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| Venue: | MCG. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Sunday June 18, 2023 (1.10 pm). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Won by 59 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 29,602 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | P. Cripps 3.0, H. McKay 3.0, C, Curnow 2.2, A. Cerra 2.1, T. De Koning 2.1, M. Cottrell 2.0, M. Owies 2.0, L. Fogarty 1.0, M. Kennedy 1.0, S. Walsh 0.2, J. Boyd 0.1, Alex Cincotta 0.1, N. Newman 0.1, Rushed 0.3. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Matt Cottrell was reported for a dangerous tackle on Suns Ben Long, this was challenged but it failed so the one-week suspension stood. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | 2 - Nick Foot, 6 - Daniel Johanson, 8 - Brett Rosebury, 22 - Nathan Williamson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 14th | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Carlton returns to winning form
Carlton romped to a 59-point victory over Gold Coast. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton MediaBack on board.
Carlton showed what its brutal best was capable of at the MCG in Round 14 action, triumphing by 59 points in a return to winning form. The Blues kicked 12 consecutive goals at one point in the 18.12 (120) to 8.13 (61) triumph, with star players all over the park. Adam Cerra continued his hot run of form in the middle, and was well supported by Sam Walsh in the midfield. Patrick Cripps found his goalkicking boots with three majors, while Harry McKay matched his captain’s goal-scoring return in his 100th AFL game.
Quarter one
David Cuningham started inside 50 at the opening bounce, with Sam Docherty stationed on the wing. The Suns dominated the early territory with 11 of the first 14 inside 50s, largely coming off the back of their prowess at the coalface (+11 contested possessions). Undersized against one-time teammate Levi Casboult, Brodie Kemp stood up well under early pressure with five disposals and four marks in the opening term. While it was Blue-turned-Sun Casboult who opened proceedings from a goals perspective, it was a former Sun who got the ball rolling for the home side, with some Jack Martin cleverness setting up Adam Cerra at the other end. Cerra had eight disposals in the opening quarter to continue his strong form, while Adam Saad led all comers with nine disposals and a team-high 187 metres gained. The Blues managed to get more forward territory in the back half of the term, but found themselves 10 points in arrears after a slow start.
Quarter two
Carlton’s intent from the opening bounce was evident, with Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Harry McKay all combining for the 100-gamer’s first of the day. It set the tone for the next 10 minutes, where the Blues were at their brutal best: by the nine-minute mark of the quarter, the Blues found themselves 20 points to the good after five straight goals. Matthew Cottrell was the chief instigator, kicking two goals in 60 seconds to generate energy all around the MCG. After an arm wrestle in the middle portion of the term, Carlton once again took control of the contest, largely on the back of daring ball movement from defence and sheer appetite at the contest. Their destruction at the coalface was evident, winning nine out of the 10 centre clearances for the quarter: six of the Blues’ nine goals for the quarter came from clearances. The Blues’ Sams were crucial in the second-quarter blitz, with Docherty collecting 10 disposals and Walsh accumulating nine disposals and three goal assists.
Quarter three
Carlton’s tackle pressure continued from the outset, ending in Cerra - just as he did for the Blues in the opening term - registering the team’s first of the quarter. The feel-good moment of the day came not long afterwards, when after some unselfish play by Charlie Curnow, Lachie Fogarty - playing his first game in over a year following back surgery - marking his return with a major. The Blues’ run of 12 straight goals was ended via Jack Lukosius, as the game began to tighten up following the Blues’ barrage for a quarter and a half. Gold Coast converted three consecutive majors in the middle portion of the term, which could’ve potentially created some nervous moments for Carlton: however, in the team’s time of need, Charlie Curnow stood up to drive one home from close range. With more time spent in Carlton’s defensive half, Jacob Weitering (five contested possessions for the quarter, seven intercepts to three-quarter time) stood up as the Blues maintained a 45-point lead at the final change.
