Goalkickers: Garlett 3, Gibbs 2, Walker 2, Murphy, Betts, Waite, O'hAilpin 1.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: R. Finlay, S. McBurney & M. Vozzo

Injuries: Curnow (collarbone), Walker (dislocated finger)

Ladder: 3rd

Game Review

Ahhh, traditional Monday night football. Where have you been? And so it was when the Blues ran out in their new baby blue clash strip to meet the Saints in the final game of round 7. The chance to secure third position on the ladder the bait for the Blues. With the Saints having their worst start to a season for several years and the Blues having their best, the pundits were tipping a comfortable Carlton victory, but St. Kilda had other ideas.

With injury forcing Jeremy Laidler to miss and the late withdrawal of Simon White the Blues made two compulsory changes for the clash against the Saints. In came Chris Yarran after missing the previous week with some hamstring tightness while something of a lifeline was thrown to veteran defender Bret Thornton, the other inclusion.

There was plenty of niggle and seemingly the odd angry pill swallowed as the sides lined up for what was a season-on-the-line kind of game for the struggling Saints. Chris Judd was the target of several macho Saints, getting particularly close attention from his tag Sam Gilbert. The Blues started with plenty of zip and dash and loads of the footy with Jordan Russell prominent and Chris Yarran in everything, spinning silk out of defence. The quarter had just ticked into extra time when the Blues got their first through Bryce Gibbs. Excessive lip and limited spatial awareness from Justin Koschitzke gifted Gibbs the goal after a 50m penalty was applied. Gibbs had been lurking dangerously up forward but poor finishing on a couple of occasions had limited his damage on the scoreboard. The second goal followed soon after courtesy of Marc Murphy’s bullet from outside 50 and the Blues had crept out to a 9 point lead. Stephen Milne was proving to be quite a headache. The Carlton defence couldn’t find the right match-up and with two goals in quick succession nearing the break, three for the term, he gave the Saints the lead. The tension, which had been brewing from the outset, finally boiled over as the teams ambled towards the quarter time huddles. The amble quickly turned into a jumper-pulling, name-calling frenzy (involving virtually all 44 players) which is bound to net the AFL coffers a tidy windfall. Saints by four points at the break.

The Blues turned it up a notch during the second. After early goals to each side Eddie Betts sparked the Blues with a magical pick-up and goal on his non-preferred foot. It was pure poetry. Soon after, Andrew Walker conjured a great snap goal on his left, not quite in the Betts league, but impressive nonetheless. At the back Michael Jamison was super solid, blanketing Nick Riewoldt and taking numerous contested marks with excellent use of his body. Then it was Jeff Garlett’s turn. A brilliant latter part of the term saw him finish with three goals, the best a beautiful check-side crumber’s goal. Garlett’s third saw the Blues out to the biggest lead of the game and they left the field for the main break 20 points clear.

After Nick Duigan’s great tackle and follow-up pass setup Jarrad Waite for the first goal of the second half the signs were looking ominous for the Saints. It had been a shaky start to the game for Setanta O’hAilpin but, having settled, he was in everything during the third. Rucking well, following up with numerous second efforts and getting shots at goal he was proving to be quite the utility. The Blues’ lead hit 28 points before the Saints began to rally. More wasted opportunities for the Blues saw them finish with 1.5 for the term. Yarran, Garlett and Betts all quiet without anywhere near the influence of the first half. The Saints finished with the last three goals for the term narrowing the gap to 12 points by the final change.

With two goals to St. Kilda eradicating Carlton’s lead in the first few minutes of the final term the momentum had well and truly shifted. Chris Judd had been held in the first half, but as the game wore on he just kept getting better. His work in traffic to find O’hAilpin in the open was a pleasure to watch; the goal that followed even more pleasurable. Mid way through the term the lead stretched to nine points after Judd proved himself human with a missed snap at goal before the Saints came again. With many players dead on their feet the game had turned to battle of wills. When the Saints kicked their second in a row during the 24th minute to take the lead it was looking like they might have done enough. But the Blues hung on. After Waite hit-up Mitch Robinson on the lead just outside 50, he immediately wheeled onto his right and drilled a beautiful pass into the pocket where Walker’s outstretched arms took a lovely mark. Under immense pressure and on a tight angle Walker kicked a magnificent goal and with the clock inside the final two minutes the Blues clung to a slender three point lead. It wasn’t until everywhere man O’hAilpin took a strong saving mark in defence that the Blues looked safe and, to be sure, the siren blew soon after. Robinson's final few minutes of the game were particularly impressive, as was Duigan’s last quarter. Both will take a lot from the win. The solid performances of several of these lesser lights were especially pleasing.

The Blues third gutsy come from behind win in succession was a wonderful way to secure third place on the ladder. Heading into the bye gives us time to ponder whether (like North was to Friday’s in the eighties) the Blues are fast becoming the Monday night specialists of the current era.

Dennis Armfield replaced Ed Curnow during the 2nd quarter.

Team

-Late change: Thornton replaced White in the selected side
Laidler was replaced in the squad on Saturday first by Henderson then by Thornton

Milestones

100 Games : Jordan Russell. Interestingly, Russell played his 100th game against the same side and at the same ground in made his debut against in Round 15, 2005.
Games Guernsey Record: Heath Scotland overtook Simon Beaumont's record of 152 games in guernsey #29.
Guernsey History: This game marked the debut of Carlton's new light blue 'away' or 'clash' guernsey, although football history doesn't seem to confuse the Carlton and St Kilda guernseys in over 100 years!

Brownlow Votes

3. Bryce Gibbs, Carlton
2. Leigh Montagna, St. Kilda
1. Chris Yarran, Carlton

Best & Fairest Votes

Bryce Gibbs 41, Andrew Carrazzo 36, Jarrad Waite 35, Nick Duigan 33, Michael Jamison 33, Chris Yarran 31, Heath Scotland 24, Jordan Russell 18, Kade Simpson 11, Jeffery Garlett 6, Setanta Ó hAilpín 4

Ladder