Rowe debut motivation for Blues

Carlton Intraclub practice match at VISY Park. Sam Rowe in action. Picture: Mark Stewart Source: Herald Sun

CARLTON will feed off the mix of emotion and ability from cancer survivor Sam Rowe's debut today.

The Blues hope Rowe can offset the loss of fellow tall forward Shaun Hampson to illness for the sellout clash with Collingwood at the MCG.

Blues coach Mick Malthouse described the 25-year-old's AFL start after winning his battle with testicular cancer last year as a positive focus.

Focus on Mick to help Blues

"We've been very fortunate to have a young bloke like Sam Rowe come into the side. He was very stiff not to play last week, so one door closes and another door opens," he said.

"It's the start of a new career and he has been through a heck of a lot in life, so what a great bonus.

"You replace the position and, if you do things right, it's not a matter of who wears the jumper as long as the player in it acknowledges the game role.

"I could be flippant to say every day is a bonus day, he doesn't treat it that way.

"He treats it that he's desperate to play league football. It's just a fantastic story for football.

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"I've got to say in October last year when he first started training, he was so far behind I really had my doubts that he would reach the level of fitness that's required. But he threw himself right into it and by January he was almost saying 'I've caught the rest of them'."

Malthouse said the attention on him coaching against so many Magpie players he led to premiership glory allowed his current group to work unhindered in their own preparations.

"The great thing about that is that it can be about me. And my playing group can be totally protected," he said before the Blues' final training session at Visy Park yesterday.

"If that's the net outcome -- that the pressure comes here (on me) and not on my team -- I'll live with that every day."

Malthouse said no one at Carlton had been caught up in any "must win" talk becauseof his link to Collingwood.

"I've seen it a lot this year in Australian soccer, I've seen it in Australian rugby, I see it internationally where the focus is 'we've got to beat that side'. It becomes an overburden, like when Man City plays Man United. There's a season of football and I won't allow us to get caught up in one game," he said.

"And because Collingwood went in favourites (last year) and got beaten both times, where did they finish? And where did Carlton finish?

"Both sides are substantially different, it's more about getting everything right for the year."

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