Game Review

Carlton went into this game at the longest odds ever quoted for an AFL game by the bookmakers ($11), with the seemingly impossible task of taking on the top of the ladder Eagles at their home ground. They would take it right up to the Judd-less Eagles and be well in control of the match until the final quarter, when they started to run out of legs and had no answers for the fast finishing Eagles. The Blues played an attacking brand of football and showed great desperation and commitment, best exemplified by Ryan Houlihan's hip and shoulder bump, felling an Eagles player, which would earn him a trip to the tribunal but he would be cleared. Carlton took the lead early in the first quarter and were able to maintain their advantage until the last 3 minutes of the match. Once the Eagles hit the front, Carlton could not respond. A game that held no expectations took Blues fans to unimaginable heights, only to have the unthinkable stolen in the dying moments. It was a shattering defeat.

Marc Murphy had his highest possession game yet with 26, as did Heath Scotland, once again, also kicking 2 important goals. Nick Stevens this time became the tagger and would have his best game for the season, amassing 25 possessions and kicking a vital goal to keep Carlton in the game in the final quarter, after winning the ball in the centre and running forward to goal. Brendan Fevola kicked 6 goals up forward to take him to the top of the AFL goal kickers. Eddie Betts was also useful up forward with 3 goals from great crumbing and tackling, while Simon Wiggins continued his improved form with 2 goals in the first quarter that helped the Blues gain the early ascendency. Lance Whitnall was again dominant across half back.

Team

Milestones

Top Ten Draft Picks: This was the first game in Carlton's history where 5 Top 10 Draft Picks ran out in Navy Blue. Luke Livingston, Andrew Walker, Marc Murphy, Josh Kennedy and Jordan Russell all took the field for Carlton to demonstrate a real 'changing of the guard'. For more information on Carlton's Top 10 Draft Picks, have a read of the exclusive Blueseum article here.
End of an Era: With the broken hand to our captain Anthony Koutoufides in this game would break the run of 880 Carlton Senior Games that at least One Carlton Senior Premiership Player had played in the senior side that started after our 1968 premiership Round 1, 1969 against St Kilda at Moorabbin).
Last games: Ian Prendergast and Luke Livingston

Brownlow Votes

3: Brendan Fevola (CARL)
2: Lance Whitnall (CARL)
1: Adam Hunter (WCE)