Carlton's best start to an AFL season in 28 years is about to become even better, with gun midfielder Sam Walsh locked in to return from off-season back surgery against Adelaide.
Walsh hasn't played since he was a late withdrawal from Carlton's heartbreaking round 23 loss to Collingwood last year but has been ticked off for next Thursday's match at the Adelaide Oval.
After Carlton's 16.11 (107) to 11.18 (84) Good Friday win over North Melbourne, coach Michael Voss laughed off the suggestion the 2021 best and fairest winner could have a run in the VFL, joking "I think we'll fit him in".
"He'll play next week," Voss said.
"It's a slightly different recovery process to most and that has got some important milestones to reach.
"He reached his last one Wednesday so that means he's available for selection next week, so he'll be right to go."
Matt Kennedy (calf), Blake Acres and Sam Durdin are also available to return.
The Blues (3-1-0) are embracing the hype of their best start since their premiership-winning 1995 campaign after Charlie Curnow (six goals) and Harry McKay (four goals, 14 marks) combined for 10 goals against North Melbourne's undersized defence.
Voss took a thinly-veiled swipe at media punditry that had suggested the pair had got in each other's space in previous weeks.
"I understand there was a bit of dialogue last week and probably some clever terminologies used but it was a bit of a hot take, because the reality is over the course of the last 12 months we've seen that relationship really grow," he said.
"We acknowledge it's still in its infancy, they haven't played a lot of footy together."
McKay will likely be scrutinised for a high, late hit on boom North youngster Harry Sheezel that could attract a fine.
Carlton's victory was in front of a bumper crowd of 49,062 at Marvel Stadium, beating the previous Good Friday high of 48,278 in 2019.
Voss said Carlton were keen to stay in the fixture, which supports the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal, alongside North Melbourne.
Carlton's Mitch McGovern (corked thigh, tightness) required early treatment on his right thigh and was substituted out late but Voss wasn't concerned.
The Kangaroos stuck with the Blues until midway through the third quarter, despite missing Griffin Logue (suspension) and Ben McKay (foot), with Curnow and McKay monstering a defence led by Aidan Corr and Aiden Bonar.
"It was important that we put on a good show and we did for a fair patch of the game," coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"But those two big buggers for the Blues - we said prior to the game and everyone knew it, if we could try and limit the supply that those guys had then we'd be a chance.
"But the dam wall opened in the third quarter and we just couldn't stop the big fellas."
Logue will return against Brisbane while Clarkson was optimistic he'd be joined by Ben McKay.
North spearhead Nick Larkey injured his hip in a first-quarter collision with Jacob Weitering and was hampered throughout but Clarkson expected him to face the Lions.
Clarkson also pulled a surprise when he substituted veteran ball-winner Ben Cunnington for Hugh Greenwood late in the third quarter.
