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| Venue: | Marvel Stadium. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Sunday Twilight, August 27, 2023 (6.10pm) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Lost by 32 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 44, 354 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | C. Curnow, 3.0, M. Owies 2.1, M. Cottrell 1.1, C. Durdin 1.1, T. De Koning 1.0, Z. Fisher 1.0, G. Hewett 1.0, J. Martin 1.0, ,D. Cuningham 0.1, O. Hollands 0.1, N. Newman 0.1, Rushed 0.1. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Jacob Weitering charged with making unreasonable or unnecessary contact with his fingers with Toby Greens eye - received a $2000 fine after a guilty plea (reduced from $3000). Toby Bedford (GWS) was suspended for one week for rough conduct on Zac Fisher. |
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| Umpires: | 2 - Nick Foot, 9 - Matt Stevic, 11 - Curtis Deboy, 12 - Andrew Stephens | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | B. Acres (collarbone), B. Kemp | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 5th | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Blues wrap up home-and-away season
The Blues have fallen to the Giants by 32 points. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media.Carlton's winning run has come to an end with a 32-point defeat to Greater Western Sydney. On a day where Charlie Curnow secured a second consecutive Coleman Medal, it was a competitive and combative first half from both sides. However, the game was played well and truly on the Giants’ terms in the second half, at one point kicking eight out of nine goals to end the Blues’ winning streak at nine. Carlton, who entered the game knowing it couldn’t move from fifth position, will now host Sydney at the MCG in two weeks — the same team they last played a final against in 2013.
Quarter one
It was an electric atmosphere under the roof from the outset, and it didn’t take long for the capacity Marvel Stadium crowd to get what they were after. After assisting Matthew Cottrell’s opener with a clever tap, a Charlie Curnow mark and goal ensured he would take home the 2023 Coleman Medal — and another five minutes later meant it was outright his for a second straight year. Despite the Blues locking in fifth position prior to the bounce, they clearly heeded the pre-match message from Michael Voss to open proceedings that a strong, hungry performance was paramount. The Blues dominated the contest in the early going, finishing with a contested possession differential of +12 at the first change to get the ball going their way. Despite turnovers proving costly in general play, the game was largely on Carlton’s terms, with a Matthew Owies goal late in the term reinstating their buffer. Blake Acres was physical on the wing, leading all comers with 12 disposals, while the returning Sam Walsh was typically busy with 11 disposals and two tackles.
Quarter two
The Giants came out in the second term playing like a team with everything to play for, jumping the Blues with the first four goals of the term to open up an 18-point gap. It was largely on the turnover where GWS capitalised, with the game largely being played in Carlton’s first half but being stung on the rebound when unable to capitalise going forward. As he has done on a number of occasions in recents, Jack Martin stepped up with a crucial moment to once again get the ball rolling for the Blues in a topsy-turvy game. Harry McKay was the man to provide some ruck relief for Tom De Koning, and he had some bright moments with five second-quarter disposals playing higher up the ground. A score review denied Ollie Hollands a stunning goal from deep in the pocket, but when De Koning converted from range, it looked as though the Blues would head into the main break with a lead: however, another Giants goal from a turnover meant the Blues trailed by five points at half time.
Quarter three
George Hewett provided a stunning individual highlight inside the opening minutes of the second half, weaving through traffic and slotting a goal on his left to level the scores at Marvel Stadium. However, as the needle started to shift in the second, the Giants got on top of the contest in the third term, moving the ball around the goal to pile on five goals. Charlie Curnow kicked his third to give the Blues a moment of respite, but despite Adam Cerra (19 disposals) getting going around the ball, a GWS wave was putting the Blues on the back foot. Carlton took the chance to get a look at different players in multiple roles, with Jack Martin spending more time on-ball, while Caleb Marchbank - in his 50th Carlton game - was subbed into the game for the injured Blake Acres (collarbone).
Quarter four
If the Blues were to bounce back from a 26-point deficit at the final change, they needed a fast start: however, it was the Giants who - sensing the chance for a top-six finish - well and truly came out on top. Carlton started the term with another down on the bench as Zac Fisher underwent a concussion test in the third quarter, returning midway through the final term. Carlton continued to shuffle the magnets, with Brodie Kemp spending time up forward as Charlie Curnow was managed for long periods on the bench. The returning Corey Durdin gave Carlton fans something to shout about with an opportunistic goal, as did Fisher from long range, but the game was well and truly out of the Blues’ grasp as attention turned to an elimination final with Sydney in a fortnight.
Voss, Blues excited by what's to come
Michael Voss summed up Round 24 while looking ahead to September action. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton MediaLooking ahead at what’s to come.
Carlton had a number of different looks at what could be in store in September in its Round 24 clash with GWS. With the Blues heading into the game knowing fifth position was theirs, the team threw the magnets around and got a decent dose of feedback in a five-goal loss to the Giants. Here’s what AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss had to say on both the game itself and the weeks ahead.
