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| Venue: | Marvel Stadium, Docklands. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Saturday 20th April, 2024 (4.35 pm). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Won by 19 points. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 40,474 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | C. Curnow 3.4, H. McKay 3.2, T. De Koning 3.1, C. Durdin 2.2, E. Hollands 2.1, M. Owies 1.0, M. Kennedy 1.0, O. Hollands 1.0, M. Cottrell 1.0, S. Walsh 0.1, B. Acres 0.1, L. Cowan 0.1, Rushed 0.2. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | George Hewett (CARL) careless contact with an umpire, first offence, $1250 fine. Thomas Green (GWS) careless contact with an umpire, first offence, $1250 fine. Jesse Hogan (GWS) striking Lewis Young (CARL), rated as Intentional Conduct, Low Impact & High Contact - 1 week suspension, upon appeal he was cleared. Toby Green (GWS) rough conduct on Jordan Boyd (CARL), rated as Careless Conduct, Medium Impact & High Contact - 1 week suspension. |
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| Umpires: | Justin Power, Mathew Nicholls, John Howorth, Robert Findlay. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | Z. Williams (achilles knock), J. Weitering (corked thigh). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 4th | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Blue blitz seals stunning win
Carlton has come away with an outstanding 19-point win against GWS. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media.A blue blitz. An incredible second half from Carlton has seen it return to winning form and bring GWS’ unbeaten run to a halt with a 19-point victory. After trailing by as much as 22 points in the third, the Blues were - quite simply - brutal in all forms of the contest, surging to a 17.15 (117) to 15.8 (98) victory over the Giants. Patrick Cripps continued his exceptional personal start to the season with a best-on-ground performance, while he had plenty of help from the likes of Sam Walsh, Tom De Koning and Marc Pittonet in the win.
Quarter one
Carlton’s intent from the opening bounce was clear, hitting bodies hard as it looked to build on an improved showing around the ball last week. On opening ruck duties, Marc Pittonet set the physical tone from the outset, winning the opening three clearances of the game as he and Patrick Cripps tried to get the ball going. Cripps was brilliant in the opening stanza against Tom Green, collecting 10 disposals and eight contested in a dominant term. In front of goal, the Blues got some spark from Matthew Owies and then Matthew Cottrell, who ended the term with six disposals, one goal and one goal assist. With Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay well held early, the Blues needed to generate a score on the board through other sources, with Elijah Hollands (from an Ollie assist), Tom De Koning and Corey Durdin all bobbing up. Carlton was doing the job from clearances, but a late flurry from the Giants saw a goal in the closing stages to bring the margin back within a kick.
Quarter two
The warning signs from the end of the first term proved true in the second, with the Giants well and truly getting their running game going. The Blues remained on top in the contest stakes, but were unable to convert opportunities going forward, whereas the Giants managed to take theirs in abundance. A run of five consecutive goals to start the second term had the Blues in strife on the scoreboard, trailing by as much as 22 points, prompting Michael Voss to swing Charlie Curnow behind the ball to stop the run. The Blues needed composure to wrestle momentum back, with George Hewett and Matthew Kennedy working overtime with 11 disposals each. In his first game for the year against big opposition, Lachie Cowan showed he belonged at the level with an assured, physical performance, while it was his fellow draft class member who got the Blues rolling again on the scoreboard. When Ollie Hollands' major was followed up by De Koning’s second of the day, the Blues were suddenly within nine points at the main break.
Quarter three
The Blues made a forced substitution at half time, with Jack Carroll brought into the game for Zac Williams (knock to his Achilles). There was a clear renewed sense of vigour about the Blues in the second half, lifting their pressure after the Giants were able to chip their way through their defence too often in the first half. Back-to-back goals from Josh Kelly had the Blues on the ropes — but then, everything changed. Carlton’s clearance game got to its brutal best, with Pittonet (eight third-quarter disposals), Cripps (12) and Walsh (11) motoring along to put the Giants under all sorts of pressure. With Williams off the ground, Boyd took the lockdown role on Toby Greene and performed it expertly, while after being goalless at the half-time, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay combined for the next five goals to give the Blues an incredible lead. Come the end of the term, Carlton led by 15 points with Marvel Stadium rocking in front of 40,000-plus in the house under the roof.
