|
Venue: MCG | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: Sun 22 June 2008, 2:10pm | Result: Lost by 35 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: J. Armstrong, R. Chamberlain, S. McLaren | Crowd: 59,177 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: Fevola 7, Carrazzo, Stevens 2, Betts, Fisher, Murphy, Simpson 1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: TBD | Injuries: Judd, (concussion), Carrazzo (concussion), Armfield (broken finger) | Ladder Position: 10th | |||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Carlton entered this match as a team in the Top 8 for the first time at this stage of the year since Season 2001 and expected to win against the Bombers who had struggled all season. As had been the norm between Carlton and Essendon for most of this decade, the team lower on the ladder was able to give the other its come-uppance and the Bombers duely disposed of the Blues and put us out of the 8.Carlton were going for 3 wins on the trot and made the single change of Browne in for Hampson. Whether this was a deliberate ruck ploy against the experienced Hille or a sign of the weather conditions, we will never know, but Hille was dominant right from the start. Essendon blew Carlton away with 7 goals to 1 in the first, and at times it looked like Carlton weren't going in for the ball and were waiting for others to clear. The Blues were dealt a savage blow when captain Chris Judd copped a heavy knock to the head in an accidental collision with his opposite counterpart Matthew Lloyd. Judd would play out most of the game but was clearly not playing the way Blues fans had come to expect and was probably ineffective for the Blues. Coupled with Essendon placing heavy - and very successful - tags on Judd (Welsh) and Scotland (Reimers), Carlton could not extract the pill.
In the second and third, Carlton successfully chipped away at the lead mainly through the in-form Brendan Fevola, but the Bombers maintained their ability to score with a tall yet mobile forward line. Although the views of the day suggested Essendon was a fast team, their speedsters had minimal impact (until the last), with the exception of young Monfries who was able to keep on bobbing up for majors.
In the last, we all expected a comeback and it came for sure. First Kade Simpson, then Stevens, plus Carazzo and the ever-brilliant Fev and the Blues hit the lead. From one point up, Bryce Gibbs started the fist pumping from one shot but it just missed. The Blues were in front, in control, and were oh so close....but then the Bombers fightback started, running away with an open forward line and crisp delivery. A brilliant mark to their Captain Matthew Lloyd, who duly converted, and the game was Essendon's despite Fev's 7.
By the conclusion of the game, Brendan Fevola had scored 51 goals against Essendon in total from 15 matches at an average of 3.4 goals per game and is now third on the list of Carlton goalscorers against Essendon behind Stephen Kernahan with 68 goals (from 20 matches at 3.4 goals per game) and Harry Vallence with 61 goals from 16 matches at 3.813 goals per game.
Team
| B: | 15 Steven Browne | 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín | 40 Michael Jamison |
| HB: | 44 Andrew Carrazzo | 30 Jarrad Waite | 32 Bret Thornton |
| C: | 16 Shaun Grigg | 5 Chris Judd (c) | 29 Heath Scotland |
| HF: | 6 Kade Simpson | 14 Brad Fisher | 24 Nick Stevens (vc) |
| F: | 19 Eddie Betts | 25 Brendan Fevola | 8 Matthew Kreuzer |
| Ruck: | 28 Cameron Cloke | 4 Bryce Gibbs | 3 Marc Murphy |
| Interchange: | 2 Jordan Russell | 7 Adam Bentick | 27 Dennis Armfield |
| 34 Simon Wiggins | |||
| Coach: | Brett Ratten | ||
| Emg: | 21 Mark Austin, 22 Shaun Hampson, 36 Darren Pfeiffer | ||
Milestones
Goal kicking: Brendan Fevola kicked his 50th goal against Essendon in this match.Brownlow Votes
3. Angus Monfries, Essendon2. Brendan Fevola, Carlton
1. David Hille, Essendon
Best and Fairest Votes
36 Nick Stevens, 30 Brendan Fevola, 22 Kade Simpson, 21 Marc Murphy, 19 Simon Wiggins, 7 Jarrad Waite, 2 Eddie BettsThe Ghost
We almost showed them
We almost showed them, didn’t we Fonzie?
It was a horrible start, horrible. We butchered the ball, smashed into each other, made more mistakes in a quarter than we had for the past several games. This was ugly Carlton – the evil twin we’ve kept hidden since…well since last time we played the Bombers actually.
Perfection is so hard to find. We’ve beaten Collingwood twice and lost twice to Essendon. That’s called negation. All the glory cancelled out by all this despair. I hate the two teams equally so I am left numb, cold and I remember something odd – Phil Karma played for both those hated clubs didn’t he?
