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Venue: MCG | ||||||||||||||||||
Date: Sat 5 April 2008, 7:10pm | Result: Loss by 16 points | ||||||||||||||||||
Umpires: Kamolins, K. Nicholls, Ryan. | Crowd: 64,388 | ||||||||||||||||||
Goalkickers: Fevola 8, Kreuzer 2, Judd 2, Stevens 2, Hadley, Carrazzo, Fisher, Murphy, Betts, Gibbs, Bannister | |||||||||||||||||||
Reports: Nil | Injuries: Nil |
Game Review
A free kick and resultant goal to Damien Peverill before the opening bounce was the worst start possible for the Blues. Matthew Kreuzer, playing in his first match, managed to kick a goal with his first kick in AFL football from a set shot about 40 metres out on a slight angle. Just prior to this goal, he had gotten the hit out at the centre bounce to Chris Judd, who passed to Eddie Betts. Kreuzer then sprinted from the centre circle into the forward 50 to take an uncontested mark. In a match that was always destined to be a high-scoring shoot-out, the Bombers had the early advantage at quarter time.The second quarter was more of the same. There were plenty of goals and the game was played in an incredibly attacking and quick manner. The Bombers went into the main break with a slight lead.
The Blues came out firing in the third quarter. Brendan Fevola was unstoppable, kicking a mammoth 5 goals and Chris Judd picked up 12 disposals to go with his first two goals in the Navy Blue. The Blues managed to close the deficit and were at one stage two goals in front. But, in what is all too familiar now for Carlton fans, Essendon managed to snag two very late goals in the quarter and at three-quarter time the Blues were up by only one point.
Much like the previous two weeks, the Blues faded out once again and were overrun by a more match-fit Essendon outfit who were eventual 16 point winners.
This match equalled Carlton's worst ever losing streak of 14 games. The only other time this had happened was in the 1901/1902 seasons.
Brendan Fevola was best afield for the Blues with an equal career-best 8 goals (the fifth time he had achieved the feat). Chris Judd played his best game for the Blues so far; picking up 32 disposals, 2 goals, 15 contested possessions and a massive 9 clearances. Matthew Kreuzer played the best debut game seen at Carlton since Andrew Walker in 2004; picking up 16 disposals, 2 goals and 12 hit outs despite only playing 67% of the match. His 2nd and 3rd efforts, one-percenters and footy smarts had Blues fans salivating at the prospect of him playing for Carlton for the next 15 years. Eddie Betts also played his best game yet for Carlton; picking up a career-high 27 disposals and kicking yet another spectacular goal. Nick Stevens responded to criticism during the week that he was overweight by picking up 26 disposals, 5 clearances and two long goals. Despite having lost the game, there were plenty of positives the Blues could take out from this game.
Team
B: | 29 Heath Scotland | 40 Michael Jamison | 32 Bret Thornton |
HB: | 6 Kade Simpson | 30 Jarrad Waite | 18 Paul Bower |
C: | 4 Bryce Gibbs | 5 Chris Judd (c) | 31 Jordan Bannister |
HF: | 3 Marc Murphy | 14 Brad Fisher | 2 Jordan Russell |
F: | 19 Eddie Betts | 25 Brendan Fevola | 8 Matthew Kreuzer |
Ruck: | 28 Cameron Cloke | 10 Richard Hadley | 24 Nick Stevens |
Interchange: | 22 Shaun Hampson | 33 Ryan Houlihan | 36 Darren Pfeiffer |
44 Andrew Carrazzo | |||
Coach: | Brett Ratten | ||
Emg: | 7 Adam Bentick, Dennis Armfield, 38 Ryan Jackson | ||
In: | Matthew Kreuzer, Michael Jamison | ||
Out: | Setanta Ó hAilpín, Jake Edwards |
Milestones
Debut: Matthew KreuzerGoal with first kick: Matthew Kreuzer
Score Records: This loss was Carlton's 14th consecutive loss, equalling our record losing streak
Brownlow Votes
3. Mark McVeigh, Essendon2. Chris Judd, Carlton
1. Brendan Fevola, Carlton
Best and Fairest Votes
42 Eddie Betts, 41 Brendan Fevola, 38 Chris Judd, 33 Matthew Kreuzer, 30 Michael Jamison, 22 Nick Stevens, 19 Richard Hadley, 16 Marc Murphy, 4 Cameron ClokeRound 2 | Round 4