Quarter four
With the memories of last week well and truly front in mind, the Blues well and truly knew they had their work cut out for them against a potent Giants attack. It called for a crucial moment, and it was Corey Durdin who delivered — the small forward went back with the flight to take a courageous mark and convert his second to keep the good times rolling. Carlton’s talls were the story, with De Koning (three goals), McKay (three goals), Curnow (three goals) and Pittonet (seven clearances) dominating the airwaves, while Cripps, Walsh and Hewett continued their brilliant form at ground level. Boyd continued his brilliant two terms against Greene, while Ollie Hollands' 11-disposal second half belied his years. There was no more popular final goalkicker than Matthew Kennedy in game No.100, signing off an outstanding Navy Blue win under the roof.
Best: P. Cripps, S. Walsh, T. De Koning, G. Hewett, H. McKay, M. Pittonet, M. Cottrell, N. Newman.
Blues' blitz sees Giants fall to first loss
The Blues have powered past the Giants in an impressive win - By Sarah Black at Marvel Stadium.Last year wasn't a fluke. Carlton is most certainly the real deal. After an extraordinary run of six goals in 14 minutes in the third term, the Blues twice hauled in 20-point margins to overrun ladder-leading and previously undefeated Greater Western Sydney, winning by 19 in a 17.15 (117) to 15.8 (98) result at a packed Marvel Stadium. Classy Giants winger Josh Kelly – one of his side's best – had kicked two goals in 90 seconds halfway through the third to help build out a second 20-point buffer. But Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay responded by kicking goals for the first time all match, and then Curnow and McKay and Curnow again, and suddenly Blues fans were lifting the roof off the stadium with their voice and drums as they hit the front. They were never headed from there.
Curnow – disposal-less in the opening term, matched up mostly against Jack Buckley – had started the second with a sense of urgency, but rushed himself in his desperation to get going, kicking four behinds in that single quarter. Meanwhile, the Giants gradually chipped away in a methodical manner, calmly picking out options by hand and foot – moving the ball at pace, but never rushed, racking up 5.3 for the term. It was their best period of play for the game. Curnow was sent to the backline in the final minutes to successfully stem the flow, while Ollie Hollands and Tom De Koning hauled the margin back to nine at the main break, saving Blues fans from being consigned back to the tortured Carlton department. The Giants' tackling pressure through the second and start of the third term was simply superb, putting a brake on Carlton's clearance work and briefly creating a brick wall across their defensive 50, but they weren't able to hold back the dam wall for the full game. Leek Aleer – playing his first game in 609 days, replacing the concussed Sam Taylor – had an intriguing battle with McKay, recording 10 spoils in the first half and holding the star goalless until halfway through the third. Carlton superstar Sam Walsh's sharp return from a back injury continued, adding 35 disposals and six clearances to the 34 he recorded last week. Jacob Weitering suffered a corked quad just seconds before half-time, but more concerningly, Zac Williams was subbed off after suffering what the club described as a "knock" to his Achilles tendon.
Carlton clearance machine
The Blues midfield dictated play from the opening bounce, leading the clearance count by seven at quarter-time (Patrick Cripps with five off his own boot), and extending that to 12 at the half, finishing 16 to the good. Cripps brought his own footy, recording 39 and 13 clearances. The ruck double act of Marc Pittonet and De Koning did well to quell the influence of Kieren Briggs, with Jake Riccardi struggling to have an impact in the middle when rolled through.
TDK does it all
The Giants were in scintillating touch in the second term, racing out to a 20-point lead. Threatening to make life incredibly difficult for the Blues and push out even further, a piece of magic from 204cm De Koning helped keep his side in the game. He tapped the ball behind his head at a centre bounce, George Hewett not needing to break stride to gather the clearance. But the ruck's work wasn't done, pushing forward to collect the eventual crumb at the foot of his tall targets and kicking truly in an awkward position, cutting the margin to 10. He kicked three for the game.
