---

Game Review

There was a lot to like about this game. The first half was a superb advertisement for the game of AFL with both teams full of running and an open game saw high scores posted. Carlton created much of the play in the first two stanzas by winning a lot of contested ball and good foot skills ensured the scoreboard kept ticking over. The 2nd quarter was very high scoring with the Blues breaking the record for their best ever 2nd quarter against the Lions with 9.2.56 eclipsing the previous record of 8.5.53 set in Round 10, 1987 at Princes Park to earn themselves a 13 point lead at the main break. After such scintillating football from both sides, and some freakishly accurate kicking from the Lions, the scene was set for a real humdinger in the second half.

Ultimately though, the second half disappointed and a quick look at the goal tally tells the story. Just four goals in the second half to Carlton could not match the eight goals kicked by Brisbane. On reflection, the Lions ground out this win by grabbing the initiative at the start of the third quarter. Carlton did manage to stretch their lead to 19 points, but determined play from the Lions saw this cut to just two points at the last change.

The last quarter was the most disappointing for Carlton. They started well and looked to have too much run for Brisbane, but unlike the first half the Blues could not make the Lions pay where it mattered - on the scoreboard. The Lions managed to wrestle back the momentum and in kicking a few quick goals they set the tone for the rest of the quarter. Carlton tried hard but just could not get back into the game and their only goal in the quarter came after the final siren.

There were some very encouraging signs for the Blues in this game, but in the end, this was the first game for the year in which the Blues did not close out with better running than their opponent. It was definitely a game that got away from Carlton.

In the finish, some nice take-away highlights for the boys included a 3-goal in 5 minute cameo in the second quarter from Eddie Betts, the first, second and third goals in Blue for Cameron Cloke, a welcome return to form in the first and front half for Captain Lance Whitnall with 3 goals, and more and more game time for our burgeoning young list. Top stats winners were Ryan Houlihan with 30 both in defence and midfield (and 10 Inside 50's) - nominated as Carlton's BOG in the Best and Fairest Count - and Heath Scotland with 26.

In his 31st game at the Dome Brendan Fevola scored his 100th goal for Carlton with his first goal for the night at this venue. Cameron Cloke scored his only goals for Carlton in this game until the end of the 2007 season, lets hope he scores many more in 2008 and belong.

Team

Brownlow Votes

3. Jonathan Brown, Brisbane
2. Simon Black, Brisbane
1. Heath Scotland, Carlton

Best and Fairest Votes

Ryan Houlihan 24, Heath Scotland 21, Kade Simpson 15, Matthew Lappin 7, Eddie Betts 5, Cameron Cloke 2, Lance Whitnall 1

Mike and Dan

Mike and Dan’s Play of the Day - You can Betts on it

From: https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/768669/mike-and-dans-play-of-the-day-you-can-betts-on-it

Carlton fans didn’t come home with the 4 points last Saturday night but they witnessed a great game of football and saw some outstanding individual performances. None more so than Eddie Betts 3 goal virtuoso performance in the 2nd quarter. Mike and Dan caught up with Eddie to discuss the play of the day, his journey to becoming a Carlton fan-favourite and his favourite pizza.

First things first, we couldn’t decide which of Eddie’s goals was the best: the casual pick up and snap over the shoulder from 45m, the classic rove off the pack and weaving through 4 defenders in a Matrix-type moment to slot the goal or the soccer off the ground after Matty Lappin had brought a behind-bound ball to ground under intense pressure. So we asked Eddie to decide.

Which was your favourite goal, Eddie?

You want me to choose? (Laughs) Probably I’d say the snap from 48m (Thanks for the correction Eddie) because I can’t even kick that far with a drop punt.

It was one of those days with no flooding and an old fashioned shootout, especially in the first half, that supporters love. What was it like to be out there playing?

It was amazing; the attitude to the game from the players and the reactions from the crowd. We knew it would be a tough game. We’d beaten Brisbane there in the NAB Cup and Denis told us they’d come out hard. It was great to play in because these days most clubs do flood.

