|
Venue: SCG | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: April 18th | Result: Loss 17 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: D Margetts, S McBurney, M Stevic. | Crowd: 30,834 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: E.Betts 3, C.Cloke, B.Fevola, R.Houlihan, C.Judd, M.Murphy, K.Simpson 1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: Nil | Injuries: Nil | Ladder Position: 5th (2 wins, 2 losses) | |||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Well, was it poor kicking or poor tactics that lost Carlton this game? Perhaps it was a bit of both, or perhaps the Swans were just a better team. Regardless of the reason, Carlton went into this match as favourites despite our poor record in Sydney, and walked away with nothing but a few more question marks to the question - 'Have we improved?'.Carlton burst out of the blocks but couldn't apply the required scoreboard pressure. The Blues scored three early goals, including an early nomination for Goal of the Year from Ryan Houlihan (see footage below). However, from just six inside 50 entries, the Swans also managed three majors, all from Carlton errors. So, the Blues went to the first break with just a five point lead, despite dominating possession and having the bulk of the play. Carlton looked good, but the Swans hadn't yet enforced their strangulation at the small SCG. The second quarter was worse - we manged only seven behinds and most were very gettable shots for goal. The Blues couldn't buy a goal, and the Swans built up a lead as their confidence grew.
In the second half, they stifled us in midfield. We couldn't clear the ball, our tactics seemed to fall down and our skill level dropped. The Swans were ascendant and knew it. In the end, poor kicking cost us a lead and who knows what would have happened if we'd have kicked straight...this was our 12th defeat in a row against Sydney. and our 900th defeat in the League.
Remarkably, this was also the Swans' first Saturday afternoon game in Sydney. Their closest to a 'traditional' starting time was a twilight match (beginning at 4.40pm) against Footscray in Round 17, 1997. All of their other 51 Saturday games at the SCG have been played at night. When Chris Judd kicked his goal it was the 750th goal scored by Number 5 for Carlton. In a best afield performance for his team, the skipper amassed 30 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 10 clearances and a goal.
Sydney was wearing a replica guernsey, which they originally they wore between 1907 and 1931 (except for 1921). It was also the jumper design they wore for their first Premiership in 1909, won against Carlton.
Team
| B: | 45 Aaron Joseph | 18 Paul Bower | 4 Bryce Gibbs |
| HB: | 24 Nick Stevens (vc) | 32 Bret Thornton | 9 Chris Johnson |
| C: | 27 Dennis Armfield | 10 Richard Hadley | 30 Jarrad Waite |
| HF: | 34 Simon Wiggins | 28 Cameron Cloke | 2 Jordan Russell |
| F: | 19 Eddie Betts | 25 Brendan Fevola | 6 Kade Simpson |
| Ruck: | 8 Matthew Kreuzer | 5 Chris Judd (c) | 3 Marc Murphy |
| Interchange: | 12 Mitch Robinson | 16 Shaun Grigg | 33 Ryan Houlihan |
| 39 Sam Jacobs | |||
| Coach: | Brett Ratten | ||
| Emg: | 15 Steven Browne, 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín, 29 Heath Scotland | ||
Milestones
Losing streaks: Carlton has had 9 successive losses to Sydney in Sydney since 1993.Losing streaks: This was Sydney's 12th consecutive win over Carlton
Brownlow Votes
3. Jarrad McVeigh, Sydney2. Craig Bolton, Sydney
1. Rhyce Shaw, Sydney
Best and Fairest Votes
29 Jarrad Waite, 24 Paul Bower, 24 Chris Johnson, 20 Simon Wiggins, 16 Bret Thornton, 14 Chris Judd, 6 Matthew Kreuzer, 5 Dennis ArmfieldVideo
The Ghost
Stand Tall
It is not about the number on the back but the emblem on the front:
The season teeters. What started out so bold and beautiful has turned dark and dangerous. This season could go either way. We could make the eight and finally play finals again or we could join the list of also-rans. We could finish outside the eight and be forced to wait at least another year to see Finals action. This game, then, this contest between us and the Bulldogs must become a defining game for the season. How fitting, how fortunately aligned, that it is on this weekend, when we celebrate the generations who have made the ultimate sacrifice, that this pivotal game will take place.
That must be the key word for our team: Sacrifice. We must make sacrifices for the team. We must make it a collective aim to ensure each action is sacrificial; each action is intended to help the team. Every act, every moment is for the other 21 Bluebaggers out there striving for victory. As John Kennedy once said, ‘don’t think, do’ and to that we’ll add, don’t do it for yourself, do it for the team.
