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| Venue: | MCG | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | 7.10 pm, Saturday, 10th April 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Lost by 20 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 71,066 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | E. Betts (2), S. O'hAilpin (2), K. Simpson (2), R. Houlihan, M. Robinson, J. Waite, C. Yarran (1). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Nil | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | R. Chamberlain, M. Stevic, S. Stewart | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | B. Mclean (hip) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 10th | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
In the pre-game media Brett Ratten had suggested that he may have been too historically focussed and emotionally involved in previous clashes with Essendon during his tenure as coach. This time would be different. Simply the four points, just the same as any other opposition. Perhaps Ratten’s attempts to keep a lid on the build-up to another Essendon game had the opposite effect on his players, given their slow start and, at times, disinterested outlook during the contest. Skills, concentration and structure all seemed below par during a scrappy game that saw a disappointing 20 point loss.The Bombers undertook a significant overhaul to their squad with six changes, whilst the Blues only tinkered slightly with the team that had gone down to Brisbane in round two. Out went Joe Anderson, back to the VFL to find form and confidence. In came debutant Kane Lucas, Carlton’s first pick in the 2009 national draft at pick 12.
The Blues were on the back foot right from the start after the Bombers jumped out to a three goal break before Setanta O’hAilpin created a little something out of nothing. His smother and follow-up toe-poke goal was indicative of the effort required which was so sadly lacking for most of the night. That effort started one of the few periods of the game where the Blues held sway. A goal to Chris Yarran and a couple more in red-time saw the Blues overcome their sluggish start to finish the quarter stronger and sneak into the lead by three points at quarter time.
If the first thirty minutes of footy had been difficult to watch, what followed in the next ninety was even harder to stomach. Just ask Aaron Joseph who clearly found it harder to handle than most. The TV cameras captured him in full technicolour losing the contents of his stomach (“woofing his cookies” as we say in our house) all over the MCG turf. Apparently that’s what they mean by gut busting effort.
Carlton managed just another six goals for the game and all the pre-season concerns about forward structures and where the goals might materialise from became a harsh reality. Despite winning the clearances on the night there weren’t too many complimentary terms that came to mind when talking disposal. Numerous kicks missed the mark and an extraordinary number went out on the full in seemingly low pressure situations in good weather conditions. Kicking at goal was inaccurate for both sides, but the Bombers simply ended up getting better shots at goal, closer to the corridor, more often. Most of Carlton’s limited opportunities were from deep in the pockets or from distance or from low percentage snaps.
As bad as it looked the Blues were never really out of it on the scoreboard with 26 points Essendon’s biggest lead on the night. There were but a few positive noteworthy events, Kade Simpson’s four quarter effort, an Eddie Betts snap goal, a goal-saving Dennis Armfield tackle and a solid debut from Kane Lucas the best on a bad night, but there wasn’t much to hang your beanie on. It must also be said that the umpires didn’t do the Blues any favours, with several highly questionable decisions going against them. All that said, with six minutes remaining the Blues were still within 13 points, in theoretical striking distance, but in reality it may as well have been 13 goals. A disappointing night and an unfortunate start to a tough six rounds of footy to come.
Team
| B: | 32 Bret Thornton | 40 Michael Jamison (a/c) | 45 Aaron Joseph |
| HB: | 1 Andrew Walker | 2 Jordan Russell | 33 Ryan Houlihan |
| C: | 3 Marc Murphy | 7 Brock McLean | 27 Dennis Armfield |
| HF: | 12 Mitch Robinson | 30 Jarrad Waite | 6 Kade Simpson |
| F: | 17 Setanta O'hAilpin | 23 Lachlan Henderson | 19 Eddie Betts |
| Ruck: | 8 Matthew Kreuzer | 4 Bryce Gibbs | 29 Heath Scotland |
| Interchange: | 11 Robert Warnock | 13 Chris Yarran | 24 Kane Lucas |
| 44 Andrew Carrazzo | |||
| Coach: | Brett Ratten | ||
| Emg: | 26 Joe Anderson, 38 Jeffery Garlett, 10 Richard Hadley | ||
Milestones
Debut : Kane Lucas - exactly six years after the previous player to debut in No. 24 (Nick Stevens)100 Games : Eddie Betts, who would move into the top 10 of youngest Carlton players to have achieved this feat. Marc Murphy would join him before season's end.
100 Consecutive Games : Kade Simpson
Acting Captain : Michael Jamison, in Chris Judd's absence.
Guernsey Records : Michael Jamison equalled Jim Plunkett's 37 games in Guernsey 40.
Brownlow Votes
3. Dustin Fletcher, Essendon2. Nathan Lovett-Murray, Essendon
1. Jobe Watson, Essendon
Best & Fairest Votes
37 Kade Simpson, 22 Eddie BettsLadder
Round 2 | Round 4