|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Venue: | MCG | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Sunday April 9, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Won by 15 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 48,022 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | M. Murphy 2, P. Cripps, M. Kreuzer, S.Petrevski-Seton, E. Curnow & S. Kerridge 1. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | L. Fisher, S. Jeffery, T. Pannell | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | Weitering (head), White (back) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | |||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
The Blues defeated Essendon by 15 points at the MCG, to finally open their account for the year in this dogged and strong victory in the wet.At selection the Blues picked Tom Williamson for his debut, another promising product from the 2016 National Draft, replacing Dennis Armfield who was omitted. Pre-game WIlliamson was joined by ex-Docker and Giant Rhys Palmer as another debut, albeit a Carlton one. To set the scene the weather was appalling with Melbourne experiencing it's first real taste of winter, and didn't it pour!
A tight opening term and lead to the Bombers belied the game's intensity and Carlton's efforts. The Bombers would kick 3 goals for the term and were efficient upfront, but the Blues squandered opportunities other than Cripps from 10 metres out. However our midfield was performing well and the young and new defence were holding up against Essendon's tall and effective tall timber.
Come the second term and the wet really began to take hold. Carlton seemed comfortable with the short pass and the smash forward whilst Essendon tried to run in waves through the middle. The Blues would take a very slender lead in to the second half, and extend that in the third marginally. The pattern was clear - the Blues would eke out a goal after minutes of relentless pressure - including brilliant goals to Marc Murphy, before the Bombers would strike back immediately.
The last only saw two goals - one to the Blues early on from a snap to Ed Curnow and one right at the end from a converted free to Sam Kerridge. In between was 20 minutes of gripping contested wet weather ball where the Blues held their heads up high. They continually knocked the ball on, tried rugby 'box kicks' and tackled their hearts out (over 110 for the game). When the siren sounded there was jubilation and perhaps relief in the young Blues players. 7 Blues would earn their first ever win at this level or in Navy Blue!
Team
| B: | 15 Sam Docherty | 22 Caleb Marchbank | 17 Sam Rowe |
| HB: | 20 Lachie Plowman | 43 Simon White | 31 Tom Williamson |
| C: | 6 Kade Simpson (vc) | 4 Bryce Gibbs | 35 Ed Curnow |
| HF: | 1 Jack Silvagni | 23 Jacob Weitering | 11 Sam Kerridge |
| F: | 5 Sam Petrevski-Seton | 41 Levi Casboult | 46 Matthew Wright |
| Ruck: | 8 Matthew Kreuzer | 9 Patrick Cripps | 3 Marc Murphy (c) |
| Interchange: | 24 Rhys Palmer | 26 Harrison Macreadie | 33 Jarrod Pickett |
| 39 Dale Thomas | |||
| Coach: | Brendon Bolton | ||
| Emg: | 10 Harry McKay, 16 Billie Smedts, 30 Charlie Curnow | ||
-* Rhys Palmer replaced Charlie Curnow in the selected side
Blue-Out Guernsey
Carlton wore an almost total navy blue guernsey dedicated to the suburb of Carlton.Milestones & Facts
Debut: Tom WilliamsonDebut and Only Game (Carlton): Rhys Palmer
Interesting Fact - first wins (7 Blues): Tom Williamson, Rhys Palmer, Jack Silvagni, Caleb Marchbank, Harrison Macreadie, Sam Petrevski-Seton & Jarrod Pickett
Interesting Fact (TBD): This could be the first game Carlton has played with a 'Rising Star' winner in the team being Rhys Palmer
Brownlow Votes
3. Bryce Gibbs (CAR)2. Marc Murphy (CAR)
1. Sam Rowe (CAR) - Rowe's first Brownlow Vote
Best & Fairest Votes (5 votes+)
Marc Murphy 13, Bryce Gibbs 10, Sam Docherty 9, Lachie Plowman 9, Sam Rowe 9, Matthew Kreuzer 8, Sam Petrevski-Seton 7, Levi Casboult 5, Patrick Cripps 5, Ed Curnow 5Round 2 | Round 4