On the game:
“It’s a strange feeling this one . . . to lose and still win! “We’ll certainly reflect on how this game played out, we can’t ignore the evidence that’s there and we’ll go to work on that. But to come into the game and know we had a position locked away and a home final — it’s a significant achievement, from where we were to where we are. “We’ve got a finals series that we’re about to get stuck into. The qualification period is done: there were certainly lots of questions of us, and we found our way through that. We’re able to play a home final in a couple of weeks, we can’t wait.”
On the footy shown in recent months:
“What we’re trying to build is a system that’ll stand up in big moments and in big finals. “We feel like we’ve made massive inroads in that particular part of our game. Funnily enough, some of that let us down today, in terms of our ability to defend the turnover was pretty poor. It was poor last week as well, where we dodged one. “We’ve got the feedback we need to correct it and put it back into place for our first final.”
On returning faces:
“‘Crippa’ obviously wasn’t there tonight, but we got back ‘Walshy’ tonight. ‘Cez’ had a run around which was good, ‘Gov’ was back in the team. “We got another game into Harry who hasn’t been playing for a bit. Corey Durdin is another one who came into the team that’s been out for 12 weeks. “We feel like we’ve got some game time into some guys. Clearly what we need to do in the next couple of weeks is build that cohesiveness across the group: we’re looking forward to what’s coming.”
On Charlie Curnow’s Coleman:
“It’s really important we celebrate those milestones and achievements. As a coach, I look at it differently as I did as a player: with Colemans and Brownlows, it’s a club achievement as well. “We get to buy into what he’s able to do and he’s a real talent, an important player to us. Consistency, durability, a high level of performance over such a long time. “As you could see, we’re all pretty pleased for him.”
On Blake Acres’ injury:
“We’ll assess that. The early indication might not be great, so we’ll assess that and hopefully get all the results by Tuesday.”
On having a best side settled:
“We tried a couple of things tonight. We had Harry come in as a second ruck, we wanted to see what we looked like a bit smaller forward of the ball. “We’ve played the two rucks, so we know what that model looks like. We’ve had a look at a couple of different things over this period of time. “Once this all settles, we’ll be able to go away, take that information, work out where it all sits and take that plan moving forward. “You’ve got to factor in finals, how contested it is and just how brutal those games can be. There’s a couple of things to consider.”
On the challenge of an experienced finals team:
“It wouldn’t matter who we play. We’re just going to be that excited. “One of the things you want to see is what your level is, what your top end looks like in terms of the way you play. There’s a lot of teams in there at the moment that have a really good top end and have earned their way in. “I know we measure up well against that. Our challenge is to continue to bring that: it’s why finals is so exciting, it demands it every single week. We don’t need to look any further than that. There’s a big game coming and two weeks to be able to prepare for it.”
On a home final at the MCG:
“It’s hard not to be in this position and acknowledge the journey we’ve been on over such a long period of time. I understand there’s been a lot of disappointment and a lot of frustration for a long period of time. “It felt like tonight was a bit of a celebration night, to be able to see so many fans out there. They’ve stuck at it. “We’ve had a fair journey together this year. To be able to go out there, play an elimination final, put our best on show and be able to pack out the MCG will be a great moment. “We’re looking forward to thriving in it.”
Giants seal September spot, fall just short of home final - Gemma Bastiani
GWS crash into finals breaking Carlton's nine-win run, despite Charlie Curnow claiming the Coleman Medal.Greater Western Sydney has ended Carlton's nine-game winning streak and secured a place in finals in one fell swoop, beating the Blues by 32-points at Marvel Stadium. Giants captain Toby Greene kicked four goals to lead his side into finals, with the visitors posting a significant win, 16.9 (105) to Carlton's 11.7 (73) on Sunday evening to close out the 2023 home and away season. It wasn't all bad news for Carlton, however, as it took less than a quarter for Charlie Curnow (three goals, six marks) to sew up his second Coleman medal. The spearhead kicked two goals in the space of four minutes to pull ahead of Adelaide's Taylor Walker, aided by the late withdrawal of star GWS defender Sam Taylor. Without Taylor, the Giants defence stood strong in the face of repeated forward 50 entries from the Blues. Jack Buckley (six intercepts, three marks) was handed the job on Curnow, while Harry Himmelberg and Connor Idun each played important roles behind the ball. Stephen Coniglio (28 disposals, six tackles, two goals), Tom Green (35 disposals, eight clearances) and Callan Ward (16 disposals, five clearances, one goal) were instrumental around the ball for the Giants.
Carlton looked like world beaters when the ball was on the deck, attacking the contest with speed and running in waves to support one-another as it worked it down the ground. Blake Acres was instrumental in setting the tone out on the wing, gathering 12 disposals in the opening term, and ultimately finishing with 21 before being subbed out with a suspected collarbone injury in the third term. The composure of George Hewett (20 disposals, eight inside 50s, one goal) heading inside 50 was impressive as the former Swan seemed to slow time with ball in hand, while Sam Walsh (27 disposals, seven clearances) repeatedly put his body on the line to impact at the source.