As a small forward, what game plan do you enjoy: the empty forward line running into space or the numbers around the contest and crumbing?

Definitely crumbing off the pack. It’s much more exciting for me doing that with players around the ball and still being able to get through.

Sometimes you appear to be playing CHF with strong leads down an empty forward corridor. Are you competing with Josh Kennedy for the power forward job?

(Laughs) No, certainly not. That’s Josh’s job. I’m happy to play off his feet. I’ll let him bring the ball down for me.

It’s your 3rd season at the club. Most of your time has been spent as a small forward. Is that where you see your future at the club or are you eyeing off the centre square?

Denis is trying to get me to spend more time in the midfield as well as up forward. So hopefully I’ll play as a forward/midfielder.

You have an uncanny knack of reading the ball off the contest and timing your runs to perfection. Is it something you were born with or have you worked on it in junior footy?

Wouldn’t have a clue. It just happens for me.

For a small guy, your chases and tackling are inspirational. How did that come about?

I think that’s one of the things I am in the team for. Denis is always telling me don’t worry about the goals, just keep tackling and keep chasing and the goals will come.

4 players have played 100 games in the No.19 guernsey for Carlton. How many can you remember?

Ian Collins is the only one I can remember. That’s only because he keeps reminding me every time he sees me. “It’s good to see that number 19 jumper running around, Eddie” he keeps saying. (For the record the others are Ron Cooper, Denis Zeunert and John O’Connell)

Blueseum - Locker Number 19

Chris Johnson was at the other end of the ground on Saturday. He started 13 years ago as a small forward. He’s played back, forward and midfield at an elite level since. Is he someone you look to as a role model?

Yes he’s definitely a role model. He can play any position on the ground. Especially as an Aboriginal player coming up, he’s someone I really look up to. Every Aboriginal player coming through the system should use Chris as a role model of how they should handle themselves. Also I admire Andrew McLeod; he’s just an absolute champion.

Who at Carlton do you look up to for what they have achieved?

Kouta, he’s one of the best players at the club with what he has achieved. He trains hard, in fact he’s probably training harder than even now that he’s injured. We definitely need him back in the team.

The Carlton player I look up to the most isn’t at the club anymore, Cory McGrath was just the best guy to have around. He was very professional and worked very hard to keep himself in the best condition. But mostly for me, he looked after me and took me under his wing and I’ll always thank him for that.

Who is your roommate on interstate trips and what can you tell us about them that would embarrass him badly?

This year, I’ve roomed with Cameron Cloke a couple of times. Cam brings everything he can think of from home: his laptop, DVD movies, games the lot. You don’t get bored if you stay with Clokey.

You’re a WA boy but you were drafted from the Calder Cannons. What’s the story there?

It was Mum’s idea for me to come across when I was a teenager. She was worried I was mixing with the wrong crowd and she wanted me to get the best out of myself. I joined up with the Aboriginal Footballers Development Program which is run by Phil Krakouer.

I played at Templestowe and Phil contacted Calder and asked them to give me a go. I ended up there for 2 years, played back to back flags and got picked up by Carlton in the Pre-season Draft. (Mike and Dan would like to extend a big thankyou to Mrs Betts and Phil Krakouer on behalf of all Carlton fans)

Your player sponsors include a poultry shop. Do you get a roast chook for every goal?

Yeah, they told me to come over whenever I want one but then I found out they kill and pack the chooks not cook them. Maybe I should pick a couple up this Sunday for roast.

Brett Ratten is the forwards coach at the club, which is interesting given he started as a defender and ended up a midfield champ. What influence has he had on you forwards this year?

He’s awesome. We can learn a lot from Brett. He’s a club champion and he’s got a lot of new ideas and game plans that have really helped us out. All the new coaches have brought a large difference from last year.

In your career you’ve won the 2005 Best First Year Player at Carlton, the 2006 AFL Goal of the Year and a 2007 NAB premiership. What’s your favourite achievement and what’s next?

All of them are pretty good. Hopefully next is to play finals footy with Carlton.