So one week in the eight. One week to strut and remember the Happy Days. Monday Tuesday, Happy Days, Wednesday Thursday, Happy days…These days are ours (Oh happy days) these days are ours…or so we thought. We went from Fonzie to Cunningham in less time that it takes to count Ben Reid’s steps when shooting for a goal.
So now we are out of the eight, back on horribly familiar, once upon a time unfamiliar, ground. The big L ruining what was a wonderful collection of W’s. Meanwhile back at the ranch, every other side vying for the eight (except Port, thank goodness for small mercies, thankfully this Port is in a storm all of its own making) wins on the weekend! Still we are a young side and these things are to be expected. Plus whack our own fearless Fonzie over the scone with a Matthew Lloyd blockhead and the thumbs up inevitably turn to thumbs down.
Alas poor Caesar, the tides of June football and all that. It was a wicked, wicked day. But - And for all the pain, for all the dark clouds and rants on some internet sites and in the bar after the game, this But is a pretty big one - but for a moment there we almost stole it didn’t we babe?
Even my son back from nine weeks in the mountains, back to see his beloved Blues after hearing all the good news only to turn at the end of the first quarter and say, ‘so tell me again, exactly what has changed?’
Even he had some sort of smile on his face after the game despite the pain of the loss to a hated enemy. I mean it must be said, in times past this game would have been over at quarter time, but this Ratts led cohort are made of rather sterner stuff. We may have lost the game, but we didn’t lose the eagle. We came back from the dead to snatch the lead – mind you (like in all good horror movies just when you thought it was safe to look again) the horror returned when they lopped off our head (again) and we went all zombie at the end stumbling around without a clue.
But for a time, for a sweet time then, we almost showed them, didn’t we?
Fev booting goals from everywhere, Marc Murphy and Stevo’s run, Simmo also and Fish’s last was a ripper too. Gibbsey will be a star, Kruise is a beauty and we need another avenue for Fonzie and the boys to ride to goal along, find that and it would have been a different story.
So that’s the thing now hey Ratts. Keep the boy’s head down, no more strutting around like Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli’s, the world at their feet; they need to remember in truth this side is full of blue collar Richies. And we need another avenue: Another bloke to demand as much mirror space as Fev. It’s not Fev’s fault, he was beautiful to watch after all as he unravelled Go-go-going Gadget man Fletcher. But as beautiful as he is in full flight, one avenue just makes it too easy for them, make us too predictable. So the search is on, the chance presents itself. We either face reruns of reruns, or we plan for a brand new season. A season with a CHF and another also I reckon. Maybe Harts if his hammies are holding up. Maybe Edwards? Or what about young Austin to the CHB and Waitey thrown forward?
Something needs to be done.
And so to next week, and that’s the thing about football isn’t it – about life really - Every week presents a chance to redeem yourself and when the weeks run out there is always next year.
So next week it’s the Tiggers, those bouncing black and yellow balls of eternal optimism that turns sour and feral by season’s end just to disprove the theory that there is always next week or next year.
It is time again to remind Richmond why they have such haunted faces. They will miss out again and worse, in this, the celebration of their centenary, to lose, to lose to us, to lose to us by a fair whack! That’ll hurt.
So it’s Harts in and oh I wish young Tex Walker was fit, can’t wait for him to be back in this side, still that’s not yet. So this week Harts in for Armfield who hurt his finger trying to stem that Essendon dyke. Maybe Austin in also to release Waite forward and let us see how their defence handles a forward line of ours with options.
Hopefully the noggin of our captain is recovered ‘cos the midfield battle will be a ripper, Santy to run with Richo and our defence to hold firm.
It’s the Blues for mine, the smarting Blues, by a fair bit I think.
Fev for 3
Harts for 3
Waite for 3
Eddie for 2
Fish for 2
And lots of singles…
Austin to play a blinder and JR for BOG.
Go Blues!
It was a horrible start, horrible. We butchered the ball, smashed into each other, made more mistakes in a quarter than we had for the past several games. This was ugly Carlton – the evil twin we’ve kept hidden since…well since last time we played the Bombers actually.
Perfection is so hard to find. We’ve beaten Collingwood twice and lost twice to Essendon. That’s called negation. All the glory cancelled out by all this despair. I hate the two teams equally so I am left numb, cold and I remember something odd – Phil Karma played for both those hated clubs didn’t he?
So one week in the eight. One week to strut and remember the Happy Days. Monday Tuesday, Happy Days, Wednesday Thursday, Happy days…These days are ours (Oh happy days) these days are ours…or so we thought. We went from Fonzie to Cunningham in less time that it takes to count Ben Reid’s steps when shooting for a goal.
