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| Venue: | MCG | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Sunday 18th July, 2021 (3.20 pm). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Won by 29 points. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | Nil due to ban on crowds this round due to Covid. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | H. McKay 4.0, E. Betts 2.2, S. Walsh 1.1, J. Martin 1.1, J. Silvagni 1.0, T. DeKoning 1.0, J. Kennedy 1.0, L. Stocker 1.0, Z. Williams 1.0, M. Owies 0.2, Z. Fisher 0.2, S. Petrevski-Seton 0.1, T. Williamson 0.1, Rushed 0.3. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Zac Fisher was charged with Wrestling Collingwood's Taylor Adams during the fourth quarter, he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | Simon Meredith, Brett Rosebury, Paul Rebeschini. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 13th. | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Not done yet! Blues in finals hunt after running down PiesA final-quarter comeback keeps Carlton's season alive - By Riley Beveridge / Rose Zarucky.
Carlton is hanging around. If it's been a season of 'what ifs?' and regrettable moments to this point, there is still a chance to make amends. The club's gritty comeback victory over Collingwood on Sunday, turning a 24-point deficit into a 29-point victory, keeps its faint finals hopes alive. The Blues ended the 13.13 (91) to 9.8 (62) win over their old enemies just a game outside the top-eight, albeit with a significant percentage difference to another arch rival in the Bombers. But it's hope all the same, hope inspired by the sheer genius of Sam Walsh. If his 38-disposal, five-tackle and five-clearance performance had been memorable to begin with, his remarkable final quarter goal to seal the team's win was the cherry on top.
It was part of a Carlton final quarter that yielded six unanswered goals, with Coleman Medal leader Harry McKay delivering four of them himself, as the Blues completely overwhelmed their wilting opponents. Jordan De Goey's 31 disposals and 12 marks, along with Chris Mayne's 26 touches and 10 grabs, had initially put Collingwood in a position of control, but interim coach Robert Harvey watched as his side's lead dissipated over the course of the game. It had hardly been the most inspiring start regardless, with both sides plagued by woeful attacking inefficiency in its early stages. It took teenage forward Ollie Henry, previously without an AFL goal, to finally deliver a pair of pinpoint shots and help open a 17-point Collingwood lead in the first term.
Jack Martin eventually put Carlton on the board after the quarter-time siren, but it did little to shift the momentum. The Pies piled on five of the first six goals on either side of the interval, grabbing complete command of the contest. Amid that rush came Henry's third, before the Blues – falling four goals behind midway through the second quarter – eventually set about stopping the rot. Successive majors would cut the deficit to just 10 by half-time, with the Magpies' concerns compounded by Josh Thomas leaving the game with concussion.
The game was following a pattern, and it continued after the main break. Back-to-back Collingwood goals swelled the margin to as much as 20 points, but back-to-back Carlton goals soon followed. Tom De Koning handed one to Trent Bianco on a plate with a wayward kick out of defence, then converted himself at the other end just minutes later. Coleman Medal leader Harry McKay, a peripheral figure through the contest's first three quarters, was bound to have his say eventually and snapped truly just seconds into the final term to close the margin to two points. It set up a grandstand finish, as the Blues looked to capitalise on one of the game's many momentum swings. This one, however, would be too strong for Collingwood to overcome. Eddie Betts snapped, Walsh delivered his moment of magic and McKay produced a pair of darts from beyond 50m as Carlton poured on six unanswered goals to not only claim the lead for the first time but surge clear.
Quarter one:
It was the Pies who got on the board first at the MCG, springing the Blues on the rebound who managed to generate forward entries to little reward. Zac Williams' intercept game was strong across half back, while Paddy Dow had plenty of the ball and showcasing his physicality with ball in hand. In the absence of Patrick Cripps, Matthew Kennedy was also a useful outlet through the middle, but despite equalling Collingwood's inside 50 count, the Blues weren't able to make the most of their forward entries. It was up to Jack Martin to hit the scoreboard in a meaningful way for the Blues, registering Carlton's first of the day after Collingwood kicked the first three.
