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The now 'fast moving' Blues notch their third win in a row, this time away to the Dockers.

Round 17, 2023

Carlton 4.3 27 6.8 44 12.12 84 14.14 98
Fremantle Dockers 0.3 3 2.7 19 2.8 20 6.9 45
Venue: Optus Stadium, WA.
Date: Sunday July 9, 2023 (4.40pm EST)
Result: Won by 53 points
Crowd: 49,469
Goalkickers: C. Curnow 3.2, H. McKay 3.2, M. Owies 2.0, S. Docherty 1.1, M. Kennedy 1.1, A. Cerra 1.0, M. Cottrell 1.0, L. Forgarty 1.0, M. McGovern 1.0, B. Acres 0.1, D. Cuningham 0.1, J. Martin 0.1, S. Walsh 0.1, Rushed 0.4.
Reports:
Umpires: 18 - Ray Chamberlain, 5 - Leigh Haussen, 10 - Robert O'Gorman, 38 - Matthew Young.
Injuries: M. Kennedy (right knee)
Ladder: 11th


Game Review

Blues dominate Dockers in Perth

The Blues take home a 53-point victory against the Dockers. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media.

Carlton has emerged from Optus Stadium with another thumping win, this time accounting for Fremantle by 53 points. In the Blues’ third consecutive victory, the collective were combative from the opening bounce, coming away from Perth with a 14.14 (98) to 6.9 (45) win. Sam Walsh enjoyed a blistering first half to end with 32 disposals, while Charlie Curnow (three goals) and Nic Newman (23 disposals) marked their milestone games with impressive individual showings.

Quarter one
Michael Voss’ message on Friday was clear: he didn’t want the Blues to chase the game on an away deck. It was clear that his team heeded that message, with Carlton bursting out of the blocks from the opening siren. The Blues’ pressure at the contest once again formed the foundation of their game, getting the ball forward — even if it didn’t yield immediate results. Despite posting 10 of the first 12 inside 50s, the Blues were goalless inside the opening 10 minutes, before Matthew Kennedy pushed forward to start the scoreboard ticking over. The two former Dockers in Adam Cerra and Blake Acres were central in setting the tone, with Acres accumulating nine first-quarter disposals while Cerra’s rundown tackle on Michael Walters turned a likely Fremantle score into a Harry McKay major. Charlie Curnow also hit the scoreboard in game No.100, while Sam Walsh led from the front with 13 first-quarter disposals as the Blues kicked four goals to nil (all off turnover) in the opening stanza.

Quarter two
Fremantle was always going to bounce back after the first term, and goals to Michael Walters and Luke Jackson inside the opening minutes was a a sign of the home team’s intent. After a few half chances for the Blues went begging, it was the milestone man in Curnow who eased the pressure, taking front position to mark and goal. His 100th game counterpart in Nic Newman was just as good behind the ball, standing up under increasing Fremantle pressure to accumulate 15 disposals - including six intercept possessions - at the half. Continuing his outstanding form in recent weeks, Jacob Weitering held firm with a pair of contested marks, while McKay repeated the dosage at the other end to give the Blues some breathing room. Despite Sean Darcy’s hitout dominance (36 to half time) given the Blues were without a recognised ruck, Carlton’s midfielders ability to scrap and shark saw the away side lead contested possessions (+4) and draw levels in clearances at the main break, still holding a 25-point advantage.

Quarter three
All eyes were on the opening minutes, with the first goal going a long way to dictating how the term would be played. Alas, it was Lachie Fogarty who came through with the Navy Blue goods, and he did so in some style, fending off an opponent and dropping the Sherrin onto his right foot with his left hand for a crafty major. The highlights in front of goal didn’t stop there for the Blues, as a few individuals very familiar with the territory that got in on the act. First, it was West Australian native Mitch McGovern that launched from 55 on the run, before former Docker Cerra bounced one home from the edge of 50 to send a strong Navy Blue contingent in the crowd into raptures. When the Blues were challenged, the likes of Jordan Boyd were there on the last line to thwart any danger. More unselfish work from Jack Silvagni led to Matthew Owies kicking his second goal, while Weitering continued his outstanding work in defence as the Blues kept their opponents goalless for the second quarter of three for the game. The only sour notes for the Blues was a knee injury to Matthew Kennedy, who came from the ground in the hands of trainers midway through the quarter, as well as a corked thigh for Mitch McGovern in the final minute.