So now we are out of the eight, back on horribly familiar, once upon a time unfamiliar, ground. The big L ruining what was a wonderful collection of W’s. Meanwhile back at the ranch, every other side vying for the eight (except Port, thank goodness for small mercies, thankfully this Port is in a storm all of its own making) wins on the weekend! Still we are a young side and these things are to be expected. Plus whack our own fearless Fonzie over the scone with a Matthew Lloyd blockhead and the thumbs up inevitably turn to thumbs down.
Alas poor Caesar, the tides of June football and all that. It was a wicked, wicked day. But - And for all the pain, for all the dark clouds and rants on some internet sites and in the bar after the game, this But is a pretty big one - but for a moment there we almost stole it didn’t we babe?
Even my son back from nine weeks in the mountains, back to see his beloved Blues after hearing all the good news only to turn at the end of the first quarter and say, ‘so tell me again, exactly what has changed?’
Even he had some sort of smile on his face after the game despite the pain of the loss to a hated enemy. I mean it must be said, in times past this game would have been over at quarter time, but this Ratts led cohort are made of rather sterner stuff. We may have lost the game, but we didn’t lose the eagle. We came back from the dead to snatch the lead – mind you (like in all good horror movies just when you thought it was safe to look again) the horror returned when they lopped off our head (again) and we went all zombie at the end stumbling around without a clue.
But for a time, for a sweet time then, we almost showed them, didn’t we?
Fev booting goals from everywhere, Marc Murphy and Stevo’s run, Simmo also and Fish’s last was a ripper too. Gibbsey will be a star, Kruise is a beauty and we need another avenue for Fonzie and the boys to ride to goal along, find that and it would have been a different story.
So that’s the thing now hey Ratts. Keep the boy’s head down, no more strutting around like Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli’s, the world at their feet; they need to remember in truth this side is full of blue collar Richies. And we need another avenue: Another bloke to demand as much mirror space as Fev. It’s not Fev’s fault, he was beautiful to watch after all as he unravelled Go-go-going Gadget man Fletcher. But as beautiful as he is in full flight, one avenue just makes it too easy for them, make us too predictable. So the search is on, the chance presents itself. We either face reruns of reruns, or we plan for a brand new season. A season with a CHF and another also I reckon. Maybe Harts if his hammies are holding up. Maybe Edwards? Or what about young Austin to the CHB and Waitey thrown forward?
Something needs to be done.
And so to next week, and that’s the thing about football isn’t it – about life really - Every week presents a chance to redeem yourself and when the weeks run out there is always next year.
So next week it’s the Tiggers, those bouncing black and yellow balls of eternal optimism that turns sour and feral by season’s end just to disprove the theory that there is always next week or next year.
It is time again to remind Richmond why they have such haunted faces. They will miss out again and worse, in this, the celebration of their centenary, to lose, to lose to us, to lose to us by a fair whack! That’ll hurt.
So it’s Harts in and oh I wish young Tex Walker was fit, can’t wait for him to be back in this side, still that’s not yet. So this week Harts in for Armfield who hurt his finger trying to stem that Essendon dyke. Maybe Austin in also to release Waite forward and let us see how their defence handles a forward line of ours with options.
Hopefully the noggin of our captain is recovered ‘cos the midfield battle will be a ripper, Santy to run with Richo and our defence to hold firm.
It’s the Blues for mine, the smarting Blues, by a fair bit I think.
Fev for 3
Harts for 3
Waite for 3
Eddie for 2
Fish for 2
And lots of singles…
Austin to play a blinder and JR for BOG.
Go Blues!
Mike and Dan
Kade Simpson: Play of the Week
Look, we won’t let on about our disappointment just in case a Bombers fan is reading this; instead we want to again highlight the superb efforts of one particular player who is routinely nominated at Mike & Dan headquarters week in week out for his non-stop efforts that give us all hope, no matter the situation. Kade Simpson, winner of last year’s Play of the Year, and close to a number of nominations in Season 2008, wins this week’s Play of the Week for nailing that goal in the last that got our ill-fated comeback on track…
Have Your Say
What was your Play of the Week
Share your thoughts with Blues fans
Click here
Kade, you win this week’s Play of the Week for that rollicking goal in the last to set up our comeback. You’ve been close before with some good comeback goals as well…how did this week’s goal feel?
Thanks, well it felt pretty good at the time, I suppose it did start our comeback, I can remember just swinging onto the left and through it went, it came off the boot sweetly and yeah what more can I say…
What was the message at ¾ time…did you all know we could hit the front?