Quarter two:
Collingwood came out of the gates sprinting, with Will Hoskin-Elliot scoring a goal inside the opening minute. Liam Jones and stand-in captain Jacob Weitering took some contested grabs in defence, but the Magpies' ability to find marking options in attack was becoming a major issue for the Blues. It took a single moment to spark the Blues, when Jack Martin laid a crunching tackle before Liam Stocker broke the scoring drought. Oliver Henry's three first-half goals were difficult for the Blues to contain, but Sam Walsh did his best to get the Blues moving forward out of the middle. An emotional celebration followed a Jack Silvagni goal which was reward for effort for the hard-working forward, before a clever mark and goal from Eddie Betts shifted the momentum and saw the Blues trail by just 10 points at the main break.
Quarter three:
Liam Jones' work in the air saved Carlton as, for the third consecutive term, Collingwood made the early running in the quarter. There were a few ‘almost’ moments for Matt Owies, Jack Martin and Harry McKay, but none were able to impact the early stages of the quarter. The Blues played a physical game, able to put tackle pressure onto the Pies in an attempt to lock the ball inside their forward half. Two goals in a row for Collingwood made it a tough ask for Carlton, as they continued to push the margin out without response from the Blues. An impressive game from Kennedy was furthered with a goal from outside 50, followed closely by a major from Williams. Carlton’s clearance work was impressive, giving them more possession out of the middle as the rain started to fall at the MCG. A sharp kick from Martin parted the Collingwood defence, landing in the hands of Tom De Koning, who slotted the goal from directly in front.
Quarter four:
What a quarter it turned out to be for the Blues against the old enemy. Well-held for the entire afternoon prior to the final term, Coleman Medal leader Harry McKay's first goal came at the perfect time, bringing the Blues within two points of the Pies. Carlton seemed to be playing with all of the momentum, with Eddie Betts the chief instigator in attack: his accurate snap was a case of third time lucky, giving the Blues the lead for the first time. From that point onwards, the Blues didn't look back, with the brilliant-again Sam Walsh adding to his spectacular highlights reel. Willing himself to win possession and burst through two opponents, Walsh slammed the Sherrin on his boot to give the Blues a two-goal lead. While the physical Liam Stocker and Zac Williams held up well in defence, it was the Harry McKay show in attack, slamming on four goals in the final term alone as the Blues came away with a memorable win.
The moment of the match:
The clutch moment in the game came off the boot of Sam Walsh, but we can't go beyond the emotion of Jack Silvagni on Sunday afternoon. Days after the passing of his grandfather - and Club Legend - Sergio Silvagni, Jack battled manfully throughout the course of the day and it was capped off in the second term. With the Blues needing a boost, a contested mark in the goal square was followed by an accurate set shot, with Silvagni kissing the black armband and pointing to the heavens in honour of his grandfather. A customary Silvagni hanger against Collingwood came in the last term, while teammates were quick to embrace Carlton's No.1 after the final siren when the emotion of the occasion got to the third-generation Blue.
Walsh dazzles to inspire Blues
There had been something intangible lacking to Carlton's display through the first three quarters on Sunday. The effort was there as the Blues reduced a 24-point deficit to eight by the final change, but the class wasn't evident. Enter Sam Walsh. The club's extraordinary third-year midfielder, producer of much of the effort that had been on offer early, then turned provider of the quality. He shrugged two tackles, regained his balance magnificently, then finished from deep inside the boundary to help Carlton to victory and cap another brilliant individual performance. Three more Brownlow votes are coming his way.
