Goalkickers: M. McGovern 3.0, B. Kemp 2.1, M. Carroll 2.1, B. Ainsworth 2.1, H. McKay 1.4, W. Hayward 1.0, F. Evans 1.0, T. Byrne 0.2, A. Cerra 0.1, Rushed 0.1.

Reports: Beau McCreery (COLL), careless contact with an umpire, fixed sanction of $1,875 with an early plea.

Umpires: Simon Meredith, Nathan Williamson, Cameron Dore, Brent Wallace.

Injuries: H. McKay (head)

Ladder: 16th

Game Review

More late heartbreak for Blues
It was a familiar story for Carlton, who fell by five points to Collingwood in the 31st Peter Mac Cup. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media

It was a familiar story for Carlton, who fell by five points to Collingwood in the 31st Peter Mac Cup. Despite once again leading for the majority of the contest, a three-quarter-time lead was whittled away, with the Blues conceding seven final-quarter goals in the 12.11 (83) to 13.10 (88) defeat. On a night where the Blues lead for essentially the entirety of the middle two quarters, it was a last-quarter blitz from the Pies which put the Blues on the back foot, seeing an 18-point lead turned into a 13-point last-quarter deficit. The Blues fought back late and had the chance to level the scores with the final kick of the game, but a post-siren set shot from youngster Talor Byrne drifted agonisingly wide in another narrow loss. Sam Walsh drove his side forward all night with 28 disposals and seven tackles, while Nic Newman continued his strong return to the elite level with 24 disposals. The Blues got the early jump as the returning Will Hayward looked dangerous early with six disposals and a goal, before the Pies started to get on top and dominate possession, ending the first term with +33 uncontested possessions. Nic Newman (seven disposals) and Nick Haynes (six disposals) were working overtime down back, before Brodie Kemp gave the Blues just what they needed on quarter time with a contested mark and snap to bring his team within one point. There was a bright start to the second term, as Carlton kicked three goals inside seven minutes as Harry McKay looked increasingly dangerous as a forward target. Jacob Weitering was a much-welcomed addition behind the ball, as the Blues had to hold on late as the Pies started to get on top but missed gettable opportunities.

The story of the first half - which saw the Blues lead by 14 points at the main break - was that the Blues looked like scoring every time they went forward, with 11 scoring shots coming from just 17 forward entries. Carlton carried the momentum into the second half with a Mitch McGovern goal inside the opening minutes, before chances started to go begging. Ben Ainsworth was typically classy with ball in hand, while Walsh was prolific and drove his side out of congestion. After an error-riddled third term, a late Francis Evans goal after a holding-the-ball free kick gave Carlton a three-goal lead. However, that lead faded inside four minutes of game time in the final term, with the Pies piling on seven of the first eight last quarter goals. McKay didn’t return to the ground after a head knock, but despite late goals from McGovern and Matthew Carroll, it was more late heartbreak for Carlton.

Daicos drives Pies' final-quarter avalanche as youngster's late miss sees Blues fall again.
Collingwood has held on for a five point win over Carlton - By Riley Beveridge.

So, where are we ranking this one then? A lot has been said, and written, about Nick Daicos this week. But the milestone man was never going to let a bit of extra attention faze him. Amid a controversial finish, it was Collingwood's little master that ultimately created yet another work of art to help down the old enemies Carlton in game No.100. Daicos was the game's most influential figure as his team withstood Blues youngster Talor Byrne's misdirected effort after the final siren to win 13.10 (88) to 12.11 (83), after his brother Josh had threatened to ruin his party by giving away a contentious free kick within range with just seconds on the clock. But, hoping to tie the match with his effort after time had expired, Byrne saw his kick fade to the left. It sparked scenes of jubilant Magpies celebrations as they clung to the narrow triumph, and conversely saw the Blues fall to yet another devastating loss in a season that is starting to fill up with them.

While prolific, Daicos had spent much of Thursday night's clash on the outskirts of the contest. That was until the final term, when his influence – measured by 39 disposals, eight clearances and a goal – reached its peak. He was at the centre of the quarter's defining moments, always making his mark. His smarts on the goal line to kickstart the last term helped the Magpies overturn an 18-point deficit at the final change, before his brilliance in other areas catapulted them home. All told, he won 13 disposals for the quarter alone to be the game's standout player in a thrilling five-point win. For Carlton, it was … oh, you know the story. The Blues led big, couldn't capitalise, then lost. Having burst into a 23-point lead midway through the second half, Michael Voss' team had the stink of a side waiting for that familiar tale to repeat itself once again. Only this time, it came in far more devastating circumstances. The bout had pitted a Collingwood team lacking a cutting edge against a Carlton outfit with its confidence fraying further by the week. It showed early, as well. While the Pies controlled the contest, strangling the Blues with 34 extra disposals and 15 more marks in the first term, they had no tangible reward for their possession.

