Carlton veteran Sam Docherty will return from an ACL injury in elimination final against Brisbane

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Carlton veteran Sam Docherty will return from an ACL injury in elimination final against Brisbane

Carlton favourite Sam Docherty has been cleared for a stunning return to football in Saturday’s elimination final against Brisbane at the Gabba just over 180 days since he suffered an ACL injury at the same venue.

The Blues confirmed Docherty, who suffered the devastating knee injury in Opening Round of the 2024 season, had done enough at training to be included for the must-win clash.

Docherty, 30, was informed on Tuesday having progressed through his rehabilitation for the last five months.

Saturday will be 183 days since Docherty suffered the injury at the Gabba, and the clash will be his third consecutive game at the venue.

He played in last year’s losing preliminary final, and the opening round win this season.

On Monday night, Carlton coach Michael Voss said Docherty was among a number of players returning from injury who got through match simulation on MOnday and decisions would need to be made on selection.

He said he was conscious or bringing back too many players, with the likes of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay among those who missed the final rounds of the home and away season.

“There’ll be some guys that are coming in really fresh, but we do have to weigh up that possibility of ‘how many is too many’… ultimately that’s the decision of the coach to make,” the Carlton coach told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“All the boys have got through this particular session… (and) there was a fair bit of match simulation.

“They all got through well, so it’ll come down to tomorrow when we sit down.

“There’s probably two distinct categories… guys like Mitch McGovern who have only missed a game or two, Zac Williams the same, Harry, Charlie.

“And then we’ve probably got this other group that’s missed a little bit more football that we’ll have to give a little more consideration to.”

Carlton only qualified for the finals after Fremantle lost to Port Adelaide in the final home-and-away game of the season, having gone down to St Kilda earlier in the day.

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