Quarter four
Kennedy and McGovern didn’t return after their respective injuries, with George Hewett subbed into the game for his fellow inside midfielder. As he did in the second term, Walters ensured the Blues wouldn’t keep their opponents goalless for the term once again. With the Blues two down and the sting out of the contest, Fremantle added some consolation in the final quarter. The Blues weren’t without their own highlights, with Curnow kicking his third in game No.100 while Matthew Cottrell marked his return from suspension with a classy major. Carlton’s hunt at the source didn’t relent, ultimately coming away from Optus Stadium with another big win — this time, by 53 points.

Best: S. Walsh, A. Cerra, P. Cripps, H. McKay, J. Weitering, S. Docherty, N. Newman.

Three things we learned
1. Full of fight. For the third consecutive week, Michael Voss’ side was up for the contest from the opening bounce, overwhelming their opponents with their physicality all over the ground. Despite Fremantle clearly having the ruck ascendancy with Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson, Lewis Young and Jack Silvagni performed admirably, clawing and scrapping away to put the heat on and see the Blues win the midfield battle (+15 contested possessions).
2. If one doesn’t get you, another will. Anyone who has watched Carlton play in recent months will know that its midfield mix is operating at a higher level, even before results started to turn. The way the collective unit operated on Sunday was evidence of exactly that. Sam Walsh was everywhere in the first half, with 23 disposals in the opening half, but when he got more attention, his mates lifted. Cerra’s third quarter was exemplary with 11 disposals and a goal, while Patrick Cripps was consistent all day in his home state, finishing with 29 disposals.
3. The last two times the Blues ventured to Optus Stadium, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay combined for 10 goals on both occasions. While the twin towers still combined for six on Sunday evening, it was once again the team’s breadth of contributors that got the job done for the Blues. Deep into the final term, the Blues’ forwards had more contested possessions inside 50 than the Dockers had in their defensive 50, while their inside-50 tackle count sat at 18: their highest tally for the season.

Defence is the key to unlocking Harry
Carlton key forward Harry McKay had laid more than two tackles in a game only once this season before round 14. For the past three weeks, he has laid a total of 12 and his form in front of goal is following. In the first half against Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Sunday, McKay had a team-high three tackles inside 50 as his defensive pressure contributed to a 25-point lead. The resulting confidence was obvious, with the Coleman medallist converting set shots with drop punts and presenting at the ball with purpose, proving a handful for opponent Alex Pearce and finishing the day with three goals. If the Blues are going to make a late charge at finals, McKay's defensive efforts – and his goals – will be important. – Nathan Schmook

Buy-in, belief key for Voss’ Blues

Michael Voss was elated at the selfless, team-first mentality his side implemented over four quarters. - By Carlton Media

It was an emphatic win for the Blues over the Dockers, with AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss sure that it will fill his side with confidence. Not wanting to highlight any one player, Voss praised the selfless and team-first attitude of the collective instead. Speaking of the effort from the first bounce, the ruck situation and a couple of former Dockers, here's what he had to say.

On the first-quarter pressure:
“They’re tough to play here so to be able to get our game set up like that in the first quarter, being able to get territory on the ground, the pressure we were able to create in the first quarter laid the foundations for us for the rest of the game. "We spoke a lot about our contest pressure and what our defence needed to look like: I couldn’t have asked for more in that first quarter, the ball lived in our half. "When you’re at an away venue, you want to start well, take the crowd out it, provide that energy and it starts to become contagious: the efforts and to draw that energy out of one another, that’s what we needed today."

On keeping the pressure going through four quarters:
"We knew Fremantle was going to respond in the second quarter: our pressure dropped off a bit around the ball, but we ramped it up again in the second half. "We understand that any time teams are going to bring great pressure, but staying in that place for longer is not something that we’ve had consistently throughout our year, which has made our year really challenging at times. "I just felt like that and some really selfless play from guys doing their jobs and getting their jobs done, it felt like everyone got their jobs done. When they needed to be leant on, they got the job done for their teammates, so that was particularly pleasing."

On Jack Silvagni and Lewis Young in the ruck:
“To highlight the effort that 'Youngy' and 'SOS' have done as best they can, try and neutralise the rucks and get to work on the floor. "We were well and truly behind on the hitouts but our ability to go and get the ball back and still win the clearances and score from that was pretty important. That’s the energy that we were able to bring around the contest, the boys are really buying into that and it’s making a significant difference to that. "I couldn’t ask for any more from 'SOS' and 'Youngy' with what they’ve done the last couple of weeks. We’ve had a next-man-up mentality for a period of time and the guys are stepping in and doing great roles. The lesson is it’s one thing to have a ruckman, but if you don’t do the work on the floor, it doesn’t matter."

