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| Venue: | MCG | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Thursday 16th June, 2022 (7.25 pm). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Lost by 15 points. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 50,741. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | H. McKay 4.2, C. Curnow 1.2, G. Hewett 1.1, L. O'Brien 1.1, C. Durdin 1.0, J. Martin 1.0, J. Newnes 0.2, T. De Koning 0.1, Z. Fisher 0.1, S. Walsh 0.1, Rushed 0.1. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Lachie Plowman was charged with Wrestling Tom Lynch during the third quarter, he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea. Tom Lynch, Richmond was charged with Wrestling Lachie Plowman during the third quarter - he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea. |
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| Umpires: | Robert Findlay, Brendan Hosking, Nathan Williamson. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | A. Saad (eye), S. Durdin (knee), J. Martin (lower leg). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 5th. | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Tiger train storms into the top eight after downing Blues
Richmond has defeated Carlton by 15 points - By Nick D'Urbano.They were tested and made to work for it, but the Tigers ultimately reigned supreme against their old rivals, seeing off Carlton by 15 points in a physical, hot-tempered affair at the MCG on Thursday night. Just like it has for the best part of six seasons, Richmond took to the wet Melbourne conditions like a fish to water, but had to see off a spirited fight-back from the Blues who pushed the Tigers to the limit in a frantic final-term. Unlike the last meeting where the Blues were able to wrestle back the ascendancy with an incredible last-quarter comeback in round one, Richmond steadied and took its chances when it mattered to secure the 11.15 (81) to 9.12 (66) victory and book its place back inside the top eight. Richmond built a lead as large as 27 points early in the last quarter thanks to goals from Shai Bolton and Jack Riewoldt, but a hat-trick of goals from Harry McKay got the Blues back to single digits with just over ten minutes remaining.
Jack Newnes thought he had the margin back within three points but his snap, after review, was deemed to have been touched before Shane Edwards went back up the other way and kicked a much-needed goal which ultimately proved to be the sealer. Dion Prestia, who got injured in the last meeting between the two sides, was instrumental in midfield (33 disposals, 13 clearances), while Tom Lynch booted three goals in his first game back from injury and Dylan Grimes was superb at the other-end keeping Coleman Medal leader Charlie Curnow to a single goal. From the word go, Richmond looked to exert its will on the contest, as its all-systems go brand held up perfectly in the wet. The Tigers tackled, harassed and moved the ball forward with speed - which created havoc in the Blues’ depleted back-half and allowed Richmond to kick the first six - showcasing no signs of a potential drop-off without the services of star Dustin Martin.
However, Carlton wasn't going to go down without a fight, as it started to not only take its chances in-front of goal but levelled the battle at the coal-face, as the likes of Sam Walsh (34 disposals, seven inside 50s) along with Sam Docherty (31 disposals, 11 marks) and Patrick Cripps (34 disposals) in his 150th game led the charge. In the end, the Tigers’ fast-start, coupled with their poise under pressure was enough to get the job done, with the four points taking Damien Hardwick’s side to eighth place on the ladder, while the Blues miss the chance to go equal-first on the ladder and could fall as low as seventh by the end of the round. The win did come at a cost with Noah Balta subbed out with a hamstring injury while Carlton lost Jack Martin (lower leg) and club debutant Sam Durdin (knee), further compounding the Blues’ injury crisis.
Baptism of fire
637 days. That’s how long it had been since Sam Durdin had last laced up the boots at AFL level. The ex-North Melbourne key defender, who has been at the Blues for a little over a fortnight, had to quite simply sink or swim in his first appearance for not only Carlton, but on the MCG, as he was thrown in the deep end against Richmond’s formidable key-forward duo due to Michael Voss’ side’s deepening defensive injury crisis. Durdin was given the tall task of going up against Jack Riewoldt and battled well, keeping him to two goals, but unfortunately his evening ended early after he went off in the final term with a knee injury - creating further headaches for Voss going into crunch games against fellow finals fancies Fremantle and St Kilda.
Tigers cool Charlie
Statistically, no team has been able to stifle Charlie Curnow’s impact better than Richmond this season. Heading into the game as the leader in the Coleman Medal race, Curnow hadn’t gone goalless since the opening round against the Tigers and again, the Blues key forward had the going tough as Dylan Grimes put on a defensive masterclass. Grimes battled manfully from the onset, not allowing the powerful forward to exert his will on the contest and was able to keep him to one goal for the night. The Tigers veteran wasn’t the only defender to impress as Nathan Broad stood out playing loose while Nick Vlaustin continued his solid season with another 24 disposal outing.
Sight for a sore eye
It’s fair to say, Adam Saad had a far from ideal start to the game. The Blues defender was in the hands of trainers within minutes of the first-bounce, after he copped an innocuous thumb to the eye from Tom Lynch, which in the same play led to Marlion Pickett booting the opening goal. Saad came from the ground immediately after and received treatment for his eye, but thankfully for Carlton, he was able to see out the game albeit with major swelling. In the end, the former Bomber ended up with 25 disposals along with a whopping 15 intercepts.
Best: S. Walsh, P. Cripps, S. Docherty, H. McKay, A. Saad, G. Hewett.
Carlton falls short in Thursday night clash
Carlton couldn't get the job done against Richmond in wet conditions at the 'G. - By Rose Zarucky and Cristian Filippo.In a slog of a contest, Carlton was unable to get the better of Richmond at a wet MCG on Thursday night, falling by 15 points. Richmond led the entire game, with Carlton unable to score a goal until midway through the second quarter. Harry McKay slotted four goals for the Blues, while Sam Walsh and 150-gamer Patrick Cripps gathered 34 and 33 disposals respectively in a contested game under lights.
