The Blues would begin Season
2007 with a bang by winning the 2007 NAB Cup against the Brisbane Lions, our fourth
Pre-Season / Night Series Premiership.
NAB Pre-Season Cup Round 1
|
Carlton
|
1.3.2
|
29
|
1.6.7
|
52
|
1.8.12
|
69
|
1.10.14
|
83
|
|
Essendon
|
0.1.5
|
11
|
0.4.6
|
30
|
1.6.12
|
63
|
1.9.16
|
79
|
|
Venue: Telstra Dome (Twilight) |
| Date: Sat 24 February, 2007 |
Result: Win by 4 points |
| Umpires: G Bandy, T Keating, S McBurney & S Ryan |
Crowd: 28,568 |
Goalkickers: NINE POINT: E Betts 1
SIX POINT: B Fevola 5, J Kennedy 1, L Whitnall 1, M Lappin 1, N Stevens 1, R Houlihan 1 |
| Reports: Nil |
Injuries: Nil |
Game Review
While some sides treat the NAB Cup as a practice run and rest most of their stars, this clash between the two arch rivals was played with all the intensity of a regular game, with both sides determined to make up for poor 2006 seasons. Both went in with their best possible line ups, with very few regular players missing. The Bombers went in as favourites but the Blues would continue their tradition of upsetting their arch rivals by less than a kick.
The Blues started the better and were playing with greater skill, purpose and intensity than in 2006. Just before half time they held a 38 point lead but 2 late goals to the Bombers brought the margin back to 22 points. They struggled to maintain their intensity in the second half, while the Bombers lifted theirs but unlike so many occasions in 2006, managed to hold on to record a 4 point victory, thanks to vital last quarter goals from the experienced
Nick Stevens and
Matthew Lappin. A couple of errors deep in defence in the last quarter kept the Bombers closer than we would have liked (Alwyn Davey converted only one of the two), but the Blues would prevail.
2006 Coleman medalist
Brendan Fevola picked up from where he left off, kicking 5 of his team's 11 goals, the only multiple goal scorer.
Jarrad Waite made a promising start to a new role at centre half back, reading the play well and providing plenty of rebound, while keeping Lucas quiet.
Setanta Ó hAilpín looked like he had a future at full back, keeping Lloyd to just 2 goals.
Ryan Houlihan with 25 possessions and
Andrew Carrazzo with 23 were the major ball winners.
Team
| B: | 1 Andrew Walker | 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín | 32 Bret Thornton |
| HB: | 33 Ryan Houlihan | 30 Jarrad Waite | 4 Bryce Gibbs |
| C: | 12 Matthew Lappin | 24 Nick Stevens | 29 Heath Scotland |
| HF: | 6 Kade Simpson | 8 Lance Whitnall | 3 Marc Murphy |
| F: | 14 Brad Fisher | 25 Brendan Fevola | 5 Josh Kennedy |
| Ruck: | 11 Cain Ackland | 2 Jordan Russell | 19 Eddie Betts |
| Interchange: | 43 Anthony Koutoufides | 9 Jason Saddington | 44 Andrew Carrazzo |
| 41 Ross Young | 28 Cameron Cloke | 38 Ryan Jackson |
| Coach: | Denis Pagan |
2007 NAB Pre-Season Cup Quarter Final
|
Carlton
|
1.3.1
|
28
|
1.5.6
|
45
|
1.8.9
|
66
|
1.9.12
|
75
|
|
Hawthorn
|
0.4.4
|
28
|
0.5.5
|
35
|
1.7.6
|
57
|
2.7.8
|
68
|
|
Venue: Aurora Stadium (York Park), Launceston (Twilight) |
| Date: Sat 3 March, 2007 |
Result: Win by 7 points |
| Umpires: M Ellis, M Head, S Jeffery & H Kennedy |
Crowd: 15,412 |
Goalkickers: NINE POINT: M Murphy 1
SIX POINT: B Fevola 2, C Ackland 2, A Carrazzo 2, J Kennedy 1, B Fisher 1 & E Betts 1 |
| Reports: Nil |
Injuries: Nil |
Game Review
After an even first quarter, the Blues gained the ascendency in the second term, taking a 10 point lead at half time. They remained slightly ahead (8 points) at the final change but a 'supergoal' from the Hawks early in the final quarter tied the scores up. The Blues responded with
Andrew Carrazzo kicking an important pressure goal, his second for the game, to run out 7 point winners and advance to the semi finals.