Well that was our aim, it all happened really quickly at the start of the last. You know it’s really disappointing to lose a game like that, you know we let ourselves down, but what it does show and what we have learnt in the last few weeks is that games can change really quickly, giving you belief when your down and on the flip side you need to stay on top of things when your onto of things.
Hey why are we always coming back? Can’t we have one of those always-in-front games for a change? Or even a 10 goal victory?
10 goals sounds good to me, I wish we’d try that one for a change! Really its probably a credit to Justin Cordy and our fitness team, we’ve done well recently in last quarters but unfortunately it didn’t continue throughout the entire last quarter on Sunday.
Carlton is known as a clearance team, and Essendon perhaps not quite yet, yet they killed us. What was happening out there?
I know it’s said a fair bit these days but perhaps they were the hunters on the weekend, they probably knew that’s an area they had to challenge us in to win the game, they were on top of us on the weekend.
That's twice in the one year that the Bombers have beaten us - we're
almost single-handedly depriving them of a priority pick! Do they rise to the occasion or is it about matchups?
Carlton v Essendon games are big games, so they probably rise to the occasion but I would like to think we do as well. This year they have got it on us, it just makes us hungrier to turn it around.
How disappointed was the playing group after the loss? What did Ratts say about it in relation to the previous two wins?
Really disappointed, we let everyone down, the two previous wins were great but we needed to capitalise on the weekend and we failed to do so, Ratts really didn’t need to tell us, we knew ourselves. But in saying that we learnt a lot on the weekend, we were in a position our group had never been in before and as I said I think we learnt a lot.
We understand from the press that Ratten has banned talk of finals, but was there much talk about it from the players from only one week in the 8?
No there wasn’t, after round 12, we were in the 8, but there’s 22 rounds and there is a long way to go, as Ratts said last week, and I think the media blow it up a bit, we were in the 8 there was a long way to go and if we were good enough we’d be there but its not something that was talked about, we know as a group there is a lot of hard work a head of us before we can start thinking and talking about that.
Fev gets the vast majority of delivery in the F50. Some say it makes us too predictable. Granted he's burning at the moment, but is there talk about finding other targets?
Yeah, I suppose he is such a presence down there and when he is on fire he tends to win most contests, but in saying that we know there are other targets and we need to use them.
You've had quite a few run and bounces, particularly over the weekend. Is it something you aim to do every time or only when you see a clear opportunity? What goes through your head when after a couple of bounces, the ball decides to run away from you?
Yeah, I think people like seeing the run and bounce, I enjoy the running aspect of our game and have been doing it for a while, if you can break the lines it can be a huge advantage to the team. On days like Sunday when it’s a bit greasy the ball can ran away from you a bit and I suppose the fans might get a bit nervous but you tend to get a feel of it and I like to think I know what I am doing!!!
You used to be called 'Slimmo' by some supporters, but you now have the strength and bulk to compete consistently at the highest level. What kind of fitness and strength program did you embark on?
I’m pretty massive now! Its something every player works on, this year with Justin Cordy and our weights coach Stuart Livingstone, they both are real professionals in their field of expertise.
What are the plans for the mid season break? Do you get time off from the club?
Yeah we get a bit of time off, we will do recovery on the Sunday and then I think we are off until Thursday, so it’s a nice break and a little time to get away if you feel like it.
You were acting captain for a few games last year. With Judd and Stevens, what kinds of leadership are you able to show on and off the field?
I really haven’t changed the way I approach it, its something I really enjoyed last year, I think it assisted my development as a player and I’ve continued doing the same things with the addition of a fair Captain and Vice Captain.
When the big clubs play we're starting to see a pattern of the underdog getting up, with our last 2 matches being good examples. Does being the favourite come into the players' minds much? Would you hope to start outsiders against Richmond?
No you don’t even think about it, I think the only time you think about it is if you’re having a run of outs and you are playing someone who has been flying, maybe then you might have a feeling that they might take you lightly, but that’s only on a rare occasion.
Who do you think you'll be playing on against the Tiges?
Yeah I’m not sure, there are a few guys there, but what I do know is that it will be a ripper game; it’s obviously going to be a big game for them celebrating their 100 years but it’s going to be just as big for us.
As we all look ahead to the Tiger’s match, there’s no doubt Simpson will be one of the on-field leaders out there and we all wish him well. Go Slimmo!
Have Your Say
What was your Play of the Week
Share your thoughts with Blues fans
Click here
Kade, you win this week’s Play of the Week for that rollicking goal in the last to set up our comeback. You’ve been close before with some good comeback goals as well…how did this week’s goal feel?