And it cannot be cheated. It cannot be done half-hearted; it must be a real commitment. Each player must look into the eyes of his teammates and see the same desire, the same intent, and the same promise that the team will come first. That for this game, for these four quarters, from opening bounce to final siren, each player will do everything for the team.
That means rather than a ping from the boundary, we centre the ball, that we kick to the top of the square, that we chase, hard, that we shepherd and smother and tackle and assist. Running to assist, to lend physical support, to give vocal support also. If all 22 players sacrifice their game for the good of the team, if each player plays with the single purpose of doing everything they can to play this game for their team, we will win and we will set our season back on track.
It is easy to make goals, to set agendas, to stand in a circle with your arms around each others’ shoulders before the event and make loud promises with flowing words. Easy and useless. What must happen is, each player must display the sacrificial acts in the way they play the game. They must show it all the time during the game, for every single minute of the game. Each action must be a team action. In football, ego is a dirty a word. Each time a player acts for their own good they grant the opposition a chance to bring the whole team down.
It is not about class or skill or depth. Any team can beat any other team. It comes down to desire, to commitment, to be prepared at all times, with every action on the ground, to do what is right for the team. That is where we are losing our games. It is not about the kicking for goal except when the people having the shots are doing so without ensuring it’s the best option for the team. It is never about the umpiring. Nor about class or speed or nous.
It is about the jumper, the team, the mates you’ve trained with from summer through to spring. It is about understanding that a team, a fully united, fully committed team can achieve anything. Each dive for the ball is a race across the sand, each smother a preparedness to offer cover, each shepherd or tackle, a commitment to put self secondary to the team’s interests. We must create our own soldier culture, our own blue brigade legend.
Do the hard things, the one percenters, and the showcase acts will fall into place. Punch when you should do so, run hard because you must, fill the space because it cannot be given to the opposition, we must never cede ground, centre the ball because it is better for the team, it will create opportunities for others. Do the things that turn a bunch off 22 players into a great team and the wins will flow as regularly as the Nile floods.
We have the players; we have the support, now we must develop the culture. Not a culture of champions, or stars or those seeking personal accolades. Carlton has never been about the Brownlow or the Coleman or The Mark of the Year, or other such secondary rewards. It has always been about the team’s success.
That is what we supporters want back: That absolute commitment to the team. Give us this and the supporters will give you our voice, our passion, our presence. I remember the teams that seemed smaller, or weaker, or slower, or older, yet these teams were successful because despite their deficiencies they gave their all for the team and 22 players giving it all for the jumper diminishes the deficiencies of each individual, makes the whole far greater than the sum of its parts.
At Carlton we have always understood this. It is time to show we’ve got that understanding back. It is time to show that this team is a Team, will become The Team. Not a collection of players, but a unit, a single entity. Carlton.
Go Blues!
And all the best for Richard and Family – a true Carlton man whom, as much as anyone, has given this team the chance to shine again come spring. The thoughts of the Carlton faithful are with Richard and his family.
The season teeters. What started out so bold and beautiful has turned dark and dangerous. This season could go either way. We could make the eight and finally play finals again or we could join the list of also-rans. We could finish outside the eight and be forced to wait at least another year to see Finals action. This game, then, this contest between us and the Bulldogs must become a defining game for the season. How fitting, how fortunately aligned, that it is on this weekend, when we celebrate the generations who have made the ultimate sacrifice, that this pivotal game will take place.
That must be the key word for our team: Sacrifice. We must make sacrifices for the team. We must make it a collective aim to ensure each action is sacrificial; each action is intended to help the team. Every act, every moment is for the other 21 Bluebaggers out there striving for victory. As John Kennedy once said, ‘don’t think, do’ and to that we’ll add, don’t do it for yourself, do it for the team.
And it cannot be cheated. It cannot be done half-hearted; it must be a real commitment. Each player must look into the eyes of his teammates and see the same desire, the same intent, and the same promise that the team will come first. That for this game, for these four quarters, from opening bounce to final siren, each player will do everything for the team.
That means rather than a ping from the boundary, we centre the ball, that we kick to the top of the square, that we chase, hard, that we shepherd and smother and tackle and assist. Running to assist, to lend physical support, to give vocal support also. If all 22 players sacrifice their game for the good of the team, if each player plays with the single purpose of doing everything they can to play this game for their team, we will win and we will set our season back on track.