Nick Stevens led the midfield with 29 disposals, while
Marc Murphy had 23 classy possessions (15 contested), including a 'supergoal' from outside 50m.
It was the first time from their six meetings that Carlton had defeated Hawthorn in a "Night/Pre-Season" match (two of these defeats had been in the 'Night' grand finals of 1977 and 1986). It was also the third time that they had played in Tasmania in a "Night/Pre-Season" match for Carlton's second win, the only defeat was in
1998 but the first in Launceston and under lights- the other two games played at the North Hobart oval during the day.
Team
| B: | 1 Andrew Walker | 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín | 32 Bret Thornton |
| HB: | 33 Ryan Houlihan | 30 Jarrad Waite | 29 Heath Scotland |
| C: | 12 Matthew Lappin | 24 Nick Stevens | 2 Jordan Russell |
| HF: | 14 Brad Fisher | 8 Lance Whitnall | 3 Marc Murphy |
| F: | 19 Eddie Betts | 25 Brendan Fevola | 5 Josh Kennedy |
| Ruck: | 11 Cain Ackland | 44 Andrew Carrazzo | 6 Kade Simpson |
| Interchange: | 43 Anthony Koutoufides | 9 Jason Saddington | 4 Bryce Gibbs |
| 7 Adam Bentick | 28 Cameron Cloke | 38 Ryan Jackson |
| Coach: | Denis Pagan |
| In: | Adam Bentick |
| Out: | Ross Young |
2007 NAB Pre-Season Cup Semi-Final
|
Carlton
|
1.0.4
|
13
|
1.3.7
|
34
|
1.7.9
|
60
|
1.13.13
|
100
|
|
Kangaroos
|
0.1.2
|
8
|
0.6.4
|
40
|
1.10.4
|
73
|
1.12.4
|
85
|
|
Venue: Gold Coast Stadium (Night) |
| Date: Sat 10 March, 2007 (Night) |
Result: Win by15 points |
| Umpires: R Chamberlain, S Grun, M Stevic, M Vozzo |
Crowd: 7,228 |
Goalkickers: NINE POINT: B Fevola 1
SIX POINT: B Fevola 7 M Murphy 2 E Betts 2 B Fisher N Stevens 1 |
| Reports: Nil |
Injuries: Nil |
Game Review
After an even one and a half quarters, the Kangaroos kicked 8 unanswered goals to take a 6 goal lead and seemed to have the game in control midway through the third quarter. But the Blues refused to give in and kicked the next 10 in a row to end up winning by 15 points and make their second Pre-season cup Grand Final in 3 years. The Roos were kept scoreless for all but the last minutes of the final quarter, such was the Blues domination.
Brendan Fevola kicked 8 goals including one supergoal- the third time that he had scored 8 goals in a pre-season game (the others were in
2004 against Sydney and the
2005 Night Grand Final against West Coast).
Eddie Betts and
Marc Murphy each kicked 2 classy goals.
Ryan Houlihan with 29 possessions and
Heath Scotland and
Nick Stevens with 28 were the major ball winners.
Setanta Ó hAilpín was again effective at full back, this time having the better of Nathan Thompson.