Thanks, well it felt pretty good at the time, I suppose it did start our comeback, I can remember just swinging onto the left and through it went, it came off the boot sweetly and yeah what more can I say…
What was the message at ¾ time…did you all know we could hit the front?
Well that was our aim, it all happened really quickly at the start of the last. You know it’s really disappointing to lose a game like that, you know we let ourselves down, but what it does show and what we have learnt in the last few weeks is that games can change really quickly, giving you belief when your down and on the flip side you need to stay on top of things when your onto of things.
Hey why are we always coming back? Can’t we have one of those always-in-front games for a change? Or even a 10 goal victory?
10 goals sounds good to me, I wish we’d try that one for a change! Really its probably a credit to Justin Cordy and our fitness team, we’ve done well recently in last quarters but unfortunately it didn’t continue throughout the entire last quarter on Sunday.
Carlton is known as a clearance team, and Essendon perhaps not quite yet, yet they killed us. What was happening out there?
I know it’s said a fair bit these days but perhaps they were the hunters on the weekend, they probably knew that’s an area they had to challenge us in to win the game, they were on top of us on the weekend.
That's twice in the one year that the Bombers have beaten us - we're
almost single-handedly depriving them of a priority pick! Do they rise to the occasion or is it about matchups?
Carlton v Essendon games are big games, so they probably rise to the occasion but I would like to think we do as well. This year they have got it on us, it just makes us hungrier to turn it around.
How disappointed was the playing group after the loss? What did Ratts say about it in relation to the previous two wins?
Really disappointed, we let everyone down, the two previous wins were great but we needed to capitalise on the weekend and we failed to do so, Ratts really didn’t need to tell us, we knew ourselves. But in saying that we learnt a lot on the weekend, we were in a position our group had never been in before and as I said I think we learnt a lot.
We understand from the press that Ratten has banned talk of finals, but was there much talk about it from the players from only one week in the 8?
No there wasn’t, after round 12, we were in the 8, but there’s 22 rounds and there is a long way to go, as Ratts said last week, and I think the media blow it up a bit, we were in the 8 there was a long way to go and if we were good enough we’d be there but its not something that was talked about, we know as a group there is a lot of hard work a head of us before we can start thinking and talking about that.
Fev gets the vast majority of delivery in the F50. Some say it makes us too predictable. Granted he's burning at the moment, but is there talk about finding other targets?
Yeah, I suppose he is such a presence down there and when he is on fire he tends to win most contests, but in saying that we know there are other targets and we need to use them.
You've had quite a few run and bounces, particularly over the weekend. Is it something you aim to do every time or only when you see a clear opportunity? What goes through your head when after a couple of bounces, the ball decides to run away from you?
Yeah, I think people like seeing the run and bounce, I enjoy the running aspect of our game and have been doing it for a while, if you can break the lines it can be a huge advantage to the team. On days like Sunday when it’s a bit greasy the ball can ran away from you a bit and I suppose the fans might get a bit nervous but you tend to get a feel of it and I like to think I know what I am doing!!!
You used to be called 'Slimmo' by some supporters, but you now have the strength and bulk to compete consistently at the highest level. What kind of fitness and strength program did you embark on?
I’m pretty massive now! Its something every player works on, this year with Justin Cordy and our weights coach Stuart Livingstone, they both are real professionals in their field of expertise.
What are the plans for the mid season break? Do you get time off from the club?
Yeah we get a bit of time off, we will do recovery on the Sunday and then I think we are off until Thursday, so it’s a nice break and a little time to get away if you feel like it.
You were acting captain for a few games last year. With Judd and Stevens, what kinds of leadership are you able to show on and off the field?
I really haven’t changed the way I approach it, its something I really enjoyed last year, I think it assisted my development as a player and I’ve continued doing the same things with the addition of a fair Captain and Vice Captain.
When the big clubs play we're starting to see a pattern of the underdog getting up, with our last 2 matches being good examples. Does being the favourite come into the players' minds much? Would you hope to start outsiders against Richmond?
No you don’t even think about it, I think the only time you think about it is if you’re having a run of outs and you are playing someone who has been flying, maybe then you might have a feeling that they might take you lightly, but that’s only on a rare occasion.
Who do you think you'll be playing on against the Tiges?
Yeah I’m not sure, there are a few guys there, but what I do know is that it will be a ripper game; it’s obviously going to be a big game for them celebrating their 100 years but it’s going to be just as big for us.
As we all look ahead to the Tiger’s match, there’s no doubt Simpson will be one of the on-field leaders out there and we all wish him well. Go Slimmo!
Round 12 | Round 14