Carlton vs St Kilda Practice Match
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| Venue: Ikon Park, Carlton. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Date: Wednesday 23rd February, 2022 (10.00 am). | |||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Won by 7 points. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: TBA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: A. Cerra 2, M. Owies 2, J. Silvagni 2, C. Durdin, B. Kemp, M. Kennedy 1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: Nil | |||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: TBA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: TBA | |||||||||||||||||||
The Carlton Squad.
Jordan Boyd, Adam Cerra, Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow, Paddy Dow, Corey Durdin, Zac Fisher, Lachlan Fogarty, George Hewett, Brodie Kemp, Matthew Kennedy, Oscar McDonald, Mitch McGovern, Alex Mirkov, Nic Newman, Jack Newnes, Lochie O’Brien, Matthew Owies, Sam Philp, Marc Pittonet, Adam Saad, Will Setterfield, Jack Silvagni, Jacob Weitering, Zac Williams, Tom Williamson.
Blues prevail in see-sawing contest
Carlton emerged with a seven-point win in its practice match with St Kilda. By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media
Carlton has registered a victory in its first pre-season game under AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss. Bursting out of the blocks with a high-energy first quarter, the Blues were pegged back and had to do it the hard way against a dogged St Kilda outfit, emerging with a seven-point victory. Patrick Cripps led from the front in the win, while Matthew Owies and Jack Silvagni's forward pressure was evident in the 9.13 (67) to 8.12 (60) victory.
Q1:
Cerra, Cripps and Hewett was the starting combination at the centre bounce, and it was the latter pair that got the ball moving for the opener. A Zac Williams inside 50 was met with outstanding forward pressure from Jack Silvagni, who kicked Carlton’s first - and then second - of the morning. It was that pressure which was the standout for the Blues early, with Matthew Owies and Corey Durdin buzzing around and recording a goal apiece. Marc Pittonet got the Blues going at the source, while the two Zacs - Fisher and Williams - were prolific in giving the Blues valuable forward territory.
Q2:
It was a costly second quarter on the scoreboard for Carlton, who couldn’t convert on their forays forward as St Kilda well and truly worked its way back into the contest. The Blues could only muster five behinds going forward, with Kennedy and Durdin missing chances to add to their first-quarter majors. Adam Saad typically excited the Legends Stand crowd with his ability to get between the ball and man never more evident with a courageous back-with-the-flight spoil.
Q3:
Once again kicking to the Legends Stand (which was very much the scoring end on Thursday), the Blues were back amongst the goals in a hurry. And there wasn’t a more popular goalkicker than Adam Cerra, who nailed his first from a set shot on his right foot before converting on the run with his left. After assisting Cerra’s first, Kemp - who spent his game up forward - got on the scoreboard when Saad turned provider. Alex Mirkov was activated into the game at the beginning of the term, taking on ruck duties from the impressive Marc Pittonet.
Q4:
Coaches often say that the best kind of practice matches are the ones which allow preparation for a tense situation on the scoreboard, and that’s exactly what happened at IKON Park. With the Saints pressing, drawing within a point in the final 10 minutes, the Blues managed to settle and close out the game to emerge with a seven-point victory. Oscar McDonald, Mitch McGovern and Jacob Weitering had bright moments deep in defence when the Saints were pressing, while a holding-the-ball tackle and 50-metre penalty for Matthew Owies ensured Carlton would end the contest with a victory.
Three things we learned:
1. It was no surprise who Carlton turned to at the centre bounce from the outset. Joining captain Patrick Cripps were recruits Adam Cerra and George Hewett, with all three enjoying positive moments. Cripps was prolific over the course of the game, while Hewett set the tone early at the contest. Cerra then got in on the act with a pair of third-quarter goals.
2. The Blues have spoken all pre-season about how critical the pressure game would be for them this year, and the opening quarter in particular was testament to that. Carlton suffocated St Kilda for space inside the Blues’ attacking half, reaping the rewards with two goals coming directly from rundown tackles — the first from Jack Silvagni, and then from Matthew Owies 10 minutes later.
3. It’s still only February, but the Blues will know the need to capitalise on their chances forward of centre. Without Coleman Medallist Harry McKay, the Blues still didn’t look short of avenues to goal, but they allowed St Kilda back into the game at critical times with costly misses in front of the big sticks. That was never more evident than the third term, when the Blues could only muster 0.5 as the Saints got back into the contest.
Milestones:
First Goal: Brodie KempDebut: Jordan Boyd, Alex Mirkov
Debut (Carlton): Adam Cerra, George Hewett.
Debut (Carlton Coach): Michael Voss
Carlton vs Melbourne - AAMI Community Series.