On the mentality that has changed within the group:
"We simplified it significantly and the boys have enjoyed that and bought into it, and we’re playing some good footy. I believe the players need to take some credit for the way the leaders have gone after that period of time. "Sometimes you can grow when you’re challenged and no one sees it, you still grow, then suddenly you start seeing what it looks like. "We also know that we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, we’re not taking anything for granted right now, we’re living in the present, taking it in the experiences and coming away together like we did today in a challenging environment and we walk away with the four points."

On the Port Adelaide challenge:
"I think it’s another opportunity for us to be able to play against another quality opposition. I think what we do at the moment is take the next 24 hours to absorb what we’ve done here, make sure we really enjoy these wins that... then we cast our eyes forward. "We know what’s coming, they’re a very good side. I spent a bit of time there, so I know the coach well and know the players well! That isn’t going to help too much, we have to bring our best and we won’t get the job done if we don’t bring our best."

On the leaders taking ownership:
"I believe the players need to take some credit for the way the leaders have gone after that period of time. “No one stepped away from their responsibilities, we owned where we were at and we had to accept that before we could make a change and the leaders have really driven that. “As coaches, our responsibility is to try and provide a clear picture and what it looks like and keep reinforcing it. Our leaders and our players really went after it."

On the impact of two former Freo players:
“They were really good, ‘Cez’ was fantastic — I said I didn’t want to speak about individuals. “Blake set himself earlier in the week, he had a mate there with a few words of encouragement but they’ve got plenty of experience behind them.”

Defence is the key to unlocking Harry

Carlton key forward Harry McKay had laid more than two tackles in a game only once this season before round 14. For the past three weeks, he has laid a total of 12 and his form in front of goal is following. In the first half against Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Sunday, McKay had a team-high three tackles inside 50 as his defensive pressure contributed to a 25-point lead. The resulting confidence was obvious, with the Coleman medallist converting set shots with drop punts and presenting at the ball with purpose, proving a handful for opponent Alex Pearce and finishing the day with three goals. If the Blues are going to make a late charge at finals, McKay's defensive efforts – and his goals – will be important. – Nathan Schmook

Team

B: 17 Brodie Kemp 23 Jacob Weitering 24 Nic Newman
HB: 37 Jordan Boyd 11 Mitch McGovern 42 Adam Saad
C: 46 Matthew Cottrell 9 Patrick Cripps (c) 13 Blake Acres
HF: 8 Lachie Fogarty 30 Charlie Curnow 44 Matt Owies
F: 28 David Cuningham 10 Harry McKay 18 Sam Walsh
Ruck: 33 Lewis Young 15 Sam Docherty 5 Adam Cerra
Interchange: 1 Jack Silvagni 7 Matthew Kennedy 21 Jack Martin
39 Alex Cincotta
Substitute: 29 George Hewett
Coach: Michael Voss
Emergencies: 26 Lachie Cowan 3 Jesse Motlop 35 Ed Curnow

-* Jesse Motlop replaced Tom De Koning in the selected squad

In: Matthew Cottrell
Out: Ed Curnow

Substitute: George Hewett (replaced Matthew Kennedy in 3rd Quarter).

Milestones

100th Game: Charlie Curnow
100th Game (AFL): Nic Newman

Interesting Facts

1. Sam Docherty had a career-high 17 handballs in this game.
2. Adam Cerra had a career-high 11 Inside 50s.

AFLCA Votes

10 - Adam Cerra (CARL)
6 - Patrick Cripps (CARL)
4 - Sam Walsh (CARL)
4 - Luke Ryan (FRE)
2 - Harry McKay (CARL)
2 - Adam Saad (CARL)
1 - Jacob Weitering (CARL)
1 - Charlie Curnow (CARL)

Brownlow Votes

3 - Jacob Weitering (CARL)
2 - Patrick Cripps (CARL)
1 - Harry McKay

Best and Fairest Votes


Video




Round 16 | Round 18
Contributors to this page: Jarusa , Bombasheldon , WillowBlue and molsey .
Page last modified on Thursday 21 of March, 2024 01:53:00 AEDT by Jarusa.

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