It is easy to make goals, to set agendas, to stand in a circle with your arms around each others’ shoulders before the event and make loud promises with flowing words. Easy and useless. What must happen is, each player must display the sacrificial acts in the way they play the game. They must show it all the time during the game, for every single minute of the game. Each action must be a team action. In football, ego is a dirty a word. Each time a player acts for their own good they grant the opposition a chance to bring the whole team down.
It is not about class or skill or depth. Any team can beat any other team. It comes down to desire, to commitment, to be prepared at all times, with every action on the ground, to do what is right for the team. That is where we are losing our games. It is not about the kicking for goal except when the people having the shots are doing so without ensuring it’s the best option for the team. It is never about the umpiring. Nor about class or speed or nous.
It is about the jumper, the team, the mates you’ve trained with from summer through to spring. It is about understanding that a team, a fully united, fully committed team can achieve anything. Each dive for the ball is a race across the sand, each smother a preparedness to offer cover, each shepherd or tackle, a commitment to put self secondary to the team’s interests. We must create our own soldier culture, our own blue brigade legend.
Do the hard things, the one percenters, and the showcase acts will fall into place. Punch when you should do so, run hard because you must, fill the space because it cannot be given to the opposition, we must never cede ground, centre the ball because it is better for the team, it will create opportunities for others. Do the things that turn a bunch off 22 players into a great team and the wins will flow as regularly as the Nile floods.
We have the players; we have the support, now we must develop the culture. Not a culture of champions, or stars or those seeking personal accolades. Carlton has never been about the Brownlow or the Coleman or The Mark of the Year, or other such secondary rewards. It has always been about the team’s success.
That is what we supporters want back: That absolute commitment to the team. Give us this and the supporters will give you our voice, our passion, our presence. I remember the teams that seemed smaller, or weaker, or slower, or older, yet these teams were successful because despite their deficiencies they gave their all for the team and 22 players giving it all for the jumper diminishes the deficiencies of each individual, makes the whole far greater than the sum of its parts.
At Carlton we have always understood this. It is time to show we’ve got that understanding back. It is time to show that this team is a Team, will become The Team. Not a collection of players, but a unit, a single entity. Carlton.
Go Blues!
And all the best for Richard and Family – a true Carlton man whom, as much as anyone, has given this team the chance to shine again come spring. The thoughts of the Carlton faithful are with Richard and his family.
Mike and Dan
Play of the Week: Ryan Houlihan
In a game where Carlton’s inaccuracy in front of goal cost it dearly, Ryan Houlihan’s superb first quarter snap displayed the composure and accuracy that has been lacking in the Blues’ forward line over recent weeks. Mike and Dan spoke to the classy veteran about his return from injury, and how Carlton can bounce back from a disappointing fortnight in Sunday’s game against the Western Bulldogs.
Ryan well done on your brilliant left foot snap against Sydney. Can you talk us through the goal?
Firstly, the Mike and Dan Play of the Week is right up there in footy awards! With the goal I remember there was a stoppage on the wing, and I think I had come off the bench and hadn’t been on for too long. The ball got kicked from stoppage and Fev was in a contest. I got front and square and kicked it through with a left foot snap.
It might even have been my first touch. I had a couple of Swans bearing down on me, but the pockets are quite tight on the SCG so the goal was actually a bit easier than it looked!
Do the coaching staff back you to kick goals like that one? Are you allowed to have a crack on occasion and not just play the percentages?
I remember having a look inside before I grabbed the ball, but wasn’t anyone there, so I decided to have a shot myself. I guess when you play Half Forward, you don’t get many shots so when you get the chance you have to kick them.
I don’t get license from the club to kick goals from the boundary, but if you kick them the club doesn’t tell you it is the wrong thing to do. If it doesn’t come off it might be a different story!
We have had 2 disappointing games where we missed many opportunities. What happened in the second quarter on Saturday?
I just remember it was the first quarter where we were missing the goals, and then the second quarter was the same. The same thing has happened in the last two weeks where we haven’t converted early and it has cost us late in the game.
In the next couple of weeks we’ll need to put our early shots put through, otherwise it sucks the whole energy out of the team when you are working hard but missing the goals. We need to hit other teams early and put some more pressure on them.
You missed most of last year through injury. How would you say the 2009 Houlihan differs from the 2007 Houlihan?
