2005 Pre-Season

In 2005, the Blues brought up their third Pre-Season Night Series Premiership. Below we outline the stories of the games that brought us the Flag, including the Grand Final:

2005 'Night' Series First Round

6 points- L Whitnall 4, S Camporeale 2, E Betts 2, T Sporn 1, C Chambers 1, A Koutoufides 1, M Lappin1 & J Waite 1.

Game Review

The Blues took the honours against an undermanned Essendon side, winning by 37 points in the opening round of the Wizard Cup. Callum Chambers, in his first game for the Blues, kicked 2 'supergoals' and 1 regular goal. Eddie Betts also made an eye catching debut, kicking 2 opportunist goals. Lance Whitnall, looking the fittest he'd been in a number of years, was best afield, kicking 4 regular goals from 15 marks. Nick Stevens, Ryan Houlihan and Matthew Lappin were prolific through the midfield.

Team 2005 'Night' Series First Round

Video

2005 'Night' Series Quarter Final

6 points- B Fevola 4, L Whitnall 4, C Chambers 2, C McGrath 2, E Betts 1, J Davies 1 & S Wiggins 1.

Game Review

Carlton kicked the first 3 goals of the match, while the Demons could only manage 4 behinds before finally breaking through with the next 2 goals. Two late goals to the Blues gave them a 15 point lead at quarter-time. Melbourne started well in the second term, kicking 3 of the opening 4 goals to draw within 3 points. But then Carlton kicked the next 3 goals to lead by 21 points at half-time. A 4 goal to 2 third quarter gave the Blues a 31-point lead at the final change and looked set for a comfortable victory. But the Demons came back with 6 goals in the final term, including a super-goal, to trail by just 4 points. But the Blues then steadied and hung on to win by 10 points.

Lance Whitnall and Brendan Fevola were outstanding up forward, kicking 4 goals each and exploiting an undermanned Melbourne defence. Whitnall was again Best-on-Ground, looking the fittest of his career. Nick Stevens was again very good in the middle with 24 possessions, while classy duo Ryan Houlihan and Matthew Lappin shone. Callum Chambers again showed he is likely to be a worthwhile addition to the Blues with three majors, including a super goal. Luke Livingston did a fine job at full back to keep Neitz goalless.

Team 2005 'Night' Series Quarter Final

Video

2005 'Night' Series Semi Final

Game Review

Carlton blitzed the Western Bulldogs, scoring 7 goals to 1 in the first quarter, to take a commanding 39 point lead at quarter time. The second quarter was more even- the Bulldogs might have been closer than 42 points at half time had they kicked more accurately. But in the third term, the Blues kicked 6 goals to 2, to extend their lead to 66 points at the final break. The Dogs brought the final margin back to 51 points but not only had Carlton won through to the Final, its mammoth 21 goals was enough to ensure it would be played in Melbourne.

Brendan Fevola kicked 6 goals. Matthew Lappin kicked 4 and was also the leading possession getter with 24 touches. Scott Camporeale, Fevola and Heath Scotland had 21 each.

Team 2005 'Night' Series Semi Final

Video

WIZARD CUP 'NIGHT PRESEASON' GRAND FINAL

Game Review

After an even first quarter, the Blues took control of the match in the second term, kicking 4 goals to 1, largely due to the dominance of Brendan Fevola and Lance Whitnall up forward. They went to the half time break 22 points up. At the other end of the ground, Luke Livingston and Bret Thornton were on top of their opponents. The third quarter was even, with both sides kicking 2 goals apiece, until the Eagles kicked a goal right on the 3/4 time siren, to bring the margin back to 18 points. Scott Camporeale responded with the first goal of the last quarter but then the Eagles kicked 4 in a row, to take a one point lead and appeared to have all the momentum. The Blues refused to lie down though and kicked the next 4, including a 9-pointer from outside 50m by Ian Prendergast, which appeared to put the result beyond doubt.

Fevola ended up kicking a match winning 8 goals and was awarded the Michael Tuck Medal for best afield. Nick Stevens, who had to miss his brother's wedding to play in this game, Camporeale and Matthew Lappin worked hard in the midfield and won plenty of the ball.

Coming off a more positive 2004, the Wizard Win was expected to see the return of the club as a force in 2005. The Club promptly re-signed coach Denis Pagan for another 3 years. One negative going into the season proper was the knee injury, late in the game, to key defender Bret Thornton, which was expected to force him to miss the first 4-6 games. Having been on full view to the rest of the football world during the entire pre-season was something else the Blues would have to contend with.

2005 Wizard Cup 'Night Preseason' Premiership Team