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| Venue: | Marvel Stadium, Docklands. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Sunday 27th June, 2021 (4.10 pm). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Won by 10 points. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 14,930 (Covid Restricted) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | E. Betts 3.0, H. McKay 2.2, J. Martin 2.2, M. Owies 1.3, P. Dow 1.0, Z. Williams 1.0, P. Cripps 1.0, A. Saad 1.0, L. Fogarty 0.2, J. Silvagni 0.1, S. Petrevski-Seton 0.1. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Zac Williams was charged with rough conduct in the third quarter. It was graded as intentional, low impact and high contact, which carries a one-game suspension. A further four Blues were charged by the MRO for engaging in a melee, Liam Stocker, Lachie Plowman and Jack Martin can all accept a $1,000 fine with an early plea. Sam Docherty was fined $3,000 for two seperate offences as part of the melee. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | Ray Chamberlain, Leigh Fisher, Andrew Heffernan. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | M. Murphy (calf). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 13th. | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Blues handle the heat in fiery win over Crows
Adelaide almost mows down Carlton in a heated clash at Marvel Stadium - By Michael Whiting / Marni Olsson-Young.
Carlton has held on at Marvel Stadium to record its fifth win of the season over Adelaide. Defeating the comeback Crows by 10 points in their first game in Victoria since Round 10, the Blues performed in front of a vocal home crowd to hang on for a valuable four points.Carlton's season-saving win over Adelaide had just about everything on Sunday afternoon. The Blues played some of their best football of the season during a scintillating eight-goal second term, yet still had to hang on from a frantic Crows comeback to triumph 12.11 (83) to 10.13 (73) at Marvel Stadium. The four precious premiership points keeps their faint finals hopes flickering. But it wasn't easy. Although Carlton led by as much as 34 points and had to withstand Adelaide's second-half fightback, the nature of the performance would delight coach David Teague, his players, supporters and anyone associated with the club.
They were ballistic, absorbing pressure from the Crows, forcing turnovers and then counter-attacking without hesitation. And when Adelaide ate into the big lead in the third and fourth quarters, the Blues defended desperately to hang on for a deserved victory. Sam Walsh was magnificent, finishing with 38 disposals and nine score involvements, while Zac Williams answered a week of criticism the best way possible, heavily involved to finish with 26 touches, a team-high 583m gained and a second-quarter goal that brought him great delight. Patrick Cripps (20), fresh off inking a six-year contract extension, also had a good day, while defenders Liam Jones and Jacob Weitering were rock solid. On the back of three straight losses, things didn't start well for the Blues, trailing by 18 points close to quarter-time despite an obvious intent to pressure and attack. Carlton got its intercept marking game working well through Weitering and Jones, but had troubles connecting when going inside 50. Conversely, Adelaide was generating most of its attack from stoppages, and after missing its first six shots at goal, Fogarty kicked two inside a minute to give the Crows the quarter-time lead. Rory Laird continued his fine season with 33 disposals, while Paul Seedsman (24 and two goals) was also prolific.
Quarter one:
It was a slow start in Carlton’s first game back in Victoria, kept scoreless in the opening term until the final minutes. Gathering plenty of possessions, the Blues struggled to find avenues in attack while the ball floated into the Crows forward 50. Sam Walsh was Carlton’s primary ball-winner through the first term, showing plenty through the centre despite the scoreline. It took until the 16-minute mark of the opening term for a goal to be scored, with the Crows taking an early lead with two consecutive goals. Adam Saad then decided to take matters into his own hands, running off half back through the centre to kick truly towards goal. Less than a minute later and with the quarter drawing to a close, Harry McKay made it two in a row heading into the second term.
Quarter two:
McKay picked up where he left off in the opening minutes of the second term at Marvel Stadium, taking advantage of an inside 50 from Paddy Dow to notch his second. Eddie Betts then opened the floodgates for the Blues, with a sure kick putting the Blues in front. A Betts assist then led to Matt Owies’ first goal of the afternoon, shortly followed by an astonishing team goal that saw Jack Martin notch his own major. Having shared the love, Betts decided to kick another one of his own goals, selling the candy artfully in front of goal to record his second. But the jewel of the quarter had to be a captain’s goal from the recently re-signed Patrick Cripps that saw Blues come from around the ground to celebrate alongside the skipper. Despite a late Adelaide answer on the siren, it was a blistering eight-goal quarter from the Blues which saw them lead by 28 points at the main break.
Quarter three:
From the first bounce of the third quarter, it was certain to be a fierce battle in the second half. The Crows came back on to the ground refreshed with a new-found attack after half-time. An early goal from Eddie Betts looked to be a strong opening for the Blues, but the Crows worked away at whittling away the lead with three consecutive goals. It was set to be a nerve-racking final quarter for Blues supporters, but a late settling goal from Jack Martin prompted a brief sigh of relief before the siren. Carlton's spirit was on display in a fiery third term, with teammates coming from everywhere after Jacob Weitering was on the receiving end of a late bump.
Quarter four:
Adelaide kept the pressure on in the last term, with the four points still up for grabs at the start of the last term. Carlton’s defence was under siege for the final term, with two goals from Taylor Walker leaving Blues supporters with some late nerves. Desperate defensive efforts from Adam Saad, as well as tireless work from Liam Jones in the goal square, saw the Blues hang on to secure the 10-point win.
