Goalkickers: Simpson 2, Garlett 2, Walker, Robinson, Yarran, Jamison 1.

Reports: TBD

Umpires: C. Donlon, B. Rosebury, J. Schmitt

Injuries: TBD

Ladder: 5th

Game Review

With a sneak preview of some finals-like intensity on offer, the fans flocked to Etihad Stadium for this highlight game of round 22 when Carlton met Hawthorn. It was third against fourth, with just two points separating them on the ladder - and for the Blues, a chance to keep their top four hopes alive. Hawthorn went in as warm favourites with the bookies, after a season of continually defying the odds presented by their injury-riddled list.

With barely a murmur during their meeting on Thursday afternoon, the match committee welcomed back Michael Jamison for his long awaited return. I bet he was thrilled too. The conversation went something like this in my mind; “Jamo, you’re in. Would you mind having first crack at Buddy?” It was Zach Tuohy who gave up his seat on the bus to accommodate Jamison’s return.

I’m not sure if it was big game nerves, the lift in intensity, an out of shape ball or something altogether different, but the start of the game was full of fumbles, mistakes, turnovers and nervous-looking players. It was like all classic arm wrestles with neither able to break the other down as they sized each other up and looked for cracks to exploit. It took a mistake near goal from the Hawk defence after 11 minutes which allowed Jeff Garlett to get a hand to a ball which gave Andrew Walker the slightest opportunity to snap the ball onto his left. The snapshot curled through nicely for Walker’s 50th of the season and got the Blues away. Sadly that was also the Blues last for the quarter as the Hawks found their feet and cleared away to a comfortable three goal lead by quarter time. The Blues much-vaunted midfield was struggling at the stoppages, as the Hawks shut down Chris Judd, while Marc Murphy had very little influence early.

If things were looking bad for Carlton during the first quarter that changed to downright horrible during the second. The Hawthorn defensive pressure was suffocating the Blues flow and with Carlton’s inability to get clear from the stoppages the avenue to goal was all but shut. Lachie Henderson was actually doing a serviceable job on Lance Franklin despite the Hawk forward having posted three goals, as was Aaron Joseph on livewire Cyril Rioli, but when you only manage four behinds for a quarter you’re always going to be up against it in the grander scheme of the game. By half time the Hawks had extended the gap to 38 points and it was looking like a long night for the Blues.

When the Hawks got the first goal after the restart Carlton hearts sank. Their lead was out to 45 points and the game appeared over as a contest. Carlton’s goal drought finally came to a close during the 14th minute of the term, with nine behinds and 61 minutes having passed since Walker’s opener. Murphy had been slowly working his way into the game, and when he delivered a beautifully weighted long ball for Garlett, allowing Jeff to stroll into the open goal, the Bronx cheers were clearly audible.

This sparked something of a revival for the Blues as Mitch Robinson hacked one home from about 50 metres a short time later. The Blues had gone to great lengths to get back in to the game somehow, so much so that the unexpected figure of Michael Jamison could be seen lurking the forward line. As a forward Jamison really offered a target and managed to pull down a couple of marks, one of which he followed with his first career goal much to his delight. When Chris Yarran received from Robert Warnock and finished truly, the Blues had closed to within 20 points and the game, which had seemed all but gone, suddenly had a flicker of life.

Buddy Franklin doesn’t need a head start when he’s inside his own forward 50, but as Bret Thornton inexplicably stumbled and fell over his own feet, that was exactly what he got. Franklin’s fourth gave the Hawks temporary breathing space, but quick hands from Eddie Betts allowed Garlett to respond almost instantly to keep the Blues alive. The Blues kept pressing, but simply couldn’t get the crucial goal to break the Hawks open. Bryce Gibbs had been busy with possession but his two opportunities to ignite the Blues both ended with deflating behinds. It was Thornton the villain once again as the Hawks kicked away once more to extend their lead to 24 points. Enter Kade Simpson with back-to-back goals - the highlight a lovely flowing piece of play involving precision handballs from Murphy and Gibbs and a faultless finish from Simpson to reduce the margin to 12 points after 25 minutes. Once again Gibbs had the chance to finish off for the Blues but disappointed with a third behind, and the margin was an even two goals when the final siren sounded. The Blues were left to rue their solitary goal in the first half, and the chance of a top-four finish was now slipping out of their grasp.

Subs: Substitute Dennis Armfield replaced David Ellard during the 3rd quarter (16 minute mark)

Team

Milestones

50 Games (AFL): Robert Warnock
First Goal: Michael Jamison
Winning Streaks - coming to an end: This loss would win our run of 4 wins in a row, the second time we had achieved this feat for the year. The magic '5 in a row' target, not achieved by Carlton since 2000, would not be achieved for some time - in fact not yet achieved at the time of writing...
Losing Streaks: This loss created a new record losing streak for Carlton against Hawthorn, with this our 8th successive loss since 2005 against the Hawks.

Brownlow Votes

3. Luke Hodge, Hawthorn
2. Lance Franklin, Hawthorn
1. Josh Gibson, Hawthorn

Best & Fairest Votes

Kade Simpson 34, Aaron Joseph 31, Heath Scotland 25, Chris Yarran 23, Bryce Gibbs 10, Lachie Henderson 10, Andrew Walker 8, Marc Murphy 5, Michael Jamison 4, Jeremy Laidler 4

Ladder