Umpires: Fila, Goldspink, Hendrie

Goalkickers: Murphy, Ó hAilpín, Fisher, Simpson, Kennedy 2; Betts, Waite, Koutoufides, Gibbs

Reports: Nil

Injuries: Lappin, Gibbs (ankle)

Game Review

This bottom-of-the-table clash between the 14th and 15th placed clubs, saw both teams enter the game with youthful teams in the face of injury or poor form of Senior players (and in Carlton's respect without Fevola due to a Club Suspension). Indeed, it was a young Blues team with an average age of just over 23 and with 9 players with less than 30 games experience. On the other side, the Demons appeared just as young, if not younger, with the loss of Neitz, Green and Johnstone from last week and Bruce just before the game. It would be a clash of 2 young teams who were struggling in 2007.

The Blues went in without a recognised ruckman, with Setanta and Kennedy to share the duties against Demon Jeff White. The resting ruck would play up forward. Ryan Houlihan would take Demon dangerman Aaron Davey whilst Bret Thornton would have Russell Robertson.

Both teams began well, in an open style game. Andrew Carrazzo was on fire with 17 stats in the opening quarter, but 2 late goals to the Demons would see them take the lead.

In the quarters that followed, the Demons would edge ahead and the Blues would have to keep fighting to bridge the gap. Each time Melbourne would get 2-3 goals up, Carlton would fight back. Robertson would seemingly break open the game with 3 goals in the third, but again the Blues would follow up but were let down by inaccurate kicking.

A rollicking last quarter, where the inspired Kade Simpson would bring us back to near parity through hard-running and a Captains goal all of his own, was not enough to take the game as the Blues fell short by 23 points, despite having 2 more scoring shots.

Best players for the Blues were Kade Simpson, Andrew Carrazzo and Marc Murphy with 29, 34 and 24 stats respectively, plus Ryan Houlihan in his 150th game, who thrashed Davey, keeping him to just 4 possessions, while picking up 20 himself. Setanta and Kennedy would kick 2 each, with Brad Fisher again reliable for 2 goals.

Team

Milestones

Stand-in Skipper: Kade Simpson would take the reins as part of a Captaincy rotation in the absence of Lance Whitnall.
150 Games: Ryan Houlihan, the third youngest Blue to ever achieve this feat
50 Games: Eddie Betts
Debut: Shaun Grigg

Brownlow Votes

3. James McDonald, Melbourne
2. Paul Wheatley, Melbourne
1. Kade Simpson, Carlton

Best and Fairest Votes

Kade Simpson 24, Ryan Houlihan 21, Marc Murphy, Anthony Koutoufides 10, Andrew Carrazzo 6, Adam Bentick 3, Setanta 1