An injury crisis has forced Carlton's hand at the selection table, with the club opting to experiment with untried talent for a season-defining clash this weekend against West Coast at Optus Stadium.
19-year-old mid-year draft pick up Cooper Lord will make his AFL debut for the club this Sunday after an impressive patch of VFL form recently.
Lord was added to Carlton's list in May after being taken with Pick 9 in the 2024 Mid-Season Draft, having been recruited from North Melbourne's VFL program and missing out in his National Draft.
He hails from the Sandringham Dragons with some 2023 Vic Metro experience, and made himself known to recruiters for his cleanliness and defensive accountability.
In seven VFL outings for Carlton, Lord has grown into one of their premier midfielders, averaging around 26 disposals, seven tackles and four clearances a game so far.
He is often the leading disposal winner for his side and was particularly impressive in his most recent performance against fifth-placed Geelong, collecting 30 disposals and nine tackles for the Blues in a 23-point win.
His inclusion in the senior side comes as Carlton's injury toll reaches near breaking point, with six further troops on Sunday adding to a grand total of 17 injured players ahead of Round 23.
Playing against a bottom four side barely helps their situation either, the Eagles riding the high of their comeback victory in Tasmania and renowned for the ability to rally their vocal fanbase at home.
With a number of key soldiers absent for the clash, Lord's debut comes with perhaps more pressure than one would hope for, but excitement nonetheless.
The Blues must win to keep their suddenly dwindling finals hopes alive, and coach Michael Voss will be eager to see his debutant make an early impact.