Now the most important question for a Carlton player to answer. What is Melbourne’s best pizza?

Hawaiian.

Eddie Betts is many things; a more than handy footballer and goalscorer, an ‘excitement machine’ for the fans, a rising role model for young Aboriginal footballers and a pretty decent bloke to spend 10 minutes with. Now we can add to that list that he’s a ham and pineapple man…

Einstein on the Wing

Curate’s Egg turns into a theory of risk management

From: https://www.afl.com.au/news/506484/curates-egg-turns-into-a-theory-of-risk-management

You don’t have to be Einstein to know that we live in a risky world, Digs and Bluebelles. When the phone rang at half-time on Saturday night, I took a risk in answering it. I did not rush into this risky decision to invite chaos theory to enter my living room that night.

First I consulted the entrails of the chicken breast sanga I was hoeing into; and, my trusty moon chart to observe the closeness of the New Moon waxing over Lygon Street. We were 13 points up and I was very comfortable where I sat on my Fat Albert bottom. There were ladders and black cats between me and the phone. It wasn’t worth the risk. It kept ringing, more in hope than the anticipation that I would eventually answer it…

It was my former good friend Seamus whose veins course with thick blue blood. He was marooned in Percy’s Bar and confirmed that the New Moon loonies had indeed arrived for ante natal drinks before their moon chat assigned ETA on Wednesday, May 2. He was watching the game under these appalling conditions and begged me to let him come in from the cold.

I relented. It was a mistake. It was bad risk management. In my book, risk can never be eliminated entirely; and it doesn’t obey the usual rules of mathematics – or “math” as Seamus would say as he was born in New York City where they speak funny.

He entered the hall with half the showroom from Dan Murphy’s cellars under his arm just as the green maggots bounced the ball for the third quarter. For me, the game was entirely spoilt from that moment on. I could smell a rotten egg – and not all of it was coming from the smelly runners that Seamus removed on his arrival.

Seamus tried to bamboozle me into believing that it was a game of two halves, or a Curate’s Egg of a game, as my hands began to tighten on his throat at the final siren: “Oh, no, my Lord, I assure you that parts of it were excellent!”

I remain to be convinced, Digs and Bluebelles, that a good first half can in anyway make up for a bad second half. Einstein’s first law of football science states: “Show me a loser and I’ll show you a loser.” Winners can not be partial losers, like Seamus.

The lesson from the game against the Brisbane white shoe brigade is that if there are ten things you could do to minimise your risk and you forget to do one of them, you are not 9/10ths risk-free: you are as at much risk as if you had forgotten to do all ten. It simply can not be the best of times and the worst of times in risk management. There isn't a continuous spectrum of risky-to-not-risky along which you can step your way at your leisure, pausing perhaps at an agreeable mix of risky and non-risky as a nice compromise: Like becoming a little bit pregnant.

Gold skull cap goes to Simmo with Silvers to Big Red, Eddie, Hoops, Skinny and Cloakroom. A big cheerio goes to Jacko, the rookie who broke his hand in his second senior game and Fish, after Fev accidentally rearranged his facial features.

I will not speak to Seamus again until Friday night when we plan to restore equilibrium to our azure karma by nicking the halo from the sanctimonious ones at the Optus Dome. Carna Blues! Ring 1300 72 79 81 if you want to pick up the few remaining seats in the peanut gallery. I will not be answering it. – TERRY MAHER and JAMES McCAUSLAND

The Ghost

The Flood!

It appears that with global warming we can expect a lot more flooding.

It appears that with global warming we can expect a lot more flooding. Obviously under the bright lights of the Dome global warming is a few years ahead of schedule. How else to explain the Red Sea flood of goals on Saturday night? I swear I saw a few Egyptians floating past at the end of the second quarter.

It was a grand game (until that last bit of the final quarter) that took me back to the ‘72 Grand Final between the Bluebaggers and Richmond. I was there that day, standing in the outer with my dad and brothers, our heads moving as if we were watching a tennis match.

