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Venue: MCG | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: Sun 3 June 2007, 2:10pm | Result: Win by 10 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: Kennedy, Stevic, Woodcock | Crowd: 37,535 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: Lappin 5; Fisher, Waite 3; Murphy 2; Bannister, Bentick, Blackwell, Fevola, Ó hAilpín, Scotland, Walker, Whitnall | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: Nil | Injuries: Anderson (hamstring) | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
An amazing opening term of 7 goals each was the best opening quarter to both teams as the tone was set for the remainder of the match. Both forward lines were on fire with great delivery and teamwork as both teams set out to highlight their skills and firepower. What was even more amazing was that of the 14 opening quarter goals, only 1 player - the Bulldogs Champ Brad Johnson - was able to kick multiple goals, meaning that in one quarter of football (that happen to run 35 minutes or so), 13 individual goalscorers graced the score sheet. The Blues opened well with Murphy and Whitnall scoring the opening majors, before a stunning procession of goals that ended with us 2 points down at the opening break...that went a little like this... Murphy; Whitnall; Brad Johnson, Nathan Eagleton; Matthew Lappin, Shaun Higgins, Jason Akermanis, Brendan Fevola (in his only goal for the match); Luke Blackwell; Sam Power; Setanta; Matthew Robbins; Brad Johnson and then finally Andrew Walker who was switched off Johnson by that stage.
The second was a more subdued affair, but could have been better for the Blues with Kade Simpson not making the distance at 40 metres after a long run and Jarrad Waite kicking his second shot for goal Out of Bounds on the Full. The Blues seemed to lose their cohesion as the Dogs started to find additional space, ending the first half 15 points up.
Coach Denis Pagan may be famous for a few things but whether a spray came forth at the break or not, the Blues were incredible in the third. But unlike other games in recent memory where Fevola would lead us forward, it was our marking mobile half forwards that did the job this time. Matthew Lappin would kick 3 to give us a sniff, before an incredible run of goals to Jarrad Waite and Brad Fisher, plus a 5th to Lappin, would see us take the lead. Important players were Simon Wiggins up the field in a half-forward role, Jordan Bannister at half back, Andrew Walker on the wing with 12 touches for the quarter plus the indefatigable Andrew Carrazzo, Ryan Houlihan and Bret Thornton in his 100th game.
The last quarter saw the Bulldogs continue to come back, but importantly from recent games, the Blues continue to push harder. The Blues were mature with their use of the ball and continued to create opportunities, and when Murphy finally won a free and converted after being scragged all game, the Blues looked home. In the end, it was a 10 point win but it was a wonderful game to watch.
Andrew Carrazzo was fantastic all day picking up a career-high 37 disposals and 10 tackles, topping his own disposals record for the third time this year. Other top possession winners were Ryan Houlihan with 26, and both Waite and Walker with 25. Adam Bentick, whilst not high in the disposals chart, made another 9 tackles to become the #1 tackler in the league as at Round 10 (Carrazzo sat in 6th place). The icing on the cake was the Rising Star Nomination for Bryce Gibbs, who played with considerable composure at half back all game to win our first nomination for the year.
At this stage of the year, the 2 teams to have thrashed the Blues in the Eagles and the Cats looked the form teams and sat in the top 2 places on the ladder. Carlton were 14th with 3 wins after 10 games.
Team
| B: | 1 Andrew Walker | 32 Bret Thornton | 31 Jordan Bannister |
| HB: | 33 Ryan Houlihan | 9 Jason Saddington | 26 Joe Anderson |
| C: | 4 Bryce Gibbs | 7 Adam Bentick | 29 Heath Scotland |
| HF: | 14 Brad Fisher | 30 Jarrad Waite | 3 Marc Murphy |
| F: | 12 Matthew Lappin | 25 Brendan Fevola | 8 Lance Whitnall |
| Ruck: | 11 Cain Ackland | 44 Andrew Carrazzo | 6 Kade Simpson |
| Interchange: | 13 Luke Blackwell | 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín | 34 Simon Wiggins |
| 43 Anthony Koutoufides | |||
| Coach: | Denis Pagan | ||
| Emg: | 5 Josh Kennedy | 23 Adam Hartlett | 38 Ryan Jackson |
| In: | Simon Wiggins, Jordan Bannister | ||
| Out: | Adam Hartlett (omitted), Josh Kennedy (omitted) | ||
Milestones
100 Games: Bret ThorntonRising Star Nomination: Bryce Gibbs
Interesting fact: This was the first time since Round 13, 2001 that the big 4 traditional Victorian Clubs - Richmond, Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood - would each win Premiership Points in the same round.
Brownlow Votes
3. Andrew Carrazzo, Carlton2. Jarrad Waite, Carlton
1. Adam Cooney, Bulldogs
Best and Fairest Votes
Andrew Carrazzo 25, Jarrad Waite 18, Jordan Bannister 12, Matthew Lappin 10, Bryce Gibbs & Brad Fisher 5Round 9 | Round 11