The Blues could be without Jarrad Waite for the next month. Source: Getty Images
CARLTON forward Jarrad Waite is expected to miss the club's early season blockbusters after another setback with his troublesome calf injury.
Waite is not expected to be available until Round 3 or 4 at the earliest and, given his poor fitness base, may need several weeks in the VFL before he is ready for senior selection.
It is understood a scan a fortnight ago revealed a second calf tear after Waite struggled to recover from the injury suffered in early February.
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Waite was sidelined for seven weeks for what the club initially described as a "minor calf strain" so his rehabilitation could stretch past 10 weeks.
Waite is one of the Blues' most important players given their lack of key forwards and his goalkicking talents.
The Blues first five rounds are testing with games against Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong, West Coast (away) and Adelaide, before their draw becomes more manageable, with just one double-up against a top-eight team from last season.
Carlton great and SEN commentator Robert Walls, who is seventh on the club's all-time goalkicking list, said yesterday that, given his history with injury, the Blues could not rely on Waite.
"He is 30 years old and in his last four years he has averaged 12 games a season, so you can't build (a team) around him because he's not there," Walls said.
"There is the injury and there are the (recent) suspensions. So you can't rely on having him out there.
"Having said that, you think about how (coach Mick) Malthouse likes to play and he brings the ball in wide and needs someone to lead up to the wings and take marks.
"Waite is the perfect one to do that.
"But averaging 12 games a year and being 30, will we ever see him put in a solid year?
"His best is very good, but he doesn't play enough."
Waite, a father-son pick in the 2001 draft, kicked 27.14 from 11 games last season as he battled a mystery back injury.
With game tallies of nine, 16, 12 and 11 in the past four seasons, Waite is a star who simply cannot get on the ground.
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