Team
| B: | 1 Andrew Walker | 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín | 32 Bret Thornton |
| HB: | 33 Ryan Houlihan | 30 Jarrad Waite | 2 Jordan Russell |
| C: | 4 Bryce Gibbs | 24 Nick Stevens | 6 Kade Simpson |
| HF: | 14 Brad Fisher | 23 Adam Hartlett | 3 Marc Murphy |
| F: | 19 Eddie Betts | 25 Brendan Fevola | 8 Lance Whitnall |
| Ruck: | 11 Cain Ackland | 29 Heath Scotland | 44 Andrew Carrazzo |
| Interchange: | 43 Anthony Koutoufides | 12 Matthew Lappin | 18 Paul Bower |
| 7 Adam Bentick | 28 Cameron Cloke | 38 Ryan Jackson |
| Coach: | Denis Pagan |
| In: | Paul Bower, Adam Hartlett |
| Out: | Jason Saddington, Josh Kennedy |
2007 NAB Pre-Season Cup Grand Final
|
Carlton
|
1.2.1
|
22
|
1.4.3
|
36
|
2.9.3
|
75
|
2.12.7
|
97
|
|
Brisbane
|
0.2.2
|
14
|
0.6.7
|
43
|
0.7.11
|
53
|
0.10.12
|
72
|
|
Venue: Telstra Dome, Docklands (Night) |
| Date: Sat 17 March, 2007 |
Result: Win by 25 points |
| Umpires: Stevic, Vozzo, Ryan, Jeffery. |
Crowd: 46, 094 |
Goalkickers: NINE POINT: B Fisher 1, A Carrazzo 1
SIX POINT: B Fevola 4, B Fisher 3, H Scotland, A Koutoufides, J Russell, N Stevens & L Whitnall 1 |
| Reports: Nil |
Injuries: Nil |
Game Review
There was little in the game early, the Blues a little more efficient and the Lions gave away a 9 pointer from a 50 m penalty, which saw the Blues 8 points up at the first change, despite having fewer possessions and inside 50's. The Lions appeared to then take control and were 14 points up just before half time. But the Blues kicked 7 unanswered goals to take control of the match. The Lions fought back, to get within 12 points but the Blues had the answers and went on to score a 25 point victory, their second Pre-season Premiership in 3 years.
Nick Stevens earned his second
Michael Tuck Medal for best afield in a pre-season grand final (the earlier one with his former club Port Adelaide in 2002) and fourth pre-season premiership (two each with Carlton and Port Adelaide) in a game high 26 possession performance.
Marc Murphy was also prominent with 22 and both players also had the most tackles- 6.
Setanta Ó hAilpín, with a little help from Carlton's promising new defensive unit (see below), was again able to shut down Lions' powerhouse Jonathan Brown. Up forward,
Brad Fisher and
Brendan Fevola each kicked 4 goals. Fevola has now scored 85 goals from his 22 'Night/preseason games' since his 12 goal debut against Collingwood in the
Millennium match on New Years Eve 1999- the most of any Carlton player.
2007 NAB Pre-Season Cup Premiership Team
The big question now was whether the Blues could continue that form into the season proper, rather than see a repeat of what happened after its
2005 Pre-Season Premiership.
Carlton achieved several 'firsts' during this 2007 Pre-Season campaign:
It was the first time that they had defeated either Hawthorn or Brisbane in a Pre-season match, won a Pre-Season game in Queensland and the first time that they had won consecutive Pre-Season matches interstate, which were also against sides that either played or were going to play some of their 'home' matches at the venues that these matches were played.
To put Carlton’s win in perspective they defeated sides that had finished in the 2006 season in 11th and 13th to 15th positions on the League Ladder.
During the 2007 Pre-Season all except one match was won by the side that finished lower on the League Ladder after the 2006 Season, the exception was the Geelong and Port Adelaide game in Darwin that had the scores level at full time and extra time was played where Port blow two changes to win this game in the tropical downpour.
For some images of this great evening, click here.
Links
Season 2007 |
Pre-Season or Night Series Games |
Nine Point Goals