The 2009 Houlihan is not a sore as he was, wakes up a lot better after games, seems to have his agility back and is not playing in as much pain! I had osteitis pubis for 3 or 4 years, but now it is all gone and there isn’t any pain.
I missed a lot of footy last year, and of course being out for so long you blow up in games when you are getting your fitness back. I’ve done a full pre season this year and am match-fit.
With your absence last year you are getting to know the playing styles of Grigg, Kreuzer, Joseph, Jacobs, and Armfield with whom you wouldn't have played much footy. How difficult is it to pick up the individual characteristics of other people's games?
I watched a lot of the boys from the sidelines for a while and then trained with them, and I also played a lot with Grigga the year before. You learn about their game styles at training and get a feel for how they play it.
I watched a lot of Carlton games last year and really noted how different the game style is under Ratts compared to Dennis Pagan, and learned a lot from it.
Tell us about your year this year. You started with 29 touches against the Tigers, but had around 10 on the weekend against Sydney. Was it a special role against the Swans or just a hard get to find the ball?
It was just the way Sydney play, and they really starve you of space and the ball. There was just no space on the Half Forward Flank at the SCG so my possessions got cut in half. I just couldn’t get my hands on the ball. I’ve never played well there, and I prefer being back at Docklands where there is more space to work in.
Fev nominated you as the player he'd most like to receive the ball from. Was that a suck job to get you to pass to him, or are the 2 veterans in the team sticking together?
What is the focus of the fitness program at the moment? Are the coaching staff aiming for peak fitness towards the end of the season rather than right now?
I think last year we ran over the top of teams towards the end of the season which showed that we were a really fit side. I think this year we want to hit peak fitness at the start of the year and maintain it.
I am not sure if there will be a change at the half way mark of the season from the fitness staff at the club, but we are a very fit group, as shown by us running over teams in the last quarter in interstate games at the end of 2008.
What are your brothers (and former AFL footballers) Damian, Josh and Adam doing these days? Do you have the upper hand in family reunions because you're statistically the best Houlihan AFL player?
Damien has a family now, Adam has his own business, whilst Josh is personal trainer and builder. We actually don’t talk about footy when we get together. Our football careers have never been an issue – I’ve never compared stats with them and never will.
We haven't played a team expected to go top 4 yet. Are the players still confident going into the game against the Western Bulldogs who are expected to finish in the top bracket?
Yeah we are still confident as we should have won our last 2 games except for our inaccuracy, and we haven’t been doing too much wrong other than that. We just need to tweak our game a bit and we will be competitive against them.
We beat them last year and we do match up well against them. If we can beat them, it will give us more confidence for the next few games.
Setanta O’hAilpin is running around with blonde hair at the moment. Has that been inspired by you?
He did have the blonde in but it is back to black now. We have a thing here at the club where we have to roll the dice, and a few of the boys have gone blonde as a result. It wasn’t inspired by me, or at least I hope it wasn’t!
Anything interesting that the supporters might not know about some of your team mates?
Not sure if many of the supporters know this, but Jordan Bannister is a real metrosexual. He does spend a lot of time in front of the mirror, and thinks he is a hit with the ladies. He has a lot of these kinds of tendencies but despite this he is a good bloke, just a bit strange!
After an injury-plagued 2008 season which limited him to 5 senior games, Ryan Houlihan’s return is a welcome addition to a side brimming with talented but inexperienced youngsters. In an era where a premium is put on accurate kicking to counter rolling zones and other strategies, Houlihan’s pinpoint disposal and composure with the ball are highly valued skills which should see him quickly re-establish himself as a permanent fixture in the Blues team.
Ryan well done on your brilliant left foot snap against Sydney. Can you talk us through the goal?
Firstly, the Mike and Dan Play of the Week is right up there in footy awards! With the goal I remember there was a stoppage on the wing, and I think I had come off the bench and hadn’t been on for too long. The ball got kicked from stoppage and Fev was in a contest. I got front and square and kicked it through with a left foot snap.
It might even have been my first touch. I had a couple of Swans bearing down on me, but the pockets are quite tight on the SCG so the goal was actually a bit easier than it looked!
Do the coaching staff back you to kick goals like that one? Are you allowed to have a crack on occasion and not just play the percentages?
I remember having a look inside before I grabbed the ball, but wasn’t anyone there, so I decided to have a shot myself. I guess when you play Half Forward, you don’t get many shots so when you get the chance you have to kick them.
