Umpires: Schmitt, Jeffrey, McInerney

Goalkickers: Lappin 6, Murphy 3, Houlihan 2, Bradley, Wiggins, Hickmott, Freeborn, Camporeale, Beaumont 1

Injuries: Hickmott (Broken arm), Camporeale (hamstring), Hulme (knee), McKernan (groin)

Reports: Nil

Game Review

This match would have tragic consequences for the Blues and be a major turning point in a year that would ultimately see Carlton wooden spooners for the first time in its proud history.

The Blues, in their best game of the year to date, were dominating early, largely due to the hard running and precision kicking of Scott Camporeale, who accumulated 11 possessions in the first 22 minutes of the game, but then went down with a hamstring injury. Earlier, at the four-minute mark, Darren Hulme, crucial in setting the tone early with his fierce attack on the ball, collided with Kangaroo backman Mick Martyn, hobbling from the ground with a potentially damaged posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Later in the first quarter, Adrian Hickmott clashed with Roo Glenn Archer, leaving him with a fractured arm, to become the third Blue unable to take further part in the match. Early in the third term, ex-Roo Corey McKernan would also be forced from the field with an injured groin.

The Roos were now able to take control of the match in the absence of these players, but Matthew Lappin would almost single handedly keep Carlton competitive, with 6 wonderful crumbing goals in a best on ground performance. A spirited 6 goal to 4 third quarter would leave the Blues down by just 4 points at the last change. But the Blues ran out of legs and options in the final quarter, the Roos kicking 4 unanswered goals to take a commanding lead. The spirited, undermanned young Blues would still refuse to give in and were able to reduce the final margin to 19 points.

Team

Milestones

Debut (Carlton): Lindsay Smith
Interesting Fact: Other than the brillian Brendan Fevola, no Blue would match kicking 6 goals (or more) for Carlton for almost 8 years - until a young Jeff Garlett would kick 6 against the Bombers in Round 19, 2010.

Brownlow Votes

3: Matthew Lappin (CARL)
2: Matthew Burton (KAN)
1: Brent Harvey (KAN)