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Carlton's meek 2012 ended with a disappointing loss to St Kilda at Etihad - McCarthy & Mitchell debut for the Blues.

Round 23, 2012

Carlton 4.5 29 7.7 49 10.15 75 12.19 91
St Kilda 4.1 25 8.4 52 10.6 66 16.10 106
Venue: Dome
Date: Sunday afternoon September 2, 2012
Result: Lost by 15 points
Crowd: 31,393
Goalkickers: J. Waite 5, T. Bell, E. Betts, N. Duigan, J. Garlett, L. Mitchell, M. Robinson, B. McLean 1.
Reports: A. Walker & S. Milne (St. Kilda) for wrestling each other
Umpires: J. Bannister, S. Jeffery, D. Margetts
Injuries: C. Yarran (hamstring), C. Judd (hamstring) Z. Touhy (back) and A. Carrazzo (illness) both replaced in selected side

Ladder: 10th


Game Review

What a week. The almost inevitable fallout from a diabolical loss to the Gold Coast Suns came quickly. After much speculation the previous day the Carlton Football Club formally announced on the morning of Thursday August 30 that Brett Ratten would not see out the final year of his contract at Carlton. It was hardly surprising, given the indifferent year combined with a couple of horrible, apparently unforgivable, losses and the looming spectre of Mick Malthouse. What was a little surprising to some was Ratten's willingness to coach out the final game of the season and the Club's willingness to let him do so. The game against the Saints had no consequence whatsoever, except perhaps in sentimental terms, as neither side had much to play for barring pride. The finals dream for Carlton had evaporated in a barrage of behinds amongst the sweaty surrounds of Metricon Stadium. This one, as much as he tried to play it down, was all about Brett Ratten.

With new boys Levi Casboult and Andrew McInnes unavailable due to injury (McInnes' confirmed as a long-term ACL) while Ed Curnow and David Ellard got the flick, there were bound to be a few changes at selection. Big fellows Luke Mitchell and Pat McCarthy were both called up to make their debut in what would be a doubly memorable game for them both. In addition to the debutants, Mitch Robinson had recovered from an eye problem and Rhys O'Keeffe was recalled. But it didn't end there. On game day both Andrew Carrazzo and Zach Tuohy withdrew from the side allowing both Curnow and Ellard a life-line in the final game of the season.

While Ratten was doing everything possible to keep calm and carry on as if nothing unusual was going on, the same couldn't be said for his players. They were clearly attempting to regain some of the credibility lost in Queensland and perhaps let their emotions get the better of them in doing so, at least in the early going. Andrew Walker's Adonis-like frame was on display for all to see after an extended bout of Greco-Roman style wrestling with that serial irritant Steven Milne. A changed role for Walker saw him standing in the back pocket attempting to play Milne at his own annoying game. With barely enough time for Walker to replace his jumper the Saints had two goals on the board and it was looking like another one of those days that have been all too familiar against the Saints of recent times. But things steadied, the Blues composed themselves somewhat and knuckled down. They responded with four on the trot to setup a handy break mid way through the first term. It was Jeff Garlett who kicked Carlton's first but all kudos was due to Dennis Armfield after a blistering dash out of defence and down the wing before steadying to hit Garlett lace out. Tom Bell continued his impressive finish to the season with a nice goal in traffic before Jarrad Waite snagged his first after stretching high for a mark from Chris Judd's pass. To top off the four, Luke Mitchell joined the "first kick was a goal" club. Having spilled a simple mark he recovered well and spun onto his right foot and snapped truly. It is safe to say he and his teammates were quite happy. The good work up forward, and that of Judd and Brock McLean through the midfield was undone towards the end of the term when the Saints fought back with two more goals to reduce Carlton's lead to a mere four points at the break.

Disaster struck for Chris Yarran shortly after the resumption of play as he limped away from a heavy tackle with a hamstring strain prematurely ending his game and season. Yarran's amusing love tap to Brendon Goddard's chin on the way off was a lighter moment that seemed to make the typically angry Saint even angrier. Goals were exchanged early, Waite claiming his second, before the Saints broke away with three in a row. McLean continued to rack up possessions for the Blues but our other leading midfielder Judd suffered an injury almost identical to Yarran's. In a fierce tackle initial fears were that Judd's shoulder had been hurt, but as the replay's were aired a quick clutch at his hammy post-tackle before hurriedly stepping through the interchange gate told the tale. Another one down and the Saints with a clear numerical advantage about 10 minutes before half time. The Blues fought on though, first getting one back through Eddie Betts having received a beautifully weighted ball from Walker and then through an unexpected source in Nick Duigan. Duigan was the overjoyed beneficiary of a rare 100m penalty (thanks to some extra lip from Montagna) that brought him to the top of the square for the simplest of finishes. Another very even quarter saw the Saints sneak past the Blues to lead by three points at half time.

The Saints sprung out of the rooms to grab the opener and extend their lead before Mitch Robinson responded for the Blues. Waite kicked consecutive goals to steady the Blues and regain their lead, but the game was all about what could have been for the Blues. Appearing to have the upper hand in much of the general play it was déjà vu all over again for the Blues as they simply couldn't find the goals when it mattered. Costly behinds to McLean, Betts, Gibbs, Garlett and Murphy contributed to a wasteful 3.8 for the term and whilst the Blues had eked out a nine point lead, it could've and should've been significantly more. The only question remained was whether they had the heart and legs to hold on.

