Game Review

Well the sun definitely didn't shine and the Blues definitely weren't brilliant but this sure was a heart warming win for all Carlton fans at the home of football - a place where we hadn't played the Swans for over 3 decades. The win also turned around a disappointing Round 5 for the Blues.

At selection the Blues swung the axe but also clearly went for experience (and perhaps size) over the exuberance of youth from the previous round. In came new Blue Alex Silvagni after 50 odd games at the Dockers, together with Nick Graham, Billie Smedts and Matthew Kreuzer, the latter returning from soreness. Out went Polson after a single game, Macreadie, Phillips and Pickett.

The opening was a fascinating sight with ruckman Kreuzer lining up on the wing with Casboult taking the ruck! A pretty messy beginning by both teams saw a number of sloppy kicks and dropped chest marks, with the Swans looking marginally cleaner going forward to hit the break 11 points up. The game switched gears in the second as the Blues seemed to straighten through Casboult's three contested marks in the forward 50; converting two of them. The midfield contest was tight and the Blues defence was staying on top of the vaunted Swans lineup, particularly Silvagni on Franklin.

The third blew our socks off. Ed Curnow goaled within 34 seconds, before three goals to Matthew Wright in the quarter and one to Jacob Weitering saw us take the lead and control of the midfield. Wright's goals were clever, including one dribbled out from 45 on a tight angle. The Blues were in with a great chance....

And we took it. Clean ball movement going forward and some nice passes to Matthew Kreuzer, who kicked two on part-time ruckman Sam Reid, saw the Blues maintain a winning lead and take the game.

Best for the Blues were Sam Docherty with 39 touches, Marc Murphy and Patrick Cripps in his 50th. The ruck duo of Casboult and Kruezer kicked 4 between them, Caleb Marchbank demonstrated his prowess in an upfield role, whilst a special mention is to go to Tom Williamson who continued to impress in his first year.

Team

B:	15 Sam Docherty	44 Alex Silvagni	43 Simon White
HB:	22 Caleb Marchbank	17 Sam Rowe	20 Lachie Plowman
C:	6 Kade Simpson (vc)	4 Bryce Gibbs	8 Matthew Kreuzer
HF:	46 Matthew Wright	30 Charlie Curnow	5 Sam Petrevski-Seton
F:	23 Jacob Weitering	1 Jack Silvagni	25 Zac Fisher
Ruck:	41 Levi Casboult	9 Patrick Cripps	3 Marc Murphy (c)
Interchange:	16 Billie Smedts	31 Tom Williamson	32 Nick Graham
	35 Ed Curnow
Coach:	Brendon Bolton
Emg:	14 Liam Jones, 27 Dennis Armfield, 28 David Cuningham

Milestones

Debut (Carlton): Alex Silvagni
50 Games: Patrick Cripps
First Goal (Carlton): Billie Smedts
First Win (Carlton): Alex Silvagni, Billie Smedts, Zac Fisher
Interesting Fact: This was the first time these two teams had played at the MCG since 1986
Rising Stars: Caleb Marchbank

Brownlow Votes

3. Kade Simpson (CAR)
2. Sam Docherty (CAR)
1. Matthew Wright (CAR)

Best & Fairest Votes (5 votes+)

Sam Docherty 15, Matthew Wright 15, Kade Simpson 11, Alex Silvagni 10, Levi Casboult 9, Matthew Kreuzer 8, Marc Murphy 7, Jacob Weitering 7, Patrick Cripps 5