Instead, after trading goals for the entire opening term, it was Carlton that began to show some penetration after the first change. Five straight goals on either side of the break finally released the game out of its malaise and threw the gauntlet down for a Collingwood response. There were periods of that run where the Blues flew by the seat of their pants, with their willingness to randomly take the game on perhaps inspired by a determination to not revert back into their shell like previous weeks, but the Pies couldn't capitalise on the sporadic errors that accompanied their opposition's style and fell 14 points down at half-time. Carlton couldn't have started the second half better when Mitch McGovern converted in less than 20 seconds. But then, for a side with nerves like jelly, what followed was torturous. Adam Cerra missed, Brodie Kemp missed, Harry McKay missed. So, when the sucker punch arrived at the other end through Jamie Elliott, it felt inevitable.

But rather than spark any sort of Collingwood comeback, it instead led to a sustained patch of the ugliest football imaginable. There were missed kicks, turnovers, bad decisions, dropped marks, fumbles, the lot, and neither side could capitalise as the contest eventually arrived at the final quarter precariously placed. It was precarious in the sense that, even though the Magpies' deficit was 18 points, they were up against a Blues outfit that had been in this exact position – and lost – many times before. Indeed, it took only four minutes for that deficit to be wiped out. It took five for them to be in front. The run was inspired by Daicos' craftiness on the goal line and resulted in five straight Collingwood majors, a tidal wave of momentum that a brittle Carlton simply couldn't stop. A 6-6-6 infringement, having already had a warning, resulted in Jamie Elliott's third and added another forgettable moment in their poor run of form. But it would only get worse. Having pegged the deficit back to six points with 15 seconds to play, Josh Daicos' free kick put fourth-gamer Byrne on track to become a hero. But he couldn't capitalise, with his kick floating wide of the target and resulting a fifth defeat in the last six matches for the Blues.

For the Blues, when it rains it pours
Last week was unusual for Carlton. While it lost, it never held a hefty second-half lead. But normal programming resumed on Thursday night. The Blues led by 23 points in the third quarter, and 18 points at the final change, only to be overrun once again. It's been a familiar tale amid a sorry two-and-a-half years for coach Michael Voss and now leaves his frail side 1-5 on the season, with hopes of salvaging anything from the campaign in tatters. To make matters worse, this was an eighth loss in nine against the archrival Collingwood. Five of them have now been by under a kick, multiplying the pain even further.

Best: N. Newman, S. Walsh, M. Carroll, O. Florent, B. Kemp, M. Pittonet.

Hollands 'really disappointed with his performance': Voss
Michael Voss says Elijah Hollands is 'shattered' with his performance against Collingwood - By Riley Beveridge.

Carlton coach Michael Voss has described Elijah Hollands as "shattered with his game", saying the Blues gun was emotional after the side's narrow defeat to Collingwood on Thursday night. Hollands finished with just one disposal during the five-point loss, spending the majority of the final quarter on the bench as teammate Talor Byrne missed the chance to draw the match with a kick after the final siren. "He's pretty shattered with his game, to be honest with you," Voss said afterwards. "I spoke to him after the game and he was really disappointed with how he started. He was really upset and feels like he's let me down. I had a good chat with him. He was pretty emotional after the game. He didn't play a great game and he struggled to get his way into it. "He feels, clearly, really disappointed with his performance. Obviously, with the importance of the night, he feels like he's let people down. But we just have to keep supporting people through those situations." Voss was asked if he was worried about Hollands during the final quarter, but said Carlton's decision to keep the 23-year-old on the bench was due to the Blues looking for the right mix in their midfield rotations. "Other than he was clearly disappointed with himself," Voss said. "He was disappointed with how he was playing, so when it comes to the last quarter, you obviously have to work out what mix you've got with five minutes to go and what you want on the field. He wasn't having a great night, so we were in constant conversations with him. "We obviously thought the best mix was to not have him out there."

