Game Review

Another week, another hoodoo. This time it was a losing streak against the Saints (dating back to 2001) comprehensively ended by the Blues with a thrilling four quarter performance resulting in a superb ten goal victory. For much of this century it has been Carlton on the end of ten goal plus hidings when matched against St. Kilda. To get one back, in such emphatic style, must have proved very satisfying for players and supporters alike.

It started with both of the Blues’ major off-season signings, Brock McLean and Lachlan Henderson, being left out of the initial squad. McLean’s hip had flared up again, while Henderson was asked to get his hands on the footy in the VFL, something he’d been struggling to do consistently in the past few rounds. Returning from a three week exile with the Bullants were Jarrad Waite and Bret Thornton, theoretically having gained some much needed touch and confidence. But alas the changes didn’t stop there. On Sunday speculation mounted that Paul Bower had been injured again and was almost certain to miss. Confirmation came when Chris Johnson was named as Bower’s replacement, making his first appearance for the season.

With much media speculation in the lead up centring on the horrific thought of another Saints super-flood the opening moments of the game proved quite the opposite. After the Saints jagged the first goal, it was all Carlton - running, gunning and stunning. Throwing themselves into the contests, winning the stoppages and launching the ball forward on numerous occasions the Blues put the Saints defenders under immense pressure from the outset. It was Jarrad Waite who provided the early focal point up forward clearly having benefitted from a confidence boost in the VFL. His three first quarter goals, a couple of misses and one vintage hanger were Waite at his dynamic best. Jeff Garlett was the other important forward, his two goals book-ending a wonderful 15 minute period which produced five goals for the Blues. Only sloppy finishing prevented the quarter time margin from blowing out as the Blues peppered the goals during time-on, but managed just four behinds to end with a 21 point lead.

With Chris Judd continuing on his merry way as Carlton’s standout in the middle the Blues kept piling on goals defying the normally stingy Saints defence. Garlett chimed in with two more, giving him four for the half. Setanta O’hAilpin kicked one of his own and had a hand in a couple of others as he provided contest after contest. Chris Yarran displayed some eye-catching dash down the wing as he orchestrated one goal and snagged another off his own boot. The Carlton half backline was running like a well oiled machine providing plenty of opportunity for their forwards. Jordan Russell continued his brilliant early season form, with he and Bryce Gibbs launching many of the forward thrusts whilst being ably assisted by youngster Kane Lucas, impressing more with each outing. By the break the margin had extended to 32 points.

As the game wore on Carlton’s intensity and defensive pressure remained high, it was becoming more and more improbable that St. Kilda would find a way back into the game. The Saints added two goals in the third, but with four more to the Blues the seven goal three quarter time lead appeared virtually unassailable.

When Judd burst out of congestion and slammed through a goal early in the last quarter the game was over as a contest. It merely remained to be seen whether the Blues could run out the match with a consistent four quarter performance. That they did. A six goal term to finish the match, on the back of four from Eddie Betts, was an emphatic way to condemn this particular losing streak to the history books. Honourable mentions must be made of the defensive efforts from Andrew Carazzo and Ryan Houlihan in closing down Saints prime-movers Nick Dal Santo and Sam Fisher. Their mature performances, playing their roles to perfection, had more than a little say in the result. In the end, it was a thoroughly well thought out planning and coaching performance, executed to the letter by the players, and an absolute joy to behold. Blues by 61.

Team

B:	27 Dennis Armfield	40 Michael Jamison	45 Aaron Joseph
HB:	24 Kane Lucas	2 Jordan Russell	32 Bret Thornton
C:	6 Kade Simpson	5 Chris Judd (c)	29 Heath Scotland
HF:	38 Jeffery Garlett	33 Ryan Houlihan	3 Marc Murphy
F:	19 Eddie Betts	17 Setanta O'hAilpin	30 Jarrad Waite
Ruck:	8 Matthew Kreuzer	4 Bryce Gibbs	44 Andrew Carrazzo
Interchange:	9 Chris Johnson	13 Chris Yarran	39 Sam Jacobs
	43 Simon White
Coach:	Brett Ratten
Emg:	15 Steven Browne, 18 Paul Bower, 23 Lachlan Henderson

Milestones

50 Games : Matthew Kreuzer
First Brownlow Vote : Jordan Russell
Losing Streaks : At last, Carlton ended a 12 game losing streak against St Kilda, stretching back to 2001.

Brownlow Votes

3. Chris Judd, Carlton
2. Eddie Betts, Carlton
1. Jordan Russell, Carlton

Best & Fairest Votes

43 Andrew Carrazzo, 42 Jordan Russell, 40 Ryan Houlihan, 35 Jeffery Garlett, 34 Chris Judd, 22 Eddie Betts, 20 Jarrad Waite, 19 Michael Jamison, Aaron Joseph, 11 Heath Scotland, 7 Dennis Armfield

Ladder

.	.	P	W	D	L	For	Agn	%	Pts
1	Collingwood	7	6	0	1	811	554	146.39	24
2	Fremantle	7	6	0	1	785	603	130.18	24
3	Geelong	7	5	0	2	857	590	145.25	20
4	Sydney	7	5	0	2	698	563	123.98	20
5	St Kilda	7	5	0	2	577	490	117.76	20
6	Port Adelaide	7	5	0	2	590	659	89.53	20
7	Carlton	7	4	0	3	721	612	117.81	16
8	Western Bulldogs	7	4	0	3	629	549	114.57	16
9	Brisbane Lions	7	4	0	3	670	653	102.60	16
10	Melbourne	7	3	0	4	583	549	106.19	12
11	North Melbourne	7	3	0	4	574	735	78.10	12
12	Essendon	7	2	0	5	603	706	85.41	8
13	West Coast	7	2	0	5	598	717	83.40	8
14	Hawthorn	7	1	0	6	578	674	85.76	4
15	Adelaide	7	1	0	6	483	668	72.31	4
16	Richmond	7	0	0	7	426	861	49.48	0