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| Venue: | Docklands Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Sunday, May 19, 2013 (early afternoon) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Won by 18 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 29,936 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | J. Garlett (4), M. Murphy (3), H. Scotland, M. Robinson, T. Bell (2), J. Bootsma, J. Waite, D. Armfield (1). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | L. Farmer, R. Findlay, J. Schmitt | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 10th | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
There were milestones aplenty when Carlton brought up their fourth win of the season with a hard-fought victory over Port Adelaide on this Sunday afternoon at Docklands Stadium. Captain Marc Murphy and swingman Andrew Walker each celebrated their 150th matches for the Navy Blues, while evergreen Heath Scotland – who had begun his AFL career at Collingwood way back in 1998 – played game number 250. In addition, highly-regarded youngster Troy Menzel made his senior debut, and crowd favourite Josh Bootsma steered through his first career goal with a calmly-taken set-shot in the opening quarter.In the wake of a disappointing loss to St Kilda in round 7, Carlton made four changes; losing Chris Yarran and David Ellard to leg injuries, Eddie Betts to suspension for a head-high bump, and Shaun Hampson to frustration on the part of the match committee. Into the side came Jarrad Waite (back from suspension), Tom Bell, Bootsma and Menzel – who was able to calm his nerves somewhat by starting the match as Carlton’s substitute. One big surprise was the inclusion of full-back Michael Jamison, who had played against St Kilda under obvious distress from a damaged shoulder, but somehow recovered enough to hold his place.
Although the Blues were generally favoured to win at home, Port Adelaide had plenty of support. The Power had started the season in brilliant fashion, winning five games straight under their rookie coach Ken Hinkley, and had thrashed Carlton at their previous meeting in Adelaide in 2012. This time however, the Blues bounced out of the blocks to dominate the first 15 minutes of the match, kicking 3.3 before the Power found their stride. From then on it was an even contest, but Carlton maintained their advantage throughout and eventually won by 18 points.
The first quarter began with a big overhead mark by Jamison, followed by a free kick to Mitch Robinson for the first major of the match. Among a number of tactical ploys, Murphy had been sent deep forward, and the move paid off when he wrong-footed his opponent and gathered the ball on the boundary line in the right forward pocket. When his skidding, curling, right-foot dribbler rolled through for full points, it brought Blues fans to their feet. Kreuzer, McLean and Waite then missed gettable shots, before Bootsma marked 35 metres out, and was engulfed by his team-mates when his kick sailed through. Port full-back Carlisle bombed his team’s first major from outside 50 metres after 15 minutes of play, and suddenly, the visitors found another gear. Matching Carlton around the stoppages and spreading with purpose, the Power added another two goals before quarter time, when they trailed by 15 points.
The second quarter belonged to Kreuzer, Henderson and Waite of Carlton, and Port ruckmen Lobbe and Redden. Waite was providing the marking target and tackling pressure up forward that had been so obviously missing the previous week against St Kilda, Henderson was a one-man wall across half-back, and Kreuzer was marking everything that came his way. On the other hand, the Power ruck duo began to win a bigger share of the aerial duels, and their midfield runners capitalised on their opportunities. Carlton were still on top in general play, but wasteful around the goals - kicking 3.6 for the term, while Port Adelaide added 4.1.
Scotland’s goal from the 50-metre arc in the first two minutes of the third quarter made the difference 20 points, and sparked a flurry of scoring by the Blues. Jeff Garlett had looked dangerous throughout the match, and his two majors for the term helped push Carlton’s advantage out to a comfortable 33 points at the final change, when Waite was subbed off and Troy Menzel came on in his place.
Port Adelaide drew first blood in the last quarter, with a goal to their emerging midfielder Chad Wingard, quickly followed by another to Redden after a contested mark dead in front. Suddenly, the Power were lifting, and it took a big tackle by Menzel - who won a free kick and passed to Robinson deep in the pocket - to stop it. Robbo played on, and coolly slotted a brilliant steadier from the tightest of angles to regain control for the Blues. Ninety seconds later, Bell was tripped and added another six-pointer.
To their credit, Port kept coming, but from then on the game was safely in the Blues keeping. The full stop was provided by Garlett, who brilliantly marked a long kick out of defence by Dennis Armfield and, with no-one in front of him, launched a bomb from 52 metres that never looked like missing. Once again out by 31 points, Carlton took their foot off the pedal in the last few minutes, allowing Port to add majors from Ebert and Monfries.