Carlton key forward Harry McKay is set to miss next week's trip to Western Australia to face Fremantle after being ruled out of the game following a head knock, sustained midway through the final term. McKay has battled multiple concussions across the course of his career, though Voss wasn't drawn on whether the former Coleman Medal winner had failed his HIA assessment test. "He was ruled out. That's about as much as I can tell you," Voss said. Byrne received a free kick with 15 seconds remaining and with Carlton trailing by six points after being decked behind play by Collingwood's Josh Daicos, but his kick after the siren to draw the match drifted left. It meant the Blues were resigned to a fifth defeat in six matches to start the year, though Voss said he was pleased by how young Byrne's teammates immediately came to support the fourth-gamer. "It's understanding that it's not all on the young man's shoulders," Voss said of Byrne. "We had a conversation then and it's like … he's probably rehearsed that in the backyard 2000 times. At the MCG, playing against Collingwood, game on the line, siren has gone. But what was important was that our team supported him through that. "He didn't quite get the job done, but the boys rallied. You win together, you lose together. In that particular moment, it was good to see the players get around him as strong as they did. But he was a pretty upset young man. But he needs to know he doesn't need to own all of that. I'm sure that he'll take his next one."

Carlton, AFL release statements on Elijah Hollands after mental health episode
Carlton gives an update on Elijah Hollands after the Blues' loss to Collingwood on Thursday night - By Riley Beveridge

The AFL has called on Carlton to hand over the details of its review into Elijah Hollands' game on Thursday night as the Blues continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the 23 year old. The Blues said on Friday that Hollands suffered a mental health episode during Thursday night's defeat to Collingwood, saying they will continue to "provide close and ongoing care" to the youngster following the distressing scenes during their defeat to the Magpies. Hollands looked out of sorts during the side's five-point loss, recording just one disposal for the match and showing erratic signs throughout the contest. He spent the overwhelming majority of the final quarter on the bench, with coach Michael Voss later saying an emotional Hollands was "shattered with his game" and "feels like he's let people down". The AFL released a statement on Saturday after it sought clarification from Carlton regarding Hollands' fitness to play. "The health and wellbeing of every player is the AFL's highest priority," the statement read. "The AFL has today requested Carlton to, once concluded, provide the outcome of its review of the circumstances relating to Elijah Holland's fitness to play in Thursday night's match. "The AFL will continue to make inquiries with the club in relation to the matter."

Carlton had been in ongoing talks with the AFL, the AFL Players' Association, Hollands and his manager David Trotter across Friday, with the club saying its primary focus remains on his wellbeing. "The Carlton Football Club is continuing to provide close and ongoing care to Elijah Hollands, who suffered a mental health episode on Thursday night," Carlton's statement read. "The 23-year-old is continuing to receive the appropriate level of medical and wellbeing support, with Hollands' welfare remaining the number one priority. "The club also remains in contact with the AFL and the AFLPA, given the complicated nature of what occurred on Thursday night. "While the club acknowledges the public interest, it asks that Hollands’ privacy be respected, with the primary focus on ensuring he receives the level of care he needs, before a further update can be provided at an appropriate time." Discussions around the next steps involving Hollands, and the process of how Thursday night's events played out, are expected to continue between all parties across the weekend and into next week. The AFL released a statement itself on Friday morning, saying: "We are having ongoing discussions with Carlton and also ensuring Elijah has the relevant support." League spokesperson Jay Allen confirmed on Friday evening that those discussions would continue in the wake of Carlton's statement.

Team

In: Harry Dean, Jacob Weitering, Will Hayward
Out: Wade Derksen (Omitted), Jordan Boyd (Omitted), Hudson O'Keeffe (Omitted)

Milestones

100 Games as Coach (Carlton): Michael Voss

Interesting Facts

Carlton has not beaten Collingwood since Round 3, 2012 as the home team; their most recent wins have been as the away team.

Free Kicks

Carlton 14
Collingwood 18

Front Runners

1.- Oliver Hollands 16.0km
2.- Matt Carroll 14.8km
3.- Oliver Florent 14.3km
4.- Sam Walsh 14.2km
5.- J. Crisp (Collingwood) 13.6km

AFLCA Votes

10 Nick Daicos (COLL)
6 Oliver Florent (CARL)
4 Jamie Elliott (COLL)
3 Patrick Lipinski (COLL)
3 Harry Perryman (COLL)
2 Sam Walsh (CARL)
2 Darcy Cameron (COLL)

Brownlow Votes

2 Sam Walsh

Best and Fairest Votes

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