Game Review

Youngsters step up, Blues show fight in narrow win

How Carlton's Round 19 win played out. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media.

Carlto has recorded a much-awaited win, with youngsters standing up and the Blues fighting as one in an eight-point win over Melbourne. In yet another nail-biter between these two sides, the Blues led for nearly the entirety of the contest, holding firm in the closing stages of the 12.6 (78) to 10.10 (70) win. On a night where senior headsn and exciting youngsters both stood up, Ashton Moir produced a career-high four goals while Patrick Cripps led beautifully with 29 disposals and eight clearances (both game-highs). Charlie Curnow set the tone early with a bright start, recording Carlton’s first two goals as the Blues burst out of the blocks with three of the first four on the night. With Jake Melksham never far from him, Jacob Weitering stood up well under increasing Melbourne pressure, as the Demons settled into the game and drew within a point. As is always the case between these two sides, it was a contested start early - Francis Evans had a strong first quarter in that regard, contributing three tackles while also amassing six disposals and a direct goal assist. In the first term, 100 per cent of Carlton’s score came from turnover, with the recently re-signed Matthew Carroll leading the way with four first-quarter intercepts before Adam Cerra converted after a 50-metre penalty to give the Blues an eight-point lead. Carlton’s clearance game got going in the second term, allowing to dominate time in forward half with 10 of the first 13 clearances - however, they were unable to make their territorial dominance count. Ashton Moir looked increasingly dangerous as a forward option with Curnow playing higher up the ground to great effect. The Blues were going direct - at one stage averaging four disposals per inside 50 - but that rate dried up as Melbourne once again settled into the contest.

The Blues defended bravely, with Lachie Cowan in particular producing some strong moments to restrict the Dees to just three goals from six scoring shots at half-time as Moir recorded his third of the half to open up a 19-point lead. However, that ascendancy was wiped just 12 minutes into the third term, with the Dees coming out well on top and dominating possession to kick four goals and take the lead for the first time. Evans produced a telling set shot to give the Blues the lead back, before committing himself to a contest with Steven May which saw the first-year Blue concussed and unable to take any further part in the game. Moir made sure to make the moment count with his first major, before Curnow found Flynn Young who snuck home his first major at the elite level - with the celebrations, unsurprisingly led by Curnow, matching the moment. Lachie Cowan and Matthew Carroll both went back with the flight as the Blues’ commitment to the contest was clear, settling after a nervy start to the second half to take a 10-point lead into the final term. A Bayley Fritsch goal inside the opening minute brought the margin back to a kick, but as he’s done so many times before, an effort of pure determination from Sam Docherty won a holding-the-ball tackle with the set shot giving the Blues some breathing room. Minutes later, Matthew Carroll joined Flynn Young’s first-goal gang to the delight of his teammates and fans for a 17-point lead. There’s always late drama when these two meet, and the 2025 edition was no exception when the Dees drew within a kick. The man for the moment was Curnow, producing his third from long-range to give the Blues a much-welcomed four points.

Show me Moir: Youngster stars as Blues edge Demons.

The Blues have recorded a tight win over the Demons. - By Gemma Bastiani.

A flying Tom De Koning, a five-goal turn from Kysaiah Pickett, and the emergence of a young Blue. It might have been a game between the 12th and 13th seeds, but it had it all. Charlie Curnow, who had been goalless since round 14, returned to form with a bullet, kicking three goals in the 12.6 (78) to 10.10 (70) victory on a wintery MCG deck on Saturday evening. A slow, messy start to the match was in the rearview mirror as De Koning flew for the footy late in the final quarter to maintain possession and create an attacking foray while just two points up. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Carlton. Melbourne also seems likely to be without Steven May in the coming weeks, after a bump on Carlton forward Francis Evans saw the latter substituted with concussion. There was a sense of imprecision in Melbourne's game. Switch kicks hung in the air to allow Carlton defensive efforts to impact, missed tackles, and floating handballs creating turnover opportunities. The connection issues were also evident in close around the contest, where the Demons were regularly caught running into one another's space and creating unnecessary congestion. This disorganisation also led to the visitors giving up three 50m penalties in the first half. Jacob Weitering (eight marks, nine intercept possessions) caused endless issues for Melbourne and, specifically, Jake Melksham. Quick decision-making and aerial prowess meant the Blue largely dictated the Demons' forward entries. Following a remarkable run of form from Melksham, who had kicked 14 goals in the three matches prior, Weitering wreaked havoc on the Demon's access to the footy, leaving Melksham with just one goal from six disposals for the match.