I don’t get license from the club to kick goals from the boundary, but if you kick them the club doesn’t tell you it is the wrong thing to do. If it doesn’t come off it might be a different story!
We have had 2 disappointing games where we missed many opportunities. What happened in the second quarter on Saturday?
I just remember it was the first quarter where we were missing the goals, and then the second quarter was the same. The same thing has happened in the last two weeks where we haven’t converted early and it has cost us late in the game.
In the next couple of weeks we’ll need to put our early shots put through, otherwise it sucks the whole energy out of the team when you are working hard but missing the goals. We need to hit other teams early and put some more pressure on them.
You missed most of last year through injury. How would you say the 2009 Houlihan differs from the 2007 Houlihan?
The 2009 Houlihan is not a sore as he was, wakes up a lot better after games, seems to have his agility back and is not playing in as much pain! I had osteitis pubis for 3 or 4 years, but now it is all gone and there isn’t any pain.
I missed a lot of footy last year, and of course being out for so long you blow up in games when you are getting your fitness back. I’ve done a full pre season this year and am match-fit.
With your absence last year you are getting to know the playing styles of Grigg, Kreuzer, Joseph, Jacobs, and Armfield with whom you wouldn't have played much footy. How difficult is it to pick up the individual characteristics of other people's games?
I watched a lot of the boys from the sidelines for a while and then trained with them, and I also played a lot with Grigga the year before. You learn about their game styles at training and get a feel for how they play it.
I watched a lot of Carlton games last year and really noted how different the game style is under Ratts compared to Dennis Pagan, and learned a lot from it.
Tell us about your year this year. You started with 29 touches against the Tigers, but had around 10 on the weekend against Sydney. Was it a special role against the Swans or just a hard get to find the ball?
It was just the way Sydney play, and they really starve you of space and the ball. There was just no space on the Half Forward Flank at the SCG so my possessions got cut in half. I just couldn’t get my hands on the ball. I’ve never played well there, and I prefer being back at Docklands where there is more space to work in.
Fev nominated you as the player he'd most like to receive the ball from. Was that a suck job to get you to pass to him, or are the 2 veterans in the team sticking together?
- laughs* He always likes me kicking it to him and he has said it a few times. It is a nice compliment to get. We have played for so long together so there is a bit of chemistry there and I know where he is going to lead.
What is the focus of the fitness program at the moment? Are the coaching staff aiming for peak fitness towards the end of the season rather than right now?
I think last year we ran over the top of teams towards the end of the season which showed that we were a really fit side. I think this year we want to hit peak fitness at the start of the year and maintain it.
I am not sure if there will be a change at the half way mark of the season from the fitness staff at the club, but we are a very fit group, as shown by us running over teams in the last quarter in interstate games at the end of 2008.
What are your brothers (and former AFL footballers) Damian, Josh and Adam doing these days? Do you have the upper hand in family reunions because you're statistically the best Houlihan AFL player?
Damien has a family now, Adam has his own business, whilst Josh is personal trainer and builder. We actually don’t talk about footy when we get together. Our football careers have never been an issue – I’ve never compared stats with them and never will.
We haven't played a team expected to go top 4 yet. Are the players still confident going into the game against the Western Bulldogs who are expected to finish in the top bracket?
Yeah we are still confident as we should have won our last 2 games except for our inaccuracy, and we haven’t been doing too much wrong other than that. We just need to tweak our game a bit and we will be competitive against them.
We beat them last year and we do match up well against them. If we can beat them, it will give us more confidence for the next few games.
Setanta O’hAilpin is running around with blonde hair at the moment. Has that been inspired by you?
He did have the blonde in but it is back to black now. We have a thing here at the club where we have to roll the dice, and a few of the boys have gone blonde as a result. It wasn’t inspired by me, or at least I hope it wasn’t!
Anything interesting that the supporters might not know about some of your team mates?
Not sure if many of the supporters know this, but Jordan Bannister is a real metrosexual. He does spend a lot of time in front of the mirror, and thinks he is a hit with the ladies. He has a lot of these kinds of tendencies but despite this he is a good bloke, just a bit strange!
After an injury-plagued 2008 season which limited him to 5 senior games, Ryan Houlihan’s return is a welcome addition to a side brimming with talented but inexperienced youngsters. In an era where a premium is put on accurate kicking to counter rolling zones and other strategies, Houlihan’s pinpoint disposal and composure with the ball are highly valued skills which should see him quickly re-establish himself as a permanent fixture in the Blues team.
Round 3 | Round 5