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Game Review

After recording their fifth win of the season with a hard-fought 4 point win interstate against the reigning premiers Adelaide, the 14th placed Blues returned home with the daunting challenge of facing the ladder leading Western Bulldogs at Princes Park. As the Western Bulldogs were co-tenants of Optus Oval at the time this was the second home ground derby of the season after the Bulldogs inflicted a 56 point thrashing in round 2.

The Blues started strongly kicking 7 goals to 3 to lead by 29 points at quarter time in what looked a free-flowing encounter and a great spectacle for the neutral. However it was the second quarter the grabbed all the headlines with the Baggers slamming home 11 goals to the Heatley Stand end in one of the longest quarters in history. Amazingly the Blues led by 58 points at half-time with their score of 18.8.116 the second highest scoring first half in Carlton’s history, an uninformed watcher could’ve easily believed that Carlton were in-fact the ones on top rather than the Bullies. The Blues continued in this vein to run out eventual 80 point winners in one of the biggest boil-overs in recent history. In fact the final score of 29.10.185 was the equal fifth highest in Carlton’s history.

This game was also significant for the contribution of then 18 year old Lance Whitnall highlighting his immense potential with a 21 possession, 7 mark, 8 goal performance which also saw him take the 3 Brownlow votes. Fraser Brown continued his rich vein of form with a 34 possession display in what was fast becoming arguably his best year in the Navy Blue. Other fine contributors were Ron De Iulio who had 23 possessions, Justin Murphy 27, Brett Ratten 22 and Michael Sexton 23.

Carlton's winning score against the Western Bulldogs was the highest score kicked by any side so far this season. It also equalled the highest score of 1997 which coincidentally was also kicked in Round 17 when Adelaide defeated Richmond. It was also Carlton's highest score since 1987. The Blues second quarter of 11.2.68 was the highest ever second term kicked by any side against the Western Bulldogs this year at Optus Oval. The second quarter between Carlton and the Bulldogs was the longest quarter on record in recent times. A total of 17 goals and 5 behinds were scored; two players were reported; Brad Pearce left the field on a stretcher; there were six boundary throw-ins, two 50-metre penalties were paid and the term finally lasted 39 minutes and 48 seconds.

Lance Whitnall who kicked eight goals, was his best performance and the most goals in a game since Stephen Kernahan kicked 10 goals against the Bulldogs in 1995. A total of 52 free kicks were paid in this game. The Blues received 24 and the Bulldogs 28. This was the third highest number of frees awarded in a game this season. Carlton kicked three goals from frees, yet before Round 17 it had kicked just eight goals from frees for the entire season.

Following the only suspension of his VFL/AFL career in 1993 for stomping Jose Romero (then with North), Braddles was reported for charging the self-same pest. Something about the man seemed to rile the normally implacable Blues champion. Can't imagine what it was!!!

Team

B:	23 Dean Rice	1 Stephen Silvagni (vc)	22 Glenn Manton
HB:	5 Andrew McKay	43 Anthony Koutoufides	45 Anthony Franchina
C:	30 Adam White	7 Brett Ratten	16 Scott Camporeale
HF:	21 Craig Bradley (c)	8 Lance Whitnall	14 Michael Sexton
F:	36 Aaron Hamill	19 Brad Pearce	34 Ron De Iulio
Ruck:	24 Matthew Allan	20 Fraser Brown	18 Justin Murphy
Interchange:
	11 Mark Porter, 33 Matthew Hogg, 3 Kris Massie, 29 Simon Beaumont
Coach:	David Parkin
Emg:	John Hynes	Damien Lock	Darren Hulme

*NO CHANGE

Milestones

50 Carlton Games: Justin Murphy
200th Goal: Craig Bradley

Brownlow Votes

3: Lance Whitnall (CARL)
2: Fraser Brown (CARL)
1: Brett Ratten (CARL)