Game Review

In an error riddled match, the Blues let themselves down in Round 5 and gave up the game to the Tigers. After getting off to poor starts in the previous 3 rounds, Carlton would begin well, kicking 5 goals to 2 in a free flowing first quarter. Heath Scotland, Kade Simpson, Andrew Walker and Ryan Houlihan provided plenty of run from defence and the wing. The return of Brendan Fevola and Jarrad Waite, together with Lance Whitnall in the forward line would produce immediate results. The classy pair of Houlihan and Marc Murphy would combine in a superb running goal. Captain Anthony Koutoufides would prove he was not done with yet, to score an excellent crumbing goal. The Blues went to quarter time with a 19 point break.

But from then on, the Tigers would take control of the midfield and only inaccurate kicking would keep the Blues in touch. Carlton would butcher forward attempt after forward attempt, as an epidemic of bad kicking and decision making spread like wildfire throughout the side. It would start in the second quarter, with some missed passes by some of our more seasoned players, before ending up a team-wide struggle to complete passes in the last quarter. Furthermore, our marking forwards Whitnall and Fevola were missing set shots they would normally kick, while Waite appeared short of match practice, struggling to hold his marks.

A major dilemma for Denis Pagan in 2006 was whether to play Whitnall in attack or defence. He started forward this week, kicking 1 goal 3 but as the Tigers took control of the match in the second quarter, was switched to defence. Whilst defenders Thornton and Saddington were deemed not able to counter Tiger Richardson, the Blues moved a dominant forward back. It was unfortunate there were not two of him, as this left the Blues without his control at half forward.

The last quarter was error-filled from both teams, but the Tigers were winning the clearances and made slightly fewer errors. Carlton had 57 clangers in this match to the Tigers 53. Carlton would again came up short by 8 points, to make the total points margins from our 4 losses since Round 1 a mere 62 points. This would keep our percentage respectable, but still leave us without the vital wins we needed in games we should have taken.

Houlihan and Koutoufides were top possession winners with 29 statistics each, while Scotland and Walker were creative from defence with 27 and 25 possessions respectively.

Team

Brownlow Votes

3: Chris Hyde (RICH)
2: Matthew Richardson (RICH)
1: Ryan Houlihan (CARL)