The Saints opened with a goal in the final term when Carlton desperately wanted that steadier, but it wasn't to be. Waite banana-ed through a magnificent goal from the boundary when all logic suggested his chances were slim and then McLean finally avoided the woodwork after timing his run through the congestion perfectly to accept Matt Kreuzer's palm down. Those goals put the Blues 15 points clear midway through the quarter, but that was where it ended. St. Kilda's extended period with a numerical advantage in the interchange battle finally ground the Blues down and they were emphatically over-run in the final 15 minutes. The Saints kicked 5.2 to Carlton's two behinds in that all important last period to run out 15 point winners, the Blues clearly out on their feet with nothing left in the tank. The game summed up our season in a nutshell, crucial injuries and poor kicking. It was a less than ideal send-off for a true Carlton champion in Brett Ratten. He was dignified to the end and enhanced his reputation by the way he carried himself in a difficult and unfortunate situation. Bad result, bad year, now put to bed. Let the next chapter begin.

Subs: David Ellard replaced Chris Yarran (hamstring) early in the 2nd quarter.

Team



B:1 Andrew Walker 43 Simon White 34 Nick Duigan
HB:13 Chris Yarran 20 Rhys O'Keeffe 29 Heath Scotland
C: 4 Bryce Gibbs 5 Chris Judd (Captain) 3 Marc Murphy
HF: 6 Kade Simpson 30 Jarrad Waite 38 Jeffery Garlett
F:19 Eddie Betts 25 Luke Mitchell 14 Brock McLean
Ruck: 8 Matthew Kreuzer 12 Mitch Robinson 35 Ed Curnow
Interchange:24 Patrick McCarthy 27 Dennis Armfield 28 Tom Bell
Substitute: 46 David Ellard
Coach: Brett Ratten
Emg: 9 Kane Lucas, 42 Zach Tuohy, 44 Andrew Carrazzo

-* Late changes Zach Tuohy and Andrew Carrazzo relaced by Ed Curnow and David Ellard

Milestones

Debut & Only Games: Luke Mitchell, Patrick McCarthy
Last Game: Rhys O'Keeffe
Last Game (Coach): Brett Ratten finished his Carlton coaching career in this game. In his 120 games as coach he had a 50.42% winning ratio, with 60 victories and a draw. His first game was Round 17, 2007 (also at Docklands against St. Kilda) and that ended in a 10 point defeat.
Goal with first kick: Luke Mitchell
Interesting Fact: Jarrad Waite would overtake his father's game tally in this match with 154 games (finishing with 184 Carlton games, before departing to North Melbourne). Incidentally this match also fell on Father's Day.
Interesting Fact: Carlton would end Season 2012, having played 295 games since our last Grand Final. A Club Record, by some margin...

Brownlow Votes

3. Brock McLean, Carlton
2. David Armitage, St. Kilda
1. Jason Gram, St. Kilda

Best & Fairest Votes

Brock McLean 45, Andrew Walker 38, Jarrad Waite 31, Simon White 31, Mitch Robinson 29, Nick Duigan 21, Heath Scotland 17, Marc Murphy 6, Eddie Betts 3

Ladder


Pos 2012 Rd 23 P W L D For Agst U/D Strk Percentage Pts
1 Hawthorn 22 17 5 0 2679 1733 +0 W 4 154.59 68
2 Adelaide 22 17 5 0 2428 1833 +1 W 2 132.46 68
3 Sydney 22 16 6 0 2290 1629 -1 L 2 140.58 64
4 Collingwood 22 16 6 0 2123 1823 +1 W 1 116.46 64
5 West Coast 22 15 7 0 2244 1807 -1 L 1 124.18 60
6 Geelong 22 15 7 0 2209 1886 +0 W 3 117.13 60
7 Fremantle 22 14 8 0 1956 1691 +0 W 3 115.67 56
8 North Melbourne 22 14 8 0 2359 2097 +0 W 1 112.49 56
9 St Kilda 22 12 10 0 2347 1903 +0 W 2 123.33 48
10 Carlton 22 11 11 0 2079 1925 +0 L 2 108.00 44
11 Essendon 22 11 11 0 2091 2090 +0 L 7 100.05 44
12 Richmond 22 10 11 1 2169 1943 +0 D1 111.63 42
13 Brisbane 22 10 12 0 1904 2092 +0 W 3 91.01 40
14 Port Adelaide 22 5 16 1 1691 2144 +0 D1 78.87 22
15 Western Bulldogs 22 5 17 0 1542 2301 +0 L 11 67.01 20
16 Melbourne 22 4 18 0 1580 2341 +0 L 2 67.49 16
17 Gold Coast 22 3 19 0 1509 2481 +0 L 1 60.82 12
18 GWS Giants 22 2 20 0 1270 2751 +0 L 4 46.17 8

Game
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Agst Rich Bris Coll
Ess
Frem Gws St.Kilda Adel Melb Port Geel
W.Cst
Carl
125
154
122
79
65
110
98
55
107
54
85
69
Opp
81
63
62
109
57
43
122
124
49
99
97
79
Ladder
4
2
2
4
3
2
4
7
6
7
9
9
% 154.3 193.7 194.6 152.3 146.51 157.8 140.2 122.2 128.8 118.6 115.3 113.1
Game
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Agst BYE Haw Coll N.Melb W.Bull Rich Sydney Bris Ess G.Cst St.Kilda
Carl .
70
85
96
84
95
71
113
156
86
91
Opp .
120
62
149
102
91
93
77
60
98
105
Ladder
9
:10::
9
12
11
11
11
11
9
10
10
% 113.1 107.1 108.7 103.7 104.7 104.7 103.0 105.1 110.5 109.2 108.0



Round 22 | Season 2012
Contributors to this page: molsey , WillowBlue , Bombasheldon , snakehips , PatsFitztrick and pblue .
Page last modified on Sunday 22 of May, 2016 07:32:35 AEST by molsey.

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