Toby Tribunal watch?
All eyes will be on the MRO's report on Sunday after Toby Greene collected Jordan Boyd in the head while the pair attempted to mark the footy. Greene was coming towards the ball, jumping to mark but turning his body side-on to protect himself, as Boyd ran back with the flight. Greene's elbow appeared to collect Boyd's cheekbone, the Blue hitting the deck but playing out the game. The impact was not as severe as Peter Wright's four-match suspension earlier this year, but the incidents had some similarities.
Best: P. Cripps, S. Walsh, T. De Koning, C. Curnow, H. McKay, M. Pittonet.
Carlton's twin towers are now a triple threat
Just in case the Blues' forward line wasn't dangerous enough with three Coleman medals between Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, a third tall has been successfully added to the mix. Turning 25 this year, Tom De Koning is coming into his prime. Carlton started the year with De Koning as sole ruck but the return of Marc Pittonet in the past few weeks has allowed De Koning to spend more time in attack. He was outstanding against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, proving to be one tall too many to cover, booting three goals from his 15 touches and also recording 16 hitouts and three clearances – Sarah BlackVoss praises belief in big win
Michael Voss was a proud coach after Carlton's Round 6 win over GWS. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media.An outstanding performance against outstanding opposition. Michael Voss was a proud coach in the aftermath of Carlton's stirring 19-point win over GWS in Round 6, built off the back of clarity and belief in the team system. Backed by a rocking home crowd, the Blues stormed home in the second half from 20 points down to triumph by three goals against the unbeaten Giants, returning to winning form after last week's narrow defeat. This is what Voss had to say.
On his take on the game:
"The phases of our game came together closer today. In the early parts of the season, we’ve had two be going okay and then one that’s been slightly off. Early in the game, the way we defended or the pressure we got on the ball wasn’t exactly where we needed it to be in the first half. We dialled in on that at half time, and fortunately we were able to turn that around. "That gave us some really good looks on the other side of the ball. A really pleasing performance. In the second quarter, we were well and truly up against it and I think what shows your growth as a team is when you can absorb that, acknowledge it’s happened but then be able to lock in and tug back the score by a couple of goals late. It gives you a bit of a look. That was a really important part, not just the second half."
On the calibre of the opposition:
"There were lots of opportunities to be able to attack. We took our moments. But with incomplete plays, it put pressure on us to be able to defend a bit faster. It felt like we tidied that up both with the ball, and also without it. "That helped us get the pressure back on the ball and get the game back into a contest. They’re an impressive side, GWS. They’re hard to try and stop at the best of times, a very good transition team. We were able to do pretty well in that space today."
On the two-ruck dynamic:
"The more games they play together, the better they’re going to be. The match fitness to be able to play those games, equally with Tom being able to play forward and hit the scoreboard, he was able to do his part as well. It’s a good combination. We find it’s a unique strength of ours. To see them in both good form is particularly pleasing. "Their form says a lot as well. There’s a lot of discussion on two rucks or not two rucks. We’ve got a style of play we want to play, and clearly we had the dominance around the ball at centre-square bounce. Their games were impactful today."
On the forward mix:
"We were able to kick a pretty healthy score tonight, which was pleasing. As well, when the ball was on the floor, we got to work and we got the presence we needed. "There’s a few new faces in there and a few new bodies from last year to this year, with Fantasia being there and Elijah Hollands coming into that part of the ground. You’re playing a different combination at times. Being able to build out that connection and cohesion will be important over the course of the year. Games like tonight against a quality defence, they’re good wins."
On Zac Williams:
"A corkie, at the moment. We took a fairly precautionary approach there, and same with ‘Weiters’. We’re hoping there’s nothing there."
