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Fevola is the difference in a scrappy wind-affected 20 point victory

Round 15, 2009

Carlton3.3219.8 6213.98716.13109
Richmond3.4226.6427.14 5612.1789
Venue: MCG
Date: Saturday, July 11th Result: Win by 20 points
Umpires: Dalgleish, Kennedy, McInerney Crowd: 50,784
Goalkickers: B. Fevola 9, B. Fisher, E. Betts, B. Gibbs, M. Murphy, G. Bentley, A. Carrazzo, M Kreuzer 1.
Reports: Nil Injuries: S. Hampson (shoulder & broken nose)
Ladder Position: Seventh














Game Review

Revisit Rounds 01 In stark contrast to their season opener back in March, the anticipation for the round 15 re-match between the Blues and Tigers was akin to a trip to the dentist. A gloomy and overcast Melbourne Winter sky hovered overhead on game day, rain had fallen during the morning and a strong breeze was swirling around the MCG making conditions extremely difficult in which to play.

The Blues made one forced change, with Adam Hartlett getting the nod for his first game of season 2009, replacing the suspended Mark Austin. A late change saw Joe Anderson come off the emergency list (also for his season opener) to cover for Setanta Ó hAilpín who had been withdrawn suffering from that old favourite “general soreness”.

After skipping out to an early lead in the opening minute, courtesy of a Brad Fisher major, the quarter deteriorated rapidly as a spectacle. The subsequent exchanges were largely based on turn-overs, mistakes and miskicks which had spectators from both sides groaning in displeasure. The breeze seemed to be favouring the Punt Road end, but the Tigers failed to make the most of any advantage taking a solitary point lead into the first break.

Carlton made a better fist of the breeze as midfielders Chris Judd, Andrew Carrazzo and Shaun Grigg started to get on top of their Richmond counterparts. Brendan Fevola went goalless in the first quarter, but responded well with four of the Blues’ six goals for the second term. One of Fevola’s goals, a boundary line snap that dribbled through, capped a beautiful snaking run from the elusive Jeffery Garlett and had the Carlton faithful out of their seats.

Extending their advantage to 31 points during the third quarter Carlton looked to be in control, but it was due largely to Richmond’s inaccuracy in front of goal with eight wasteful behinds and a single major. Though the lead wasn’t due to any great dominance from the Blues, they were reasonably efficient when they went forward, finishing with 4.1 for the quarter.

Brendan Fevola slotted another three goals for the term, one of which will be a definite contender for goal of the season. A shoulder-high bouncing ball from Kade Simpson was careering towards Fevola as he leaned back on opponent Luke McGuane attempting to retain front position in the goal square. At the crucial moment he extended his right boot skyward, hamstring at full-capacity, and toe-poked the ball backwards up and over his (and McGuane’s) head for a miraculous goal. Definitely worth a look if you get the chance.

After Fevola’s eighth early in the last, Richmond started their run and definitely had the Blues on the back foot for much of the quarter. Three unanswered goals reduced the margin to twenty points, before Matthew Kreuzer steadied for the Blues. Another two from the Tigers made the margin 15 points with enough time left, but Jack Riewoldt’s miss from a straight-forward position, ended any hope they had. Late in the quarter Eddie Betts handed Fevola his ninth (a career best) and easiest for the day which he casually lobbed into the top deck of the Southern Stand sealing the win at 20 points and allowing the Blues to retain seventh position on the ladder.

The average age of this Carlton team was 23 years and 46 days, with an average League experience of 67.4 games per player. Brendan Fevola was the oldest, at 28 years and 172 days, and the most experienced with 179 games. Jeffery Garlett was the youngest at 19 years and 342 days, playing in only his eighth senior game. This was only the second time for the season that Carlton's side had more experience and was generally older than our opposition.

With most of Carlton's long-term injured players expected to return to the Northern Bullants sides next week (except for Jarrod Waite) the Blues face a dilemma in that Jeff Garlett could now be forced to return to the Rookie list, and therefore be ineligible to play for the seniors. On his form so far in 2009, he would be a big loss.

Team


B: 40 Michael Jamison 23 Adam Hartlett 27 Dennis Armfield
HB: 9 Chris Johnson 32 Bret Thornton 45 Aaron Joseph
C: 4 Bryce Gibbs 5 Chris Judd (c) 3 Marc Murphy
HF: 2 Jordan Russell 22 Shaun Hampson 14 Brad Fisher
F: 33 Ryan Houlihan 25 Brendan Fevola 19 Eddie Betts
Ruck: 8 Matthew Kreuzer 44 Andrew Carrazzo 16 Shaun Grigg
Interchange: 6 Kade Simpson 26 Joe Anderson 38 Jeffery Garlett
47 Greg Bentley
Coach: Brett Ratten
Emg: 13 Chris Yarran, 17 Setanta Ó hAilpín, 28 Cameron Cloke

  • Joe Anderson replaced Setanta Ó hAilpín (general soreness) in the selected side

Milestones

First Goal (Carlton): Greg Bentley
Career Best: Brendan Fevola - 9 goals
Interesting Fact: With his 9 goals in the match, Fevola once again lifted his goals per game average above 3 after a few quiet weeks.

