Goalkickers: Garlett 3, Waite 2, Hampson, Simpson, Thornton, Robinson, Gibbs, Betts 1.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: S. Meredith, S. Ryan & M. Stevic

Injuries: Nil

Ladder: 4th

Game Review

It was like a time-warp to the early eighties with two old rivals occupying the top places on the ladder with match of the round billing thrown in for good measure. Who says Melbourne’s weather is bad? A balmy autumn evening, temperature in the low twenties, gave us perfect conditions befitting such rivalry. The crowd was there too. A home-and-away record for these two teams (over 88,000) turned out to see just how far the Blues had progressed when measured against the competition’s yardstick Collingwood.

At selection the Blues welcomed back level headed defender Michael Jamison for his first hit-out of the season having served a two week suspension for an incident during the NAB Cup. Joining him in the side for his Carlton debut was recruit Andrew Collins acquired from Richmond in the trade for Shaun Grigg during the off-season. Omitted were Dennis Armfield and Simon White.

To have any chance against the Magpies Carlton’s intensity needed to be high right from the first bounce, and it was. They pressured and hurried the Pies early and there were plenty of mistakes from both teams. The Blues got the first through big man Shaun Hampson from close range before Collingwood took charge with three consecutive goals to ensure momentum was headed their direction. Kade Simpson finally got a steadier for the Blues, but some 18 minutes had passed since Hampson’s opener. Bret Thornton, still in unfamiliar territory up front, stood tall in the Carlton goal square for a mark and goal soon after to give the lead back to the Blues. Another late goal for each side saw the Blues take a slender advantage to the first break and the game was certainly living up to the expectation warranted of a top-of-the-table clash.

The second quarter was a different story. Collingwood got on top over much of the ground and the Blues were struggling just to get their hands on the ball. The Blues only goal came from Jarrad Waite after a strong pack mark. It proved to be the first of several ripper pack marks from Waite on the night. Fives goals to one saw Carlton’s lead evaporate and left them 27 points adrift of the reigning premiers with the job well and truly in front of them.

The Blues really worked hard to get back into the game during the third. Chris Yarran started getting some ball across half back as the Collingwood goals dried up. The first two goals went to the Blues through Mitch Robinson and Waite which well and truly kept the game alive. Chris Judd and Bryce Gibbs had some influence in the middle as did Ed Curnow with another solid contribution in only his third game. Gibb’s goal came at the end of a lengthy switch of direction by the Carlton defence that showed some composure to eventually work the ball clear and into attack. It was a lovely finish from about 50m and brought the Blues to within 15 points midway through the term. All that hard work came undone with two late goals to Collingwood’s Jarryd Blair restoring their half time lead and leaving the Blues frustrated at their inability to close the gap.

When Collingwood goaled in the opening minute of the final term the result was virtually sealed. The Blues fought on and worked solidly throughout the term, but though two goals came through Jeff Garlett (the Blues’ best forward all night) and a late one from the quiet Eddie Betts, they could never get the run on that was required to claw back a five goal deficit. It was another break-even quarter on the scoreboard with the final margin finishing at 28 points.

The Blues were well served by the usual customers. Chris Judd was scragged and niggled for much of the night but still managed to have quite an influence on the game, particularly his relentless tacking, and was probably the Blues best (surprise surprise). Heath Scotland was solid in defence, while Jarrad Waite’s marking was a real feature of the game. The Blues may have closed the gap marginally on the Magpies but we won’t really know how much until they’ve met again in round 17.

Substitute Andrew Collins replaced Andrew Walker during the 3rd quarter

Team

Milestones

Debut (Carlton): Andrew Collins

Brownlow Votes

3. Heath Shaw, Collingwood
2. Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood
1. Jarryd Blair, Collingwood

Best & Fairest Votes

Jeffery Garlett 36, Chris Judd 33, Ed Curnow 31, Michael Jamison 27, Heath Scotland 24, Bryce Gibbs 23, Chris Yarran 23, Jarrad Waite 19, Robert Warnock 6

Ladder