On the next-man-in approach:
"You need flexibility when you lose a defender, we’ve had that in the last two weeks where we’ve lost a defender and Matty Kennedy has done it on both occasions. He’s done really well for him to be able to slide back. What I hope it speaks to is that it’s next man up. "To be able to take a squad approach to it all, guys are embracing the roles given to them and they’re getting the job done. That breeds a lot of confidence in the team. When others can step in and get the job done, they support the person that’s stepping in next. We had a couple of new faces in the backline today, Lachie Cowan comes in, Lewis Young came in as well. A different mix, but they certainly got the job done."
On Jacob Weitering:
"Just a corkie. It was a huge effort, because his mobility wasn’t fantastic, but he just hung in there as he does. He didn’t complain once, he just got on with it."
On Jordan Boyd's performance on Toby Greene:
"That was a really important role for us tonight: Greene is a wonderful player, a very dangerous player, and Zac had first dibs at it. Our defensive coach Aaron Hamill said he thought ‘Boydy’ was up for the task, so credit goes to him and ‘Boydy’ for taking on that job. He did a great job, a really great job. For a bloke who hasn’t played a lot of footy to take it on was really impressive."
On Curnow and McKay's partnership:
"If you look across the season, they’re getting separation really well. That’s credit to them and taking that team approach, the type of system that we need to be able to play. They step up when it’s their turn. I hope that’s something that is a trait we’re all trying to achieve, not just Harry and Charlie. "We’ll all get the benefit of it hopefully. Certainly talking to those two, they love playing with each other, they got a lot of looks tonight and they were able to capitalise at different times. We need them, they’re important players to our team."
Carlton’s leading score involvement players in 2024
Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay (47); Patrick Cripps (39); George Hewett (35); Matthew Kennedy (33); Tom De Koning (32); Blake Acres (30); Matthew Cottrell (29); Sam Walsh (26); Nic Newman (25); Matthew Owies (24); Jack Carroll (21); Elijah Hollands (20).Carlton’s average individual goalkickers under Michael Voss
Round 1, 2022 to Round 13, 2023 — 6.8 (16 wins, one draw, 18 losses)Round 14, 2023 to Round 6, 2024 — 8.3 (16 wins, three losses)
Team
| B: | 2 Lachie Cowan | 23 Jacob Weitering | 17 Brodie Kemp |
| HB: | 6 Zac Williams | 33 Lewis Young | 24 Nic Newman |
| C: | 4 Ollie Hollands | 9 Patrick Cripps (c) | 13 Blake Acres |
| HF: | 46 Matthew Cottrell | 12 Tom De Koning | 20 Elijah Hollands |
| F: | 30 Charlie Curnow | 10 Harry McKay | 44 Matt Owies |
| Ruck: | 27 Marc Pittonet | 18 Sam Walsh | 29 George Hewett |
| Interchange: | 37 Jordan Boyd | 14 Orazio Fantasia | 19 Corey Durdin |
| 7 Matt Kennedy | |||
| Substitute: | 16 Jack Carroll | ||
| Coach: | Michael Voss | ||
| Emergencies: | 25 Jaxon Binns | 39 Alex Cincotta | 40 Hudson O'Keeffe |
In: Lachie Cowan, Lewis Young
Out: Adam Saad (hamstring), Mitch McGovern (hamstring)
Substitute: Jack Carroll (replaced Zac Williams at half-time).
Milestones
100 Games (AFL): Matt KennedyInteresting Facts
1. Tom De Koning three goals was his best return in a game for Carlton.2. Carlton kicked 6.5.41 directly from the centre bounces, this is their second best return in the last 10 years.
Free Kicks
Carlton 19GWS 12
Front Runners
Matt Cottrell 15.0kmOliver Hollands 14.8km
Blake Acres 14.2km
AFLCA Votes
10 - Patrick Cripps (CARL)8 - Sam Walsh (CARL)
5 - Josh Kelly (GWS)
3 - Tom De Koning (CARL)
3 - Marc Pittonet (CARL)
1 - Matt Kennedy (CARL)
Brownlow Votes
3 - Patrick Cripps (CARL)2 - Sam Walsh (CARL)
1 - Tom Green (GWS)
Best and Fairest Votes
Video
Round 5 | Round 7