Brownlow Votes

3. Chris Judd, Carlton
2. Brendan Fevola, Carlton
1. Daniel Jackson, Richmond

Best and Fairest Votes

43 Brendan Fevola, 34 Jordan Russell, 26 Eddie Betts, 26 Matthew Kreuzer, 18 Chris Judd, 8 Shaun Hampson, 4 Andrew Carrazzo, 3 Bret Thornton

Mike and Dan

Almost-Play-of-the-Week....

You'd be excused for thinking that the highlights reel on a cold and blustery day was all about Brendan Fevola. On our list of highlights, he was 1,2 and 3 - but in the wash-up from the game we perhaps unfairly considered Fev at his brilliant best as expected. After all, Betts, Judd and Fevola would win Play of the Week most weeks so we should just talk to one of them on a three-weekly basis! But there was another highlight we were talking about, and from one of our most hard-working but inspiring youngsters. Matthew Kreuzer's last quarter snap was pivotal to the game, and a joy to watch. We decided to catch up with KRRROOOOOOOOZZZZEEEE during training this week and hand him the

Almost-Play-of-the-Week....:

Matthew, sorry for this - you didn't actually win Play of the Week, that went to Fev, but we figured he was getting enough glory for those goals we'd go to the next best option. And that's you!

Thanks guys.

That was a ripper goal in the last - how much of the game do you think you were thrown forward for?

Yeah thanks, I was up there a little bit. Obviously swapping with Hampo in the ruck. He had to go off with a couple of times on the weekend with the blood rule and a couple of injury worries, he was fine, but it might have meant that I spent a little bit more time in the ruck.

Could you see yourself playing permanently forward one day, or is your main interest and expertise in rucking?

I don't think permanently, I love playing in the ruck also. Most teams play with the two ruckman, so it's more important than ever before to be versatile.

Much has been made of our potential "three-some" of rucks when Robbie Warnock is fit. How do you think having Hampson, Warnock and yourself in the one team might work, and what role might you play on the field?

It's very exciting for the club, throw Sammy Jacobs into the mix and there will be huge competition for spots. We are all very close and work with Matthew Capuano who has really helped me a lot. I suppose we will have to see what the coaching staff come up with. Robbie is not too far away, he probably play for the Bullants next week. I think it's a good problem to have.

You've largely held down the first ruck this year - how hard is that for a second year player? Have you been playing sore?

Early on in the year we had Big Sauce in the team also, after he got injured its fallen to Hampo and I. We are both young and still developing and learning as players. You come up against some big tough opponents in the ruck its been a steep learning curve for us.

I'm pretty sure most players who take the field are sore at some stages throughout the season, that's the way it is, we are fortunate enough to have a really good conditioning unit at the club, we get looked after pretty well.

As part of that role, you've had to take on the monsters of the competition. Who has been your hardest opponent?

There is a variation of ruckman this season with Ryder and Clark being talked about, but I think its still hard to topple big Sandilands.

You've taken on Sandilands twice this year - do you think you & Hammer learned much from the first time and applied it in the second match?

I think so, but I believe you could make that argument about most players we come up against. He certainly is a massive unit, and his is different to the type of ruckman you come up against most weeks.

How do you and Hampson go in ruck duals at training - he has a pretty good leap on him. Who wins?

He has a massive leap and is really quick. We have a good go at it, I think its pretty close.

Last year you kicked something like 13 goals 1; this year its about 7 goals 7. What's up? Chewy on your boot?

Haha, I haven't really changed anything, hopefully it will turn around for me.

You do know when the crowd yells out Kroooooozee that we're not booing you, don't you?

Yes, I'm aware of that! I appreciate it!

Do you keep in touch with Cotchin and your other mates from the Under 18's?

Yeah a bit, you obviously grow up with those guys and although footy takes up a lot of our time I still like to catch up with them. We try not to talk that much footy.

We've had some fairly inexperienced players come into the side this year such as Mitch Robinson, Mark Austin, Aaron Joseph, and Jeff Garlett. Of these players, who has most impressed you and why?

I don't think you can go past AJ (Joseph) - he has done some vital roles for us this year. He has worked really hard, it's a credit to him to come off the rookie list, I don't think he has missed a match this year.

Back to some of your opponents - Jolly was close to BOG last time we played the Swans. How are you going to approach him this week?

Yeah he got hold of us on the SCG, we have gone back over the tape, hopefully it we will get on top of him this time.

Matty Kreuzer is a joy to watch - second and third efforts as standard, good skills, great pace, good ruckman, great endeavour - he is a ripper and a worthy winner of the Play of the Week



Round 14 | Round 16
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