At the siren, the final margin was 19 points in a game that was more even than the scores suggested. Port Adelaide had proven themselves a capable, well-coached team, and the fact that a Blues combination short of the likes of Eddie Betts, Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Carrazzo, Chris Yarran and David Ellard was able to comfortably beat them, augured well for the future.
Subs: Troy Menzel replaced Jarrad Waite at three quarter time.
Team
| B: | 42 Zach Tuohy | 40 Michael Jamison | 23 Lachlan Henderson |
| HB: | 6 Kade Simpson (vc) | 43 Simon White | 1 Andrew Walker |
| C: | 29 Heath Scotland | 5 Chris Judd | 37 Jaryd Cachia |
| HF: | 38 Jeff Garlett | 30 Jarrad Waite | 27 Dennis Armfield |
| F: | 3 Marc Murphy (C) | 8 Matthew Kreuzer | 12 Mitch Robinson |
| Ruck: | 11 Robert Warnock | 14 Brock McLean | 35 Ed Curnow |
| Interchange: | 9 Kane Lucas | 21 Josh Bootsma | 28 Tom Bell |
| Substitute: | 2 Troy Menzel | ||
| Emergencies: | 17 Sam Rowe | 22 Shaun Hampson | 45 Aaron Joseph |
| Coach: | Mick Malthouse | ||
Milestones
250 Games (AFL): Heath Scotland150 Games (Carlton): Marc Murphy, Andrew Walker
Debut: Troy Menzel
Interesting Fact: With this match, Carlton had now played 397 games in a row without a flag, the second-longest dry spell in our entire VFL/AFL history.
First Goal: Josh Bootsma
Interesting Fact
This was the largest crowd between these two clubs played in Melbourne, previous record was 29,696 in Round 19, 2008.Brownlow Votes
3. Marc Murphy, Carlton2. Mitch Robinson, Carlton
1. Jeffery Garlett, Carlton
Best & Fairest Votes
Marc Murphy 6, Ed Curnow 5, Lachie Henderson 5, Dennis Armfield 4, Jeffery Garlett 4, Matthew Kreuzer 4, Mitch Robinson 4, Michael Jamison 3, Chris Judd 3, Kade Simpson 3, Simon White 3, Heath Scotland 2, Jaryd Cachia 1, Kane Lucas 1, Jarrad Waite 1, Andrew Walker 1Ladder
| Posn | Team | P | W | L | D | For | Ag | U/D | Strk | % | Pts |
| 1 | Hawthorn | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 944 | 670 | +2 | W 7 | 140.90 | 28 |
| 2 | Geelong | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 895 | 760 | -1 | L 1 | 117.76 | 28 |
| 3 | Essendon | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 913 | 642 | -1 | L 2 | 142.21 | 24 |
| 4 | Sydney | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 800 | 672 | +1 | D 1 | 119.05 | 22 |
| 5 | Fremantle | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 708 | 625 | +1 | D 1 | 113.28 | 22 |
| 6 | Port Adelaide | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 820 | 702 | -2 | L 3 | 116.81 | 20 |
| 7 | Richmond | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 806 | 721 | +0 | W 2 | 111.79 | 20 |
| 8 | Collingwood | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 776 | 805 | +0 | W 1 | 96.40 | 20 |
| 9 | Adelaide | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 802 | 643 | +0 | W 2 | 124.73 | 16 |
| 10 | Carlton | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 806 | 718 | +1 | W 1 | 112.26 | 16 |
| 11 | West Coast | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 834 | 749 | -1 | W 3 | 111.35 | 16 |
| 12 | Gold Coast | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 730 | 707 | +1 | W 2 | 103.25 | 16 |
| 13 | North Melbourne | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 840 | 777 | -1 | L 1 | 108.11 | 12 |
| 14 | Brisbane | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 647 | 843 | +1 | W 1 | 76.75 | 12 |
| 15 | St Kilda | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 654 | 722 | -1 | L 1 | 90.58 | 8 |
| 16 | Western Bulldogs | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 612 | 868 | +0 | L 7 | 70.51 | 4 |
| 17 | Melbourne | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 597 | 1060 | +0 | L 4 | 56.32 | 4 |
| 18 | GWS Giants | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 619 | 1119 | +0 | L 8 | 55.32 | 0 |
Round 7 | Round 9