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Venue: Docklands | ||||||||||||||||||
Date: April 26, 2009 | Result: Won by 43 Points | ||||||||||||||||||
Umpires: M. Nicholls, H. Ryan, M. Vozzo | Crowd: 44,268 | ||||||||||||||||||
Goalkickers: B.Fevola 3, E.Betts 3, M.Kreuzer 2, K.Simpson 2, J.Russell 2, C.Cloke2, R.Houlihan 2, J.Waite, M.Murphy, S.O'hAilpin, A.Carrazzo, B.Gibbs 1. | |||||||||||||||||||
Reports: Nil | Injuries: Johnson (quad) | Ladder Position: Third |
Game Review
This was a massive match for the Blues - coming off two disappointing losses, we were to take on top four aspirants the Western Bulldogs upon their return from the West. Could we do it? Could we knock off a team actually expected to be a real contender at season's end?Absolutely! Whilst the start was positive - although the Dogs were shocking in front of goal - the Blues were positive, ran more through the corridor, and had far less errors as they pulled away quarter by quarter.
A four goal lead at half time was pushed out, with the Dogs fighting hard to stay in it. The Blues stretched it out to 7 goals, before the Dogs launched a spirited comeback and brought the margin back to 27 points at the last change.
The last quarter began at frantic pace. After a goal each, the Blues surged again, with Kreuzer nailing two and Betts stealing another from the goal square. We had trounced the Dogs, despite conceding three junk time goals, and might have won by plenty more had we held our concentration for the whole game. Even so, the footy world was aware that we were a genuine a top 4 prospect. They knew we were coming.
Statistically, the average age of this Carlton side was 24 years and 110 days with an average League experience of 85.4 games per player. Nick Stevens was the oldest Blue at 29 years, 113 days while Aaron Joseph was the youngest at 19 years, 296 days. Milestones in this game involved Brendan Fevola, who became the third Carlton player to kick 500 goals, while Eddie Betts celebrated his 100th goal and Kade Simpson became the 143rd Carlton player to kick 50 career goals or more.
Team
B: | 45 Aaron Joseph | 40 Michael Jamison | 18 Paul Bower |
HB: | 6 Kade Simpson | 32 Bret Thornton | 9 Chris Johnson |
C: | 44 Andrew Carrazzo | 5 Chris Judd (c) | 4 Bryce Gibbs |
HF: | 34 Simon Wiggins | 30 Jarrad Waite | 2 Jordan Russell |
F: | 19 Eddie Betts | 25 Brendan Fevola | 28 Cameron Cloke |
Ruck: | 8 Matthew Kreuzer | 24 Nick Stevens (vc) | 3 Marc Murphy |
Interchange: | 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín | 27 Dennis Armfield | 29 Heath Scotland |
33 Ryan Houlihan | |||
Coach: | Brett Ratten | ||
Emg: | 15 Steven Browne, 10 Richard Hadley, 39 Sam Jacobs |
Milestones
Goal-kicking Milestones:Brendan Fevola kicked his 500th in the 3rd quarter;
Eddie Betts kicked his 100th in the last quarter and,
Kade Simpson kicked his 50th in the 2nd quarter.
Brownlow Votes
3. Marc Murphy, Carlton2. Bret Thornton, Carlton
1. Bryce Gibbs, Carlton
Best and Fairest Votes
40 Marc Murphy, 39 Matthew Kreuzer, 38 Kade Simpson, 36 Paul Bower, 32 Andrew Carrazzo, 26 Jordan Russell, 20 Bryce Gibbs, 19 Ryan Houlihan, 18 Heath Scotland, 6 Bret Thornton, 5 Brendan FevolaRound 4 | Round 6