Goalkickers: Betts 6, Gibbs, Armfield, Davies, Thornton, Walker, Judd, Garlett, Ellard, Yarran, Laidler 1.

Umpires: R. Chamberlain, L. Farmer, M. Stevic

Injuries: Bret Thornton (face)

Ladder: 4th

Game Review

Despite contrasting form lines leading into Carlton’s long trip west to take on Fremantle there was still some anxiety for Blues fans about exactly what kind of surprise Mark Harvey might pull out of his, ummm, hat in his bid to stay in the finals hunt. The only vaguely eye-brow raising move he made at selection was his decision to roll the dice with man-mountain Aaron Sandliands for the first time in six weeks. For the Blues it was all about retaining their tenuous grip on fourth position.

Carlton’s no tortoises selection policy, as cruel as it might seem, meant both Brock McLean and Ryan Houlihan were on the outer this week. Both could consider themselves a smidge unlucky given McLean’s two serviceable games since returning, while Houlihan simply couldn’t have done much wrong with his recent limited game time. In comparison two relative hares came into the side with Dennis Armfield back (after missing one with an ankle) alongside Andrew Carrazzo whose absence had well and truly been noted.

The Blues ran out in their sky blue clash strip knowing a fast start was all important to silence the vocal local crowd and be well placed should the forecast threat of rain eventuate later in the day. As it happened the Dockers leapt out of the blocks and had the Blues a goal down before Ratts had even had a chance to open his first bag of lollies. The equaliser came quickly through the sure footed Eddie Betts who made no mistake after sweeping on a spillage about 20m out straight in front. His second followed soon after from a set shot after a nice hit up from Kade Simpson. Goals from Dennis Armfield and Marcus Davies (his first in the big time) extended Carlton’s lead and but for some inaccurate kicking at goal that lead may have proven close to insurmountable even at this early stage. The Dockers eventually hit back with a couple to even things up before Bryce Gibbs marked hard up against the boundary line just before the quarter time siren. His shot at goal, which came after the siren preventing him from running around to open up the angle, was well thought out and the cause of much debate. Gibbs turned his body so his left shoulder pointed towards goal, took one step on his line, and hooked the ball across his body with his right foot. It was perfectly executed and made to look simple. The result extended the Blues’ lead to 17 points at the first change.

The Blues continued to dominate the clearances as the second quarter progressed but for all that dominance (18-4 at one point) not one goal resulted from their opening fives shots at goal. It took a steadier from Betts to get the ball rolling again, his third not coming until the 19th minute. Fortunately for Carlton, no serious damage was done. Fremantle were unable to cope with the sustained pressure of the Carlton defensive press which continually gave the Blues opportunities from turnovers. The Dockers managed their only goal for the term well into time-on before Betts got it straight back for the Blues. His fourth for the half, from a well placed Bret Thornton pass, found him dead in front a short distance from goal and stretched the lead to 26 points.

It was starting to look ominous for the Dockers when Chris Judd’s wonderful form in general play extended to the scoreboard early in the third. Judd’s were the only sure hands as he swooped on a loose ground ball and straightened onto his right from about 40 for a lovely goal. Thornton marked and goaled a short time later and the lead was out to six goals. When Jeff Garlett snapped an awkward looking ball off the outside of his right boot it looked a remote chance of worrying the Fremantle defence, but the oval ball can be unforgiving sometimes and after drifting alarmingly towards goal it got the kindest of end-over-end bounces and sped away from the pursuing defender to register full points. The Blues were looking pretty comfortable seven goals clear, before Freo put together a run of three goals to breathe some life back into the occasion. As it seems to have happened so often this season, when the Blues need a lift Andrew Walker delivers. The Fremantle defence made the fatal mistake of giving Walker a clear run at a high ball in. With Barlow’s back and head obliging as the step-ladder Walker took flight once again and pulled down another ripper. His composure flowed through to the shot at goal which made the lead 33 points at the final change.

The Blues opened the final quarter with a bang, in more ways than one. Betts somehow kept his feet in the tackle after collecting the crumbs from a marking contest to snag his fifth. The collateral damage in said marking contest was Bret Thornton’s left cheekbone. A nasty accidental collision saw Thornton’s face swell up almost instantly with the proverbial golf ball protruding from under his left eye. Betts claimed his sixth soon after in another telling performance up front before the flood gates really opened. Carlton’s lead got out to 57 points after goals to Chris Yarran and David Ellard before the ding for junk time sounded. Fremantle kicked five of the last six to give them a slightly flattering 30 point loss. Perhaps the physical demands of the Blues’ defensive game on the expanses of Subiaco meant they finally ran out of steam, or maybe they simply took the foot off. Whichever, it was a solid hit out in preparation for the block-buster against the Hawks in the next round.

Subs: Substitute Zach Tuohy replaced Andrew Carrazzo at three-quarter time.

Team

Milestones

50 Games: Jeffery Garlett
First Goal: Marcus Davies
4 in a Row: Carlton would win our 4th match in a row, the second time we had achieved this feat during 2011. This would be the last time we would achieve this feat for 5 years!

Brownlow Votes

3. Chris Judd, Carlton
2. Eddie Betts, Carlton
1. Marc Murphy, Carlton

Best & Fairest Votes

Chris Judd 40, Eddie Betts 39, Marc Murphy 37, Bryce Gibbs 32, Dennis Armfield 31, Chris Yarran 31, Andrew Walker 26, Bret Thornton 23, Robert Warnock 6, Kade Simpson 5

Ladder