Goal to us, goal to us, goal to them. Goal to us, goal to us, goal to them – ahh the glorious days of childhood (mind you I’ve blotted ’73 out!). And so it was again Saturday night; an Aussie rules tennis match. In fact The Dome would make a great tennis venue and I’ll never do a Peter Allen and call it home – no matter how many games we play there.

Still it was a great game to watch. I sat with my son and his mate behind the goals listening to Barb and co scream their glorious Navy Blue hearts out. Why is it that when an opposition supporter goes all rabid and froths at the mouth I can see the ridiculousness in their support but when it’s a bluebagger I just see their passion for this great club?

I think it’s an Einstein thing, something to do with relativity, or perhaps it’s a Quantum Physics thing. One thing’s for sure, God might not play dice but Carlton and Brisbane sure as hell did on Saturday night. The result – the flood, the real flood, not the python constriction until no one can breathe, not the strangulation of this great game by a thousand players in the backline. No a flood of goals, an avalanche. A perennial waving of flags, in fact the goal umpire at our end became part of the game’s ebb and flow. We all began to copy the way he filled in his card – so often did we get to see it.

To tell the truth before the second quarter began I thought, I want ten goals this quarter. We kicked nine. Mind you I didn’t expect Brisbane to kick seven! It was a spectacle though, a fantastic game where our kids outshone their kids but their vets eventually overran ours – a game where the football Gods made sure they had their kicking boots so that they could stay with us. Honestly I was waiting for them to start kicking for goal with blindfolds on!

But let us turn our attention to this week’s game – a Friday night game no less. This worries me. Since I was a kid Friday night’s have always been for partying or for late night gambling with obscure card games where even when I won I lost because I’d have to walk home in the scary dark with a pocket full of coins that rattled more than the signage at the Heatley Stand end during a famous Bluebagger third quarter - are they now going to become the The Dome second quarter? Can the second quarter be a premiership quarter - or is that why we lost? We sprinted too early and ran out of puff? Give up the fags boys, give up the fags. The straight and narrow is the only way we’ll ever climb back to the top – at the very least, wait until the third before running rampant!

Will the Sad Sainter’s and Carlton play another belter this Friday? Will both sides gamble everything and play everyone forward of the ball, determined to kick fifty goals each in a game? Are we in for n Aussie Rules version of Russian roulette?

I cannot wait to find out. There is something about playing under lights, under a closing roof, that makes Australian Rules football akin to an atomic explosion. There seems to be no pacing, no slow progression, no build up to a crescendo. There is just a frenetic crash of bodies, boots and footballs.

I expect us to win this game in the middle. JR is playing better each week, Murph and Simmo and Tex and Carrots demand the ball and Cain is playing against his old club. He and my man Cloke will hammer the old man they call a ruckman.

We’ll win because we have Fev, and as maddening as he can be, a Fevola in our team is far better than a Gerhig runaway train wreck. Fev will make amends this week and kick six. Lance will play out the whole game as he gets match fitness back and will kick five and everyone else (including the cheer squad) will chip in for a single.

For the Sad Sainters, Revolting is their danger man. Harvey often carves us up but even he must succumb eventually to old man time. So Waitey to take care of the poor man’s Trevor Barker and Santy to make The G-train seem more like a g-string.

I hope Blackers comes in for Jacko (shame about the hand for the young kid) and if not Blackers then maybe Edwards will finally get a go. In fact he should. I dreamt on Monday that Edwards played a blinder for us this week. So Denis and Co, go with me on this.

I had a dream, a dream where all players were equal and… and young Edwards kicked six!

So come on lads, put the togs back on and get back in the water, I want to see another flood this week, but let’s make it a one-way flood. Lets kick all the goals and St. Kilda be dammed! Let’s face it – after the beltings they’ve given us over the past few years, and the arrogance of their whinging supporter base who carry on as if they own the world and are less than a speck of dust in the Football God’s eye, its time we reversed the trend.

I am sick and tired of that rabble of backstreet bleeders beating us!

So.

Carlton to win by seven goals in a game that’s over for the Dixie Band Sainters by half time.

Go Blueboys!