Three things from the match:
1. Patrick Cripps will continue to be the heart of soul of the Navy Blue for many years to come. Bluebaggers roared as the skipper kicked true for a second-quarter goal that continued the Blues' scoring flurry. As Blues ran from across the ground to celebrate with the skipper, supporters made Marvel Stadium feel like IKON Park as they got behind their man.
2. Sam Petrevski-Seton and Paddy Dow were bright sparks in a relatively new-look Carlton midfield. While Cripps and the excellent Sam Walsh (39 disposals) were there as always, the two Blues who have spent time in different areas of the ground looked at home in the centre bounce. After previously playing off half back, Petrevski-Seton burst out of the blocks before finishing with 14 disposals, while Dow was combative in a performance which yielded 20 disposals and a goal.
3. Carlton's strong intercept marking kept the side steady throughout the afternoon, despite repeat challenges from Adelaide. Carlton finished with the lion's share in the stat, notching 74 intercepts throughout the afternoon with Jacob Weitering and Liam Jones leading that count as always. Jones was brilliant in the final stages, while Weitering produced a career-high 16 marks.
Zac hits back
A big-money free agency move during the off-season and a slow start to his time in the Navy Blue has led to plenty of scrutiny for Zac Williams. Coach David Teague admitted during the week that Williams needed to lift and much of that fell on the former Giant's shoulders – he clearly took it on-board. Williams was busy from the outset, quick to get to the feet of contests and sweep up loose balls, before also chiming in during attacking thrusts. His 25 disposals was a nice reward for a day of hard work. He'll quickly get Blues fans on-side with more of the same in coming weeks.
A breathtaking quarter of footy
Carlton's win was set up off the back of a second quarter they'll want to watch over and over again. They lifted at stoppages and moved the ball swiftly into a forward line that seemed to have options everywhere. Eddie Betts kicked two of his three goals in that term and set up another for Matt Owies. He also dropped a skyscraping mark attempt that would have been among the contenders for the best in 2021. Jack Martin took a swag of marks inside 50, Zac Williams kicked a great snap, and the Marvel Stadium roof – already open for the game – was lifted right off when Cripps drilled one on the run from 50m.
Moment of the match:
Sublime all afternoon in his defensive efforts while impacting the scoreboard with a classy running goal, Adam Saad was at his brilliant best in a chase-down tackle late in the fourth. With the Blues under siege in their back half, Saad saved a near certain Crows goal and subsequently the match with his relentless run.
Best: S. Walsh, Z. Williams, L. Jones, P. Cripps, A. Saad, M. Kennedy.
Team
| B: | 15 Sam Docherty (c) | 14 Liam Jones | 20 Lachie Plowman |
| HB: | 6 Zac Williams | 23 Jacob Weitering | 42 Adam Saad |
| C: | 32 Jack Newnes | 9 Patrick Cripps (c) | 18 Sam Walsh |
| HF: | 35 Ed Curnow | 1 Jack Silvagni | 19 Eddie Betts |
| F: | 10 Harry McKay | 21 Jack Martin | 44 Matt Owies |
| Ruck: | 12 Tom De Koning | 7 Matthew Kennedy | 2 Paddy Dow |
| Interchange: | 3 Marc Murphy | 5 Sam Petrevski-Seton | 8 Lachie Fogarty |
| 13 Liam Stocker | |||
| Medical Substitute | 24 Nic Newman | ||
| Coach: | David Teague | ||
| Emergencies: | 4 Lochie O'Brien | 36 Josh Honey | 46 Matthew Cottrell |
Medical Substitute: Nic Newman replaced M. Murphy in the 1st quarter.
In; Marc Murphy, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Lachie Plowman
Out: Zac Fisher (inj), Luke Parks (omitted), Marc Pittonet (ankle)
Milestones
Games records: Eddie Betts moved in outright 20th position on all time AFL/VFL games played in his 343rd game.Goals records: Eddie Betts moved in equal 29th position on all time AFL/VFL goals kicked his 633rd career goal.
Goal-kicking post-script: Only 3 Blues were in double figures for goals as at Round 15 - McKay, Betts & Owies! This said a lot about our team in 2021, with material injuries & form issues across our half forward line...
Indigenous highlights: First time that the Blues had five Indigenous players run out in the same game, Eddie Betts, Liam Jones, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Jack Martin and Zac Williams.
Sam Walsh had a career best numbers when he amassed 38 touches that included nine inside 50's, nine score involvements, a goal assist and 578 metres gained in a display highlighted by his elite hard-running ability.
AFLCA Votes
10 - Sam Walsh (CARL)7 - Zac Williams (CARL)
6 - Jacob Weitering (CARL)
5 - Rory Laird (ADEL)
1 - Jordon Butts (ADEL)
1 - Paul Seedsman (ADEL)
Brownlow Votes
3 - Sam Walsh (CAR)2 - Ben Keays (ADE)
1 - Liam Jones (CAR)
Best & Fairest Votes
Sam Walsh 13, Zac Williams 11, Jacob Weitering 10, Adam Saad 9, Jack Martin 9, Liam Jones 8, Paddy Dow 8, Matthew Kennedy 6, Harry McKay 6, Matt Owies 6, Patrick Cripps 6, Eddie Betts 6, Nic Newman 6, Jack Newnes 6, Lachie Plowman 6, Ed Curnow 5, Tom De Koning 5, Jack Silvagni 3, Liam Stocker 3, Lachie Forgarty 3, Sam Petrevski-Seton 3, Sam Docherty 1Round 14 | Round 16