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Venue: MCG | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: Sat August 7, 2004 | Result: Win by 17 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: Davis, McLaren, M Nicholls | Crowd: 45,083 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: Waite, Lappin, Camporeale 2, Whitnall, Stevens, Harford, Koutoufides 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Injuries: Deluca (pectoral), Fevola (hip) | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
On a day of torrential rain in Melbourne, the Blues once again saved their best form for the Bombers and forced them out of the 8. The Blues adapted better to the difficult conditions, exposing the Bombers as a team that does not like playing in the wet. They also showed superior tackling, hardness and commitment.Scott Camporeale led by example, with 25 possessions and 2 first half goals, including a great shot on the run from the boundary, setting up a 2 goal lead at half-time. Jarrad Waite was a constant danger in attack all day and kicked the first 2 goals of the third term. But then the ground started to dry out and the Bombers came back to reduce the 3/4 time margin to just 8 points. But in the final quarter, skipper Anthony Koutoufides grabbed the ball out of a boundary throw-in, brushed aside a tackle and goaled with a magnificent left foot snap from 40 metres. Then Nick Stevens, who had 24 possessions and was Best on Ground, booted a huge ball-bursting torpedo goal from 55 metres, to seal the game for the Blues, who celebrated yet another unexpected victory against the Bombers.
Matthew Lappin continued his good form, with 21 possessions and 2 goals. Daniel Harford appeared to revel in the conditions, having his best game of his year with the Blues, with 17 possessions and a goal. Luke Livingston, in just his second game of the year after struggling with injury, kept Lloyd goalless.
Team
| B: | 3 Digby Morrell | 4 Luke Livingston | 33 Ryan Houlihan |
| HB: | 20 Cory McGrath | 15 David Teague | 32 Bret Thornton |
| C: | 31 Jordan Bannister | 10 Brett Johnson | 12 Matthew Lappin |
| HF: | 29 Heath Scotland | 25 Brendan Fevola | 16 Scott Camporeale (vc) |
| F: | 2 Daniel Harford | 30 Jarrad Waite | 26 Adrian Deluca |
| Ruck: | 11 Barnaby French | 43 Anthony Koutoufides (c) | 24 Nick Stevens |
| Interchange: | |||
| 1 Andrew Walker, 8 Lance Whitnall (vc), 9 David Clarke jnr, 40 Adam Bentick | |||
| Coach: | Denis Pagan | ||
| Emg: | Andrew Carrazzo | Jon McCormick | Justin Davies |
| In: | Lance Whitnall, Daniel Harford | ||
| Out: | Glen Bowyer (ankle), Brad Fisher (knee) | ||
Milestones
50 Games: Bret ThorntonBrownlow Votes
3: Nick Stevens (CARL)2: Scott Camporeale (CARL)
1: Matthew Lappin (CARL)
Best & Fairest Votes
Anthony Koutoufides (44), Nick Stevens (41), Matthew Lappin (40), Jordan Bannister (39), Scott Camporeale (37), David Teague (34), Adam Bentick, Barnaby French, Daniel Harford (28), Cory McGrath (22), Luke Livingston (13), Jarrad Waite (11), Bret Thornton (9), Digby Morrell (5)Round 18 | Round 20