Nathan Buckley pours cold water on Sam Docherty's 'staggering' Carlton return in AFL finals

Nathan Buckley says he has serious concerns about Sam Docherty amid reports the inspirational Carlton utility could make a stunning return for the Blues in Saturday night's AFL elimination final against Brisbane at the Gabba. It was at the same ground and against the same opposition where Docherty suffered what was expected to be a season-ending injury in March.

Docherty had to undergo a third knee reconstruction after suffering the third anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear of his career in the superb comeback win over the Lions. The 30-year-old hasn't played in the AFL since, but has been training well with Carlton and is firming to make what would be an astonishing return for the Blues after being talked up by captain Patrick Cripps.

"He was flying, wasn't he," Cripps told reporters after training last week. "I reckon he will be knocking down (coach Michael Voss) Vossy's door every day to selection. He is just a great story. He has done a lot of work ... he has been doing that for a good month, six weeks, of training. He has put his hand up but the coaches have got to pick a side they think is best... If he gets picked, you know he's going to perform."

But Collingwood great Buckley has poured cold water on Docherty's potential return and issued a warning about the mental demons the star would have to overcome to make his comeback at the same ground where he suffered the injury. Buckley also warned the nature of his third knee reconstruction would make a return game in the furnace of finals footy even more difficult, with fellow AFL pundit Kane Cornes agreeing it is a risk the Blues shouldn't take.

“We were speaking about finals wildcards and when is the right time to take a risk on a different move,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast. “Be that a positional move or a selection move. Would you play him (Docherty) this weekend if he puts his hand up?” Buckley said “I’d find it staggering that they could do it" and Cornes also admitted he "couldn't find a reason" to rush Docherty back.

Buckley said it would make more sense for the Blues to back the rest of the squad to get the job done against the Lions at the Gabba and bring Docherty back the following week. The reality is the Blues' season will be done if they can't get a victory up in Brisbane on Saturday night though, but Buckley warned it would be a mentally difficult ask for Docherty to return to action at the scene of his most recent heartbreak.

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“There’s plenty of Pollyanna reasons why you would do it,” Buckley added. “But we’ve said this before about Sam Docherty and he finds a way, but he has done three knees. You’ve got to look at what it is. Does a week make any difference? Potentially not getting him back on the Gabba. I think he’s pretty strong mentally and emotionally but everyone has their limits.”

Carlton tipped to be boosted by return of several stars

The Blues only just scraped into the finals after losing six of their last eight games and having to rely on Port Adelaide to beat Fremantle in the final round to secure eighth spot. They could certainly do with the experience and the influence that Docherty brings to the side and look set to be boosted by the returns of Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow to give them some much needed punch up forward.

“The way we have played the last two weeks has been a little bit different with a smaller forward line," Carlton's Sam Walsh told the ABC. "There are some ways we have played that we want to carry into the next two weeks, our forward pressure and ability to build the ball up and give teams different looks going inside 50."

“So there will be a few changes and then with the task of Brisbane, we know they are a serious side. But we've had good battles against them and up there at the Gabba you can score quick but you also have to win the contest where you can get it inside 50 and really put the pressure on the other team. So that is what we will be looking to do.”

As well as Curnow and McKay, Mitch McGovern (hamstring) and Zac Williams (hamstring) also moved moved freely at training last week and appear likely to return for the Blues. Tom De Koning (foot), Jack Martin (hamstring) and Adam Cerra (hamstring) also trained with the squad on Friday but appear less likely to be declared fit in time for the showdown against the Lions.

AFL week one finals schedule:

• Second qualifying final: Port Adelaide v Geelong - Thursday September 5, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm

• Second elimination final: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn - Friday September 6, MCG, 7.40pm

• First qualifying final: Sydney v GWS - Saturday September 7, SCG, 3.20pm

• First elimination final: Brisbane Lions v Carlton - Saturday September 7, Gabba, 7.30pm

with AAP