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| Venue: Marvel Stadium, Docklands. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Date: Thursday 3rd March, 2022 (7.10 pm). | |||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Won by 5 points. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: TBA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: P. Cripps 4, C. Durdin 2, Z. Fisher 2, M. Kennedy 2, C. Curnow, H. McKay, L. O'Brien, M. Owies, L. Parks 1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: Nil. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: TBA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: C. Durdin (calf). | |||||||||||||||||||
Blues hold on against reigning premiers
Carlton has recorded a five-point win in a captivating end to its pre-season - Rose Zarucky, Carlton Media.
Carlton has held on to record a five-point win over Melbourne in its final practice match before the 2022 home-and-away season. Leading all night, the Blues burst out of the blocks with an impressive first half, jumping out to a seven-goal lead on the back of some midfield dominance led by Matthew Kennedy (37 disposals, two goals) and captain Patrick Cripps (31 disposals, four goals). There were some nervy moments among Bluebaggers who returned to Marvel Stadium, when the reigning premiers drew within a kick with minutes to go. However, the Blues were able to hold on for a second close victory in their pre-season schedule.
Quarter one
It was a good first quarter for the Blues, kicking five goals in the opening term. Carlton’s movement in offence was efficient, but their forward 50 entries saw them miss a few early opportunities while Melbourne kicked two early goals. It was the Blues’ quarter after that, as Patrick Cripps and George Hewett (12 disposals) got on top of the Dees midfield, with the duo topping the clearances for the quarter. Adam Saad showcased his flair across half back while Corey Durdin was busy buzzing at ground level in front of goal, kicking two in the quarter. Oscar McDonald and Nic Newman held their own down back while Matt Kennedy did well to get involved in the ball movement from end to end, slotting his own goal in the process.
Quarter two
The quarter started similarly to how the previous ended, with Carlton firing into its forward line. Cripps kicked the first of the quarter, followed by Harry McKay from a 50-metre penalty. The Blues did well to lock the ball in their forward half, with the Dees struggling to get the ball past the centre square with the Blues taking the ascendancy in the middle. Mitch McGovern and Newman led the intercept game, while Matt Owies used his class to slot the Blues’ third for the quarter. Melbourne found some scoreboard pressure through Bayley Fritsch, but an over-the-head snap from Cripps proved an impressive response. Ed Curnow kicked a handy goal after classy ground-ball teamwork from the smalls in Owies and Durdin. The game to half time was determined by the clearances, with the Blues almost doubling the clearances of the Dees and well ahead in uncontested possessions: a credit to their ability to maintain possession of the football.
Quarter three
Fritsch opened the quarter with his third for the game, but Cripps responded with a third goal of his own. The duo of Cripps and Hewett were firing out of the centre, accompanied by Kennedy as a formidable centre-square unit. Luke Parks was subbed in after half time and immediately made an impact, kicking a goal from outside 50 in a makeshift forward role. He was one of four changes for the Blues at the main break, joining Matthew Cottrell, Lachie Plowman and Tom Williamson for Ed Curnow, Corey Durdin, Harry McKay and Jack Silvagni. McGovern continued his impressive intercept game, consistently taking strong grabs in his new defensive role. Max Gawn started to make his presence known across the ground as Melbourne continued to ramp up its pressure. Kicking four consecutive goals gave the reigning premiers some confidence, but a fourth goal from Cripps after the siren widened the margin at the perfect time from a Navy Blue point of view.
Quarter four
Fritsch kicking two goals wasn’t the way Carlton wanted to start the final term, putting Melbourne within reach of a winning result. The Dees were able to keep the territory, but a quick passage from the Blues led to Zac Fisher running into an open goal. Melbourne controlled the ball, but Carlton’s backline did well to minimise the damage on the scoreboard. Tom De Koning showcased his aerial ability and his run, matching a third-quarter hanger with a fourth-quarter chasedown which the coaching staff would've loved. There was a lot of play taking place in Melbourne’s forward line late in the quarter, making the most of their opportunities in front of goal, but the Blues managed to hang on and take home a five-point victory with some key players out of the game in the final term.
Three things from the game
1. Nic Newman did well to lead the backline in the absence of Jacob Weitering. Totalling 27 disposals and 12 intercepts, Newman was able to clear the ball quickly and set up his teammates effectively. He was ably supported by Mitch McGovern and Oscar McDonald, who completed their impressive pre-season campaigns with strong defensive showings in the air.
2. Cripps, Hewett, Kennedy and Cerra: Carlton’s midfield had plenty of grunt despite the absence of Sam Walsh. Combining for 130 disposals and 30 clearances, a highlight of the Blues’ game on Thursday night was the work of the midfield bulls on the inside of the contest. Led by the captain's four goals, they were ball magnets when it came to the contested ball.
3. There were no shortage of goalkickers tonight for Carlton, and they weren’t all from likely sources. Harry McKay kicked one goal in his half of game time, with Cripps, Durdin, Fisher and Kennedy all managing multiples of their own. The most surprising of all was Luke Parks, who kicked his first unofficial goal in the Navy Blue as a makeshift forward after being subbed on: he was one of nine individual goalkickers come the end of the night.
