he has been doing that for a good month, six weeks, of training.
"He has put his hand up but the coaches have got to pick a side they think is best.
"Personally I love playing with him. He has been through a lot, we have been through a lot together and he is a guy you trust on a footy field.
"If he gets picked, you know he's going to perform."
Cripps said the potential return of Docherty, who has undergone three knee reconstructions and recovered from two bouts of cancer during his 168-game career, would be a massive boost for the Blues.
"You only get a finite time in footy so you have got to maximise every chance you get," Cripps said.
"He got something taken away from him at the start of the year which takes a lot of people 12 months (to recover).
"But it's amazing when you get the right mindset and you set a goal and you get after it like he has done, you can achieve amazing things.
"It will be a huge boost. But another thing that will really help us is he's a great leader out there ... you know he's going to stand up in big moments and that is invaluable.
"He's resilient ... it takes a special person to do it.
"He has obviously had the three knees (reconstructions) now and two bouts of cancer and one thing he has always done, when he comes back from those is he worked bloody hard and he performed straight away.
"So that just shows you a lot of mental resilience and mental toughness. He knows what it takes to perform at a high level."
The Blues could also swing six other changes for the knockout final against the Lions.
Key forwards Charlie Curnow (ankle) and Harry McKay (thigh), defender Mitch McGovern (hamstring), Zac Williams (hamstring), ruckman Tom de Koning (foot) and on-baller Adam Cerra (hamstring) are all pressing to return from their respective injuries.
"That is where this (pre) finals bye has helped us ... you have got time to actually get work in," Cripps said.
"If these guys come back, which I reckon a lot of them will, they just know the role they have got to play, they don't have to do anything special."