After the main break the Demons found more efficient ball movement, opting for speed in space. They were certainly helped by the supreme talents of Pickett (23 disposals, five goals), who started at centre bounce and spat forward, losing his direct opponent in the process, and kicking goals from everywhere. Max Gawn's (19 disposals, 38 hitouts) impact steadily grew as the game wore on, able to make the most of his supreme fitness to compete at the contest and then drag his opponent across the ground. And in attack, Bayley Fritsch (20 disposals, two goals) continued his return to form, leading well at the ball carrier and converting well. Carlton, meanwhile, had sixth-gamer Ashton Moir spearheading its attack. The result of repeat opportunity at the top level this year, Moir finished with a team-high four goals, thanks to his combination of aerial skill and cleanliness on the deck. The Demons were keen to flick the ball around by hand, allowing Carlton's defensive efforts to come into play. Jesse Motlop and Evans worked hard to close down space inside the forward arc, putting pressure on Melbourne's defensive unit. Adding to the joy, both Flynn Young and Matt Carroll kicked their first career goals, bringing the crowd to life in the process. Carlton broke a four-game losing streak to edge past Melbourne. Defensively is where they made improvements, conceding just 70 points, well below the 103 it conceded per game between Rounds 15-18. The Demons leaked 50-plus points from turnovers for the eighth time this season. They have a 1-7 win-loss rate in these games. 31 of those points were conceded from Carlton's forward half intercepts. Charlie Curnow had kicked 6.8 from outside the 50-metre arc heading into tonight.

More hot water for May
Steven May will be nervously awaiting the Match Review Officer's findings, following an ugly clash with Carlton forward Francis Evans in the third quarter. Evans was dashing toward goal, working to gather a handball from Ashton Moir, when the Demons defender came full force in the opposite direction to impede the Blue's run. Given the height disparity between the pair, May's shoulder collected Evans' face, and the Blue was helped from the ground with blood streaming from his face, and was immediately subbed from the game with concussion.

Curnow back in action
Coming into the match, Carlton spearhead Charlie Curnow had not kicked a goal since the club's round 14 win over West Coast. In his month without a major, the Blues failed to register a win. But it took all of 36 seconds for Curnow to break through for his first goal of the game. The roar of the crowd was just as telling as the number of Blues who got around Curnow to celebrate the opening goal of the game. Six minutes later, he kicked a second, to really establish his return to goalkicking form.

Best: J. Weitering, P. Cripps, M. Carroll, A. Moir, A. Cerra, C. Curnow.

This youngster has been a silver lining for the Blues.

It has been a tough season for Carlton, but there has been a silver lining. Ashton Moir has been given a consistent opportunity in recent weeks, and it all came together on Saturday night against Melbourne. Across his 11 VFL games this year, he has kicked 16 goals – from 20 scores – to earn a spot at the top level, and in the sixth AFL game of his career, Moir became Carlton's most likely goalkicker. Getting his first nine minutes into the match, his aerial strength and neat set shot routine made him increasingly dangerous. The 20-year-old finished the match with four crucial goals in Carlton's fourth-straight win over Melbourne, offering a serious positive from a year of tough results. As it turns out, wearing Kouta's No.43 guernsey could be appropriate for the youngster after all. - Gemma Bastiani

Team

B:	26 Nick Haynes	23 Jacob Weitering	42 Adam Saad
HB:	2 Lachlan Cowan	22 Harry O'Farrell	15 Sam Docherty
C:	43 Ashton Moir	9 Patrick Cripps (c)	5 Adam Cerra
HF:	45 Flynn Young	30 Charlie Curnow	8 Lachie Fogarty
F:	3 Jesse Motlop	12 Tom De Koning	6 Zac Williams
Ruck:	27 Marc Pittonet	29 George Hewett	4 Oliver Hollands
Interchange:	32 Matt Carroll	44 Francis Evans	38 Will White
	36 Cooper Lord
Substitute:	19 Corey Durdin
Coach:	Michael Voss
Emergencies:	40 Hudson O'Keeffe	13 Blake Acres	37 Jordan Boyd

In: Adam Saad, Francis Evans, Will White.
Out: Alex Cincotta (Omitted), Orazio Fantasia (hamstring), Mitch McGovern (hamstring).

Substitute: Corey Durdin (replaced Francis Evans in the third quarter).

Free Kicks

Carlton 29
Melbourne 21

Front Runners

Oliver Hollands 15.9km
Cooper Lord 15.6km

Milestones

Most Goals in a Game: Ashton Moir
First Goal: Flynn Young, Matt Carroll
Rising Star Nominee : Ashton Moir

Interesting Fact

1. Eight of the last 11 games between these two teams have been decided by eight points or less.

AFLCA Votes

10 - Kysaiah Pickett (MELB)
6 - Jacob Weitering (CARL)
6 - Patrick Cripps (CARL)
4 - Matt Carroll (CARL)
2 - Lachlan Cowan (CARL)
1 - Trent Rivers (MELB)
1 - Charlie Curnow (CARL)

Brownlow Votes

3 - Kysaiah Pickett (MELB)
2 - Patrick Cripps (CARL)
1 - Max Gawn (MELB)