Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has dismissed suggestions Chris Judd's interrupted preparation was a factor in the star veteran's hamstring injury.
Judd's return from the Achilles tendon surgery he underwent in February lasted just five minutes against the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, but Malthouse said no amount of preparation could have prevented the injury that soured the Blues' breakthrough first win of the season.
''He said to me it wasn't a weakness or anything - it was simply the occasion,'' Malthouse said.
''He got [the ball], gave it, received it, then he got pushed … it was just an over stride. Probably most players would have got that [result] or certainly players who have got that sort of pace.''
Judd suffered the injury to his right leg when he attempted to break away from Stewart Crameri late in the third term.
With attention turning to Judd's abbreviated preparation, Malthouse bristled at suggestions he would risk player he suspected was underdone.
''Do you think I would play someone with a doubtful hamstring after all that?'' he said.
''Just to clarify that, when you know they have [a history], that's the last thing you would ever dream of doing.''
Malthouse said there was no immediate indication as to how long the dual Brownlow medallist would be sidelined.
''Injuries are injuries. It's a shame how it happened, but that's the way it is,'' he said.
''What are we going to do about it? One thing we won't do is get locked out and say that we can't win with him [or] without him. We all know how great a player he's been and he's been missing all year really.''
Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney lamented his players' lack of composure late when they had a chance to run over the top of the Blues, who were also missing Ed Curnow after he suffered a lower leg injury in the final term.
''They (the Blues) dealt with the day better than we did and a pretty strong footy club stood up for itself,'' McCartney said.
''We've got to bounce back because we're under pressure now … We've got to fight back now and come out snarling next week.
''I don't believe we really deserved to be that close. They outplayed us, they were good around the ball, they beat us away from the ball … they played really well.''
