Umpires: G.James & C.Mitchell

Goalkickers: W.Ralph 2, P.Meldrum 2, J.Madden 2, W.Blackwell 1, A.Marcou 1, P.Dean 1.

Best: F.Murphy, W.Jones, R.Ashman, D.English, P.McConville, P.Meldrum

Reports: Nil

Injuries: W.Ralph replaced K.Hunter (shin soreness) & V.Perovic replaced G.Southby (back injury) in selected side.

Game Review

In the eyes of many pundits, Fitzroy were a better team than their lowly tenth place on the ladder indicated. That opinion was confirmed on this miserably cold and wet day at 'Arctic Park' when the Lions beat Carlton by 5 points.

Although the Blues were severely weakened by injury - captain Wayne Johnston and vice captain Ken Hunter were both missing - we couldn't subdue a grimly determined Fitzroy team that led at every change. It must be said however, that if we had managed to kick for goal with even modest accuaracy in the last quarter, the result surely would have been different. We had six shots for six behinds, while Fitzroy kicked 1.2 from their three attempts (the Blues actually kicked 1.11 after half-time, this was in direct contrast when two rounds ago the Blues registered 14 straight goals without registering a behind!!!).

In other matches, Hawthorn beat Essendon in the Match of the Season at Princes Park to go four points clear on top of the ladder. Carlton still clung to third, but by percentage only from Collingwood and Richmond.

Carlton's having a little trouble at VFL Park lately. The Blues have lost their last two matches there by less than a goal. Before that, they had a good win over North Melbourne in round one but, since then, have been unable to crack it. Those extra eight points from the two losses would have put Carlton right up there with the Hawks and Bombers, but they still have one more match to play at the Park. That will be against Collingwood, one of the sides that beat the Blues there earlier this year when Warren Ralph missed with the last kick of the day. - Ted Whitten Inside Football.

In a real "cliff hanger" at VFL Park, the Lions kicked the only goal scored in the last quarter to tip-out the Blues by five points. Fitzroy deserved its win as it generally outplayed Carlton for most of the day and led at each quarter break. - Football Record.

Carlton was at it again - it lead 9.2 to 8.7 just after half time - but the ending was the antithesis of what happened in previous weeks, eleven straight behinds. Fitzroy kicked 2.5 to 1.11 after half time. - Football Record.

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