Silvagni's touching tribute to Serge
It had been a tough week for Jack Silvagni and the Carlton family as a whole, with his grandfather and Blues club legend Sergio passing away at the age of 83. But young Jack honoured his legacy with a fine acknowledgment on Sunday, following his second quarter goal with a kiss of his black armband and a gesture towards the sky. Silvagni was mobbed by his teammates after slotting the set-shot, with the Blues team keen to produce a fitting tribute to the two-time premiership player and 239-game great. Silvagni's spectacular grab late in the game, leaping over Isaac Quaynor, capped a terrific individual performance from the improving forward.
Three things we learned:
1. When the team sheet came in on Friday, the question was quick to be asked: how will Carlton deal without Patrick Cripps? Matthew Kennedy was a big part of that answer. Continuing his purple patch in Navy Blue, Kennedy was combative as ever with 26 disposals, seven tackles and six clearances. There was even room for a ball-bursting goal from inside the centre square at a time when the game threatened to get away from the Blues. It's been a regular comment in recent weeks, but it was another 'best game for the Club' performance from the No.7.
2. It's been a big week for Jack Martin. After getting engaged with partner Britt earlier in the week, Martin was crucial in the Blues' win on Sunday. Three moments stuck out for the 26-year-old, who backed up his three-goal performance against the Pies in Round 2 with another strong showing. First, he kicked a much-needed major for the previously goalless Blues on the quarter-time siren. His crunching tackle on Isaac Quaynor in the second term changed the complexion of the game, before his clever assist for Tom De Koning in the third term was another big moment.
3. Speaking of moments, Harry McKay made it his own. It wasn't the big man's day for the majority of the afternoon, quelled by Collingwood's Jordan Roughead on the way to just six disposals at the final change. However, when the game was there to be won, McKay rose to the occasion. Marking everything that came his way and finding his goalkicking boots at the right time, McKay's four goals in the final term did the damage on the way to a 29-point Carlton win.
Best: S. Walsh, M. Kennedy, P. Dow, J. Martin, L. Stocker, J. Silvagni, J. Weitering, H. McKay.
Team
| B: | 20 Lachie Plowman | 14 Liam Jones | 42 Adam Saad |
| HB: | 6 Zac Williams | 23 Jacob Weitering (a/c) | 13 Liam Stocker |
| C: | 31 Tom Williamson | 18 Sam Walsh | 32 Jack Newnes |
| HF: | 19 Eddie Betts | 1 Jack Silvagni | 35 Ed Curnow |
| F: | 21 Jack Martin | 10 Harry McKay | 44 Matt Owies |
| Ruck: | 12 Tom De Koning | 2 Paddy Dow | 7 Matthew Kennedy |
| Interchange: | 5 Sam Petrevski-Seton | 24 Nic Newman | 25 Zac Fisher |
| 46 Matthew Cottrell | |||
| Medical Substitute | 8 Lachie Fogarty | ||
| Coach: | David Teague | ||
| Emergencies: | 4 Lochie O'Brien | 36 Josh Honey | 43 Will Setterfield |
Note: Patrick Cripps was originally selected but pulled out the day before the match due to a back injury and was replaced by Matt Cottrell in the selected team who was replaced by Will Setterfield in the squad.
Medical Sub.: Lachie Fogarty (unused).
In; Liam Jones, Zac Fisher
Out: Patrick Cripps (back)
Highlights
Jacob Weitering was given the honour of captaining the team for the first time in the absence of co-captains Patty Cripps and Sam Docherty.AFLCA Votes
10 - Sam Walsh (CARL)7 - Jordan De Goey (COLL)
7 - Matt Kennedy (CARL)
2 - Jacob Weitering (CARL)
2 - Chris Mayne (COLL)
2 - Jack Martin (CARL)
Brownlow Votes
3 - Sam Walsh (CAR)2 - Jordan De Goey (COL)
1 - Harry McKay (CAR)
Best & Fairest Votes
Sam Walsh 15,Adam Saad 9, Harry McKay 9, Eddie Betts 8, Jack Silvagni 6, Jacob Weitering 5, Liam Jones 5, Ed Curnow 4(Note Not all votes getters are listed for this Round)
Round 17 | Round 19