When in control, the Giants slingshot the footy out of their back half and were finding space in attack as the likes of Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene exploited a defence that was without Jacob Weitering and Adam Saad for a large portion of the second quarter. The Carlton pair, both being checked by club doctors, made their way back on the field before the half-time siren. In the second half, as the visitors began to run away with the game, the Blues took an all-or-nothing approach, attempting to use the corridor with speed but too often they were let down by rushed kicks or fumbled marks. GWS fought, knowing what was on the line, and now looks toward an elimination final against the Saints in a fortnight. Meanwhile Carlton, already locked into the top eight for the first time since 2013, will host Sydney in the other own elimination final.
Curnow the Coleman medallist
It didn't even take a quarter for Charlie Curnow to tie up his second Coleman medal in as many years, kicking two goals within the opening 15 minutes. A late change for the Giants worked in his favour, with Sam Taylor withdrawn, leaving Jack Buckley to take on the spearhead. Coming into the game the Blue was just one goal behind Adelaide's Taylor Walker, and the Marvel Stadium roof threatened to blow off with the Carlton crowd's cheers whenever he got in the vicinity of the football. He is the first player to win back-to-back Coleman medals since West Coast's Josh Kennedy in 2015 and 2016.
Coniglio stuns in game 200
Becoming just the fifth Giant to reach 200 games, former captain Stephen Coniglio was back to his best, topped off with a stunning goal. Moving beautifully across the field, Coniglio registered 28 disposals and two goals as he did everything to secure the Giants a place in finals. But nothing was as impressive as his third-quarter goal. Up against the boundary Coniglio got on the end of a Lachie Keeffe handball out of a stoppage, before slotting it from the narrowest of angles and silencing the crowd.
The goal review hangover
Late in the second quarter, first year player Oliver Hollands thought he had kicked the best goal of his short career and put the Blues back in front, gathering the footy off a contest and sliding it through from deep in the pocket. But it wasn't to be. With both sides already re-setting in the middle a belated goal review revealed the ball had grazed the post on the way through, ultimately overturning the goal much to the disdain of the Carlton-heavy crowd.
Best: G. Hewett, C. Curnow, P, Dow, B. Acres, S. Walsh.
Charlie is box office
For the first time since Josh Kennedy in 2015-2016, someone has gone back-to-back in the Coleman Medal race. Coming into Sunday's game just one goal behind Adelaide's Taylor Walker, it took Curnow all of 15 minutes to claim the prize against GWS on Sunday evening, taking him to 78 for the season. In a game where aerial balls were hard-won and goals were hard to come by, Curnow stood tall. Able to take two impressive contested marks and neatly convert, the cheers nearly blew the roof off Marvel Stadium. Curnow has kicked goals in every game this year, including a high of 10 in round 19 against West Coast, and he has eclipsed last year's tally of 64, which was enough to earn the medal in 2022. The last time Curnow failed to goal was in round one last year, a run of form that is a far cry from the Charlie of 2021, who played just four games and kicked two goals due to repeated knee injuries. - Gemma Bastiani.Team
| B: | 23 Jacob Weitering (A/C) | 17 Brodie Kemp | 24 Nic Newman |
| HB: | 25 Zac Fisher | 11 Mitch McGovern | 42 Adam Saad |
| C: | 14 Ollie Hollands | 18 Sam Walsh | 13 Blake Acres |
| HF: | 44 Matt Owies | 28 David Cuningham | 46 Matthew Cottrell |
| F: | 21 Jack Martin | 30 Charlie Curnow | 10 Harry McKay |
| Ruck: | 12 Tom De Koning | 29 George Hewett | 2 Paddy Dow |
| Interchange: | 5 Adam Cerra | 8 Lachie Fogarty | 19 Corey Durdin |
| 39 Alex Cincotta | |||
| Substitute: | 22 Caleb Marchbank | ||
| Coach: | Michael Voss | ||
| Emergencies: | 27 Marc Pittonet | 35 Ed Curnow | 37 Jordan Boyd |
-* Ed Curnow & Jordan Boyd replaced Patrick Cripps & Jesse Motlop the the selected squad
In: Adam Cerra, Lachie Fogarty, Mitch McGovern, Sam Walsh, Corey Durdin
Out: Sam Docherty (injured), Patrick Cripps (sore), Jesse Motlop (ill), Marc Pittonet & Ed Curnow (both omitted)
Substitute: Caleb Marchbank (replaced Blake Acres in 3rd Quarter).
Milestones
50th Game (Carlton) : Caleb MarchbankLast Game (Carlton): Paddy Dow, Zac Fisher
Interesting Facts
1. Tom De Koning had a career-high 34 hit-outs in this game.2. Harry McKay had a career-high 9 handballs in this game.
3. Carlton still has not won a Round 24 match.
4. Charlie Curnow won his 2nd Coleman Medal with 78 goals.
5. Only Charlie Curnow and Jacob Weitering played all 23 home & away matches.
AFLCA Votes
6 - Harry Himmelberg GWS
6 - Tom Green GWS
6 - Lachie Whitfield GWS
5 - Stephen Coniglio GWS
4 - Brent Daniels GWS
3 - Toby Greene GWS
Brownlow Votes
3 - Toby Greene (GWS)2 - Tom Green (GWS)
1 - Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
Best and Fairest Votes
Video
Round 23 | EF