Goalkickers: O’hAilpin 3, Walker 2, Betts 2, Waite 2, Murphy, Yarran, Armfield, Garlett 1.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: J. Armstrong, S. McBurnley M. Nicholls

Injuries: Russell (hamstring), Laidler (knee)

Ladder: 4th

Game Review

A cool Friday night under the MCG lights offered an opportunity for the Blues to get back on the winner’s list against the injury riddled Demons. Carlton, having come so close to ending the Geelong’s unbeaten run the week before, was red hot favourites with the bookmakers while the pressure on Melbourne’s coach Dean Bailey continued to mount after several disappointing results.

The Blues made a solitary change to the side that came within two points of upsetting the Cats in round nine. Robert Warnock, one of the central players in last Friday night’s drama, was a forced omission still suffering the after effects of a knock to the head. Taking his place was the high leaping Shaun Hampson.

With a decent shower of rain soaking the turf not long before the opening siren the ground was in slippery condition to start the game. And it showed. Disposal was horrible, clean pick ups rare and the general standard leagues apart from the cracking display witnessed but a week previous. Setanta O’hAilpin got the Blues off on the right foot with a dead straight set shot after a few minutes, but it was Jeffrey Garlett’s goal that followed (what seemed like an eternity later) which provided one of the rare highlights of the quarter. After a shocking dropped mark from the Melbourne defence Eddie Betts mopped up the crumbs and two slick handballs followed from him and Andrew Walker before Garlett dribbled through, what is quickly becoming standard measure for him, from the proverbial impossible angle. Carlton’s third came when Chris Judd got loose, and after turning to face the forwards took two steps and delivered lace-out onto the chest of the leading Jarrad Waite. Waite kicked truly to stretch the lead to a dissatisfying 13 points. The lowlight of the quarter came early when Jordan Russell was substituted after a collision that seemed to leave him dazed and sorry. Concussion, shoulder and hamstring problems were all mentioned in various dispatches, suffice to stay he was a bit worse for wear.

Like the first, O’hAilpin started the goals flowing after his desperate lunge got him underneath the hapless Matthew Warnock of Melbourne who cluttered into his back for a free about a metre out. The 50m penalty that followed didn’t add too much salt to the wound. Setanta’s second opened the quarter nicely and the lead was out to 20 points. In a term light on for scoring, Betts managed the only other goal for the Blues. Melbourne managed two of their own to maintain status quo and Carlton’s lead at the half had grown slightly to be just 16 points.

The low scoring first half wasn’t simply down to weather conditions. Melbourne had played a loose man back from the outset and the Blues had followed suit with Jeremy Laidler doing the honours and getting plenty of footy for the second week in a row. Walker got the Blues off to a fast start after finishing strongly from a free-kick. The Blues dominated possession during the term and with a solid press in effect most of the quarter was spent in their front half. Both Judd and Marc Murphy were in stellar form and racked up quality possessions seemingly at will. Dennis Armfield, the beneficiary of Russell’s early exit, got on the board after a Kade Simpson bomb to the hot-spot went to ground. From the congestion Armfield poked it clear with his boot and followed up with a sliding boot through the goals. When Walker grabbed his second for the quarter courtesy of a lovely trap and dish from Judd the lead was out to 29 points and the Blues were starting to take charge.

The undermanned Demons never really looked like challenging for the victory but they never really looked out of it either, until a run of four goals in ten minutes put an end to the nonsense early in the last. Goals to Waite, Murphy, O’hAilpin and Garlett effectively ended any vague thoughts of a comeback the Demons may have been entertaining. With Betts kicking his second and the Blues’ fifth goal for the quarter (and the last for the match) during the twentieth minute it ended up being something of a relief for everyone when the siren finally sounded. It was the Blues 47 points to the good and a solid but unflattering victory was achieved.

Not a lot gained from the victory in my mind, but who can complain. Carlton comfortably defeated an undermanned side they should have comfortably defeated. A place in the top four by the end of the round a nice side benefit and over the coming month the chance to cement themselves there.

Jordan Russell (hamstring) replaced by Dennis Armfield during the first quarter at the 22 minute mark.

Team

Brownlow Votes

3. Mitch Robinson, Carlton
2. Chris Judd, Carlton
1. Marc Murphy, Carlton

Best & Fairest Votes

Chris Judd 39, Marc Murphy 38, Mitch Robinson 30, Michael Jamison 29, Bryce Gibbs 24, Heath Scotland 21, David Ellard 9, Bret Thornton 5, Andrew Walker 5, Jeremy Laidler 3

Ladder