Bolt from the Blues: Skipper's stunner, recruits shine, Dees flat early
Carlton has opened the AAMI Community Series with a stunning win over Melbourne - By Riley Beveridge.
If this was a glimpse into life under Michael Voss, Blues fans will be queuing to sign up. Just a fortnight out from round one, Voss' new-look and vastly improved Carlton side outshone reigning premiers Melbourne in a satisfying five-point AAMI Community Series victory at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. Led by a reinvigorated midfield group bolstered by an injection of talent in the form of George Hewett (32 disposals, seven clearances) and Adam Cerra (30 disposals, four tackles), the Blues withstood a nervous finish to secure a 15.8 (98) to 14.9 (93) win. Patrick Cripps was sensational, kicking four goals to go with 31 disposals, 10 clearances and eight tackles, while Matthew Kennedy (37 disposals, nine clearances, two goals) was also impressive to help the Blues overcome a Demons team packed with premiership stars.
Melbourne had experimented with some minor positional changes, as Kysaiah Pickett and Alex Neal-Bullen spent periods in the midfield and with Angus Brayshaw shifted into a more defensive role across half-back. But it was still the ever-reliable stars who did the bulk of the damage. Clayton Oliver (28 disposals, seven clearances) and Christian Petracca (27 disposals) were the standouts, while Bayley Fritsch kicked five goals in attack. Carlton stole most of the headlines, though, piling on seven straight goals in the game's early stages to march into a commanding 41-point lead by half-time, before tiring late after playing the entire second half a man down due a calf injury to Corey Durdin. By that stage the Blues had already withdrawn Harry McKay (returning from a foot injury) and Ed Curnow (returning from a calf problem), while Jack Silvagni had also left the game at the main break. Carlton had Mitch McGovern (19 disposals, six marks) to thank for hanging on to its advantage in the dying stages, with the swingman producing a commanding second-half performance in his new defensive role to help keep the Blues' lead intact.
New faces
Carlton's defensive recruit Lewis Young (15 disposals) was solid in his first competitive match in Carlton colours, while Adam Cerra and George Hewett dominated through the midfield. Jordan Boyd (nine disposals) has emerged as a round one bolter and looked comfortable across half-back. Melbourne's team didn't feature any players chasing their first AFL appearance for the Demons.
Round one chances
Former top-10 pick Lochie O'Brien (22 disposals, one goal) continues to put his hand up for a spot in Carlton's round one team, while second-year youngster Corey Durdin (two goals) looked assured of the small forward spot before sustaining a worrying calf injury early in the third term. Oscar McDonald (21 disposals, four marks) was again impressive and will likely partner Jacob Weitering in the backline for the season-opener. Melbourne has a spot across half-back open following a knee injury to Trent Rivers, with Oskar Baker doing a couple of nice things playing a similar position in the first half. Jayden Hunt (13 disposals) would have to be ahead in the race to regain that spot, though.
Medical room
Carlton lost small forward Corey Durdin to a calf complaint early in the third quarter, leading to Lachie Plowman – who had already played a full VFL practice match earlier in the day – being called up as a last-minute replacement. By that stage, the Blues had already withdrawn Harry McKay, Jack Silvagni and Ed Curnow at half-time. The club expects key duo Charlie Curnow (knee) and Jacob Weitering (rested) to be fit for round one, but the blockbuster season-opener will come too soon for Sam Walsh (syndesmosis). Sam Docherty played a full VFL practice match earlier on Thursday as he continues his recovery from a secondary reoccurrence of testicular cancer, but remains unlikely to play round one.
Best: M. Kennedy, P. Cripps, G. Hewett, M. McGovern, N. Newman, Z. Fisher, A. Cerra, L. O' Brien.
Team
| B: | 33 Lewis Young | 39 Oscar McDonald | 6 Zac Williams |
| HB: | 24 Nic Newman | 11 Mitch McGovern | 42 Adam Saad |
| C: | 43 Will Setterfield | 9 Patrick Cripps (c) | 4 Lochie O'Brien |
| HF: | 44 Matt Owies | 1 Jack Silvagni | 25 Zac Fisher |
| F: | 19 Corey Durdin | 10 Harry McKay | 12 Tom De Koning |
| Ruck: | 27 Marc Pittonet | 29 George Hewett | 5 Adam Cerra |
| Interchange: | 37 Jordan Boyd | 7 Matthew Kennedy | 35 Ed Curnow |
| 21 Jack Martin | 31 Tom Williamson | 26 Luke Parks | |
| 46 Matthew Cottrell | 20 Lachie Plowman | ||
| Coach: | Michael Voss | ||
| Emergencies: | 8 Lachie Fogarty | 32 Jack Newnes | 2 Paddy Dow |
| 45 Alex Mirkov |
Milestones:
First Goal: Luke ParksDebut (Carlton): Lewis Young
Notable absentees; Charlie Curnow, Jacob Weitering, Sam Walsh and Sam Docherty.