Quarter four
McKay marked his century of games with an MCG hat-trick, bringing it up inside the opening 30 seconds of the final term. After just one goal inside the opening 13 rounds of the season, Cripps made up for lost time with his second - and later, his third - goal of the game, with the Blues breaking the 100-point barrier not long after. Paddy Dow was brought into the game for Jack Martin, as the Blues’ four-quarter commitment was typified by sprawling smothers from Jacob Weitering and Nic Newman despite the game largely being over on the scoreboard. Matthew Owies provided an individual moment of ingenuity, soccering a goal through a sea of legs as Carlton fans rejoiced in the stands. After a long seven weeks, the noise at the home of football was one to savour as the Blues returned to the winners’ list.
Best: A. Cerra, S. Walsh, S. Docherty, J. Weitering, P. Cripps, H. McKay, M. Kennedy, B. Kemp.
Three things we learned
1. It was just what the Blues needed. After a relatively slow start at the MCG, Carlton well and truly kicked into gear from the midway point of the first term, relishing the contest as Michael Voss requested late in the week. Against a strong contested outfit, the Blues outhunted the Suns around the ball, showing just how damaging they can be when it clicks into gear. There was reward for effort on the scoreboard this week, too.
2. This one isn’t so much about learning something new as much as it is confirming what we’ve already seen. Adam Cerra has been a standout for the Blues in recent weeks, but maybe hasn’t received the individual acclaim given the lack of wins the Blues have enjoyed. That wasn’t the case on Sunday afternoon, with Carlton romping to a big win and Cerra clearly the best player on the ground in the opening half. He finished with 27 disposals (17 contested), eight clearances and two goals.
3. The spread of contributors is what would’ve pleased Michael Voss and his coaching staff to no end. In Carlton’s four wins prior to today, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay had averaged over seven goals as a pairing. While they combined for five on Sunday, it was the Blues’ breadth of contributors all over the field - the Blues had nine individual goalkickers (including seven with multiples) and as many players with 18 disposals or more.
Cerra has been a shining light in the Blues' gloom
Adam Cerra has been one of the few shining lights amid the gloom of Carlton's nightmare two months and again on Sunday, it was the 23-year-old who got the job done. The former Docker did it all against the Suns and might well be leading the John Nicholls Medal at the bye after producing another dominant display. He kicked two goals from 27 disposals, had 17 contested possessions, nine score involvements, six tackles and 459 metres gained. It was in the middle where he inflicted the most damage, with seven of his eight clearances coming out of the centre. Cerra has had 30 or more touches six times since round six, showing why the Blues paid a high price to prise him out of Fremantle. - Josh Gabelich
Team
| B: | 23 Jacob Weitering | 17 Brodie Kemp | 24 Nic Newman |
| HB: | 37 Jordan Boyd | 11 Mitch McGovern | 42 Adam Saad |
| C: | 15 Sam Docherty | 9 Patrick Cripps (c) | 13 Blake Acres |
| HF: | 28 David Cuningham | 10 Harry McKay | 46 Matthew Cottrell |
| F: | 21 Jack Martin | 12 Tom De Koning | 30 Charlie Curnow |
| Ruck: | 27 Marc Pittonet | 18 Sam Walsh | 5 Adam Cerra |
| Interchange: | 7 Matthew Kennedy | 8 Lachie Fogarty | 39 Alex Cincotta |
| 44 Matt Owies | |||
| Substitute: | 2 Paddy Dow | ||
| Coach: | Michael Voss | ||
| Emergencies: | 32 Jaxon Binns | 33 Lewis Young | 35 Ed Curnow |
In: David Cuningham, Lachie Fogarty, Nic Newman, Marc Pittonet
Out: Jack Silvagni, Jesse Motlop, Ed Curnow, Lewis Young
Substitute: Paddy Dow (replaced Jack Martin in 4th Quarter).
Milestones
100 Games: Harry McKay50 Games: Tom De Koning
AFLCA Votes
9 - Adam Cerra (CARL)8 - Patrick Cripps (CARL)
7 - Sam Docherty (CARL)
4 - Sam Walsh (CARL)
1 - Brodie Kemp (CARL)
1 - Tom De Koning (CARL)
Brownlow Votes
3 - Patrick Cripps (CARL)2 - Sam Walsh (CARL)
1 - Adam Cerra CARL)
Best and Fairest Votes
Video
Round 13 | Round 15