Carlton has hit another hurdle in their bid to tackle persistent injury challenges, with midfielder Blake Acres set to face a delayed start to the 2025 preseason after undergoing back surgery.
Acres, who was the hero of Carlton's 2023 finals run, recently had surgery to repair a bulging disc.
According to SEN's Sam Edmund, the operation was successful, and the Blues are hopeful he'll resume full training by the new year.
In the interim, Acres will be following a modified training program until Christmas.
The decision to proceed with surgery was proactive, with Carlton preferring to address the injury now rather than risking prolonged issues.
The delay comes at a time when the Blues are investing heavily in injury prevention, with a $5 million medical facility under construction to help reduce the club's injury toll and streamline player recovery.
Carlton has also recruited Sydney's former head of high performance, Rob Inness, who brings expertise from a Swans program that has kept injury numbers notably low.
Carlton's injury history has been a sticking point in recent seasons. Since 2020, the Blues have had the second-highest number of games missed due to injury, trailing only West Coast.
Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd acknowledged the club's long-standing issues after their finals loss to Brisbane, emphasising the need for consistent player availability moving forward.
