Game Review

Carlton hung on to defeat St Kilda by four points with the Morabbin Oval ankle-deep in mud, and the cricket pitch area in the centre resembling a swamp. After breaking their worst losing streak in 12 years, the Blues also had to endure hopelessly inadequate shower facilities.

Coach Robert Walls was a relieved man when he spoke about the strength and courage of his side after the match. "We have been struggling for the last few weeks and a win is a win. The hard-fought victory broke the drought and the players are really thrilled with it".

The reigning premier Blues had lost three in a row. Had they lost a fourth, any hope of a double-chance and another flag would have sunk in the Moorabbin mud. On a day made for courage there are a few players who personified that quality better than Carlton centreman Wayne Johnston.

Johnston may have lost the captaincy, but his leadership continued as he proved with his second successive Best-on-Ground performance. Johnston was well supported by the wide-roaming Craig Bradley, who gathered 30 possessions, and they in turn were helped by some of the Blues' other smaller players.

Carlton returned to the winning list after three succesive losses with a hard-fought four point victory over St Kilda in the mud at Moorabbin. The conditions call for desperate measures and players on both sides threw themselves into the fray in no uncertain manner. After an extremely close contest for three quarters, Carlton sneaks away to a 21 point lead midway through the final term and seems assured of the win it so desperately seeks. But the Saints throw everything at the Blues in the closing stages of the game and manage to get within a kick of them at the final siren. Carlton calls on the vast experience and overall class of players such as Wayne Johnston, Stephen Kernahan, Craig Bradley and Stephen Silvagni to enable it to overcome the determined Saints challenge. - Tony Greenberg Inside Football.

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