Quarter one
It was a tough opening term for the Blues, as they were unable to slot a goal as the rain tumbled down at the MCG. Richmond kicked off the game with the first goal, as Carlton's players struggled to get the ball in their hands. Eventually, the Blues ended up having the better of the inside 50s, but had nothing to show for it as their inaccurate kicking left them with four behinds. Sam Walsh had plenty of the ball (11 disposals) and was the main man for propelling the Blues into attack (three inside 50s), while Lochie O’Brien demonstrated some accurate kicking downfield. Club debutant Sam Durdin - in his first game at MCG - produced some impressive moments behind the ball, but a goalless Carlton entered the first change 16 points in arrears.
Quarter two
The first half of the term was very much like the first quarter, with the ball in Richmond’s attacking territory. The Tigers slotted the first three goals of the term to make it six unanswered for the game, spending the majority of the first 10 minutes inside forward 50 on the back of their clearance game (24-14 at half time). It was George Hewett that provided the goal to put the Blues on the board, coming at the 16-minute mark of the term. It was backed up quickly by an O’Brien goal from outside 50, before Harry McKay got the Blues right back in the contest. However, a goal in the dying seconds from Tom Lynch on the counter attack meant the Blues trailed by 25 points at the main break.
Quarter three
The rain resumed over the half time break, resulting in a slippery opening to the second half. In only his sixth game of AFL football, Jordan Boyd was one who saw the Blues get right back into the contest, intercepting the ball well while typically demonstrating his classy ball use around the ground, leading to two goals for the term. Goals from Charlie Curnow, Corey Durdin and Jack Martin - plus the Blues' ability to quell the Tigers' scoreboard impact despite bulk inside 50's - meant the Blues entered the final change just 14 points in arrears.
Quarter four
After Richmond kicked out to a 27-point lead, alarm bells started ringing for Carlton, and it was Harry McKay who took the game by the scruff of the neck. Three consecutive goals to the reigning Coleman Medallist had the Blues within single digits for the first time since the opening term, but a Jack Newnes major was called back upon a score review which would've otherwise brought Carlton within a kick. From there, Richmond was able to settle, kicking out to a 15-point lead which would ultimately be the decisive margin. Sam Docherty continued to provide leadership and composure across half back, while Adam Saad fought until the final siren in another impressive individual performance. The Blues were without Jack Martin (lower leg) in the closing stages, subbed out for Lachie Fogarty.
Three things we learned:
1. Sam Durdin's first night at the MCG is certainly one which the new Blue won't ever forget. While it wasn't the result the former Glenelg defender would've wished for, he held his own against Richmond's Jack Riewoldt, contributing seven intercepts and nine one percenters on a night where he didn't look out of his depth after being landed at IKON Park just a fortnight ago.
2. Thursday night's game comfortably brought about the best game in the career of another Carlton mid-season recruit. Jordan Boyd - who was selected as a rookie in the 2021 incarnation of the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft - produced the best sign yet that he belongs at the level, consistently winning the ball back for his side and using it well despite tricky conditions. He ended the night at 75 per cent efficiency and 11 intercept possessions: second for the night behind Adam Saad.
3. There's plenty of fight in these Blues. Despite falling behind quite heavily on the scoreboard in the early going, the Blues never allowed themselves to believe they were out of the contest, drawing within single digits at one stage in the final term. While the start to the contest will be heavily analysed at IKON Park in the midst of a nine-day break, their capacity to scrap their way back into the contest should be cause for heart.
Best: A. Saad, H. McKay, S. Docherty, P. Cripps, J. Boyd, S. Walsh.
Team
| B: | 33 Lewis Young | 38 Sam Durdin | 24 Nic Newman |
| HB: | 42 Adam Saad | 15 Sam Docherty | 37 Jordan Boyd |
| C: | 46 Matt Cottrell | 9 Patrick Cripps (c) | 32 Jack Newnes |
| HF : | 19 Corey Durdin | 30 Charlie Curnow | 44 Matthew Owies |
| F: | 25 Zac Fisher | 10 Harry McKay | 1 Jack Silvagni |
| Ruck: | 12 Tom De Koning | 18 Sam Walsh | 29 George Hewett |
| Interchange: | 4 Lochie O'Brien | 7 Matthew Kennedy | 20 Lachie Plowman |
| 21 Jack Martin | |||
| Medical Substitute: | 8 Lachie Fogarty | ||
| Coach: | Michael Voss | ||
| Emergencies: | 2 Paddy Dow | 17 Brodie Kemp | 43 Will Setterfield |
Medi-sub; Lachie Fogarty replaced Jack Martin in the last quarter.
In: Sam Durdin, Lachie Fogarty
Out: Adam Cerra (hamstring), Caleb Marchbank (knee)
Milestones
150 Games: Patrick CrippsDebut (Carlton): Sam Durdin
AFLCA Votes
10 - Dion Prestia (RICH)6 - Adam Saad (CARL)
4 - Jayden Short (RICH)
3 - Liam Baker (RICH)
3 - Jack Graham (RICH)
2 - Dylan Grimes (RICH)
1 - Sam Docherty (CARL)
1 - Nick Vlastuin (RICH)
Brownlow Votes
Best and Fairest Votes
Video
Round 13 | Round 15