Goalkickers: J. Waite 5, B. McLean 3, K. Simpson 3, A. Walker 3, J. Garlett 3, L. Casboult 3, E. Betts 2, M. Murphy 2.

Umpires: L. Farmer, S. McBurney, J. Schmitt

Ladder: 9th

Game Review

Two sides that promised so much during the early part of the season met again with equally sad stories to tell of the journey through their respective campaigns. The Blues had been touted as premiership favourites by some after their stellar early season form and similarly the Bombers had been spoken of as realistic flag contenders after having lost only of their first ten games. Both had dismal slumps during the middle of the season with injury taking its toll. During the last month the Blues had slowly begun to emerge from their slumber having won three of their previous four to keep alive slim finals hopes. The Bombers were headed in the other direction, having lost their last four and barely hanging on to eighth spot on the ladder. With much speculation about whether revenge would be sought for Andrew Carrazzo, it was all to play for, with the loser of this one virtually assured of missing the finals.

It probably felt like a very long four weeks for Chris Judd, but with his penance finally served it was a fairly handy name to be reading in Carlton's "ins" column. Alongside Judd's name was Nick Duigan's with the salt-of-the-earth defender getting another chance in the senior side. Missing out were Matthew Watson and Rhys O'Keeffe.

With Sam Lonergan's name being spat out of Carlton supporters mouths like poison from a snake-bite it was no surprise to see a massive kerfuffle almost immediately after play commenced. Most players were involved in some schoolyard push and shove, but Judd and Marc Murphy fared worst having their navy blue jumpers literally torn from their backs (presumably the invoice for that fix will be sent to Windy Hill). When things settled down the Bombers had the better of the early going without any goals, before Jarrad Waite got the perfect confidence booster with a nice goal from about 30m resulting from a free-kick. As players from both sides slowly adjusted to the slippery deck the Bombers first responded and then went ahead with a couple of goals before the Blues started to take charge. Carlton's second goal came through Jeff Garlett in the 18th minute with his trusty side-kick Eddie Betts providing the assist like so many times before. Garlett finished truly on the run from about 50m and kicked the Blues into action. Kade Simpson floated in beautifully from the side to take a well timed mark in the pack from Murphy's nicely weighted ball in and Simpson's goal gave the lead back to the Blues. Two more goals to Andrew Walker and Waite (his second) gave the Blues four on the trot and a handy break as quarter time approached. Carrazzo had started well curbing Watson's enormous influence, while Judd was back into the groove as though he'd not missed a second and with another massive melee as the siren sounded the Blues had the last laugh as they pointed to the scoreboard which displayed their 16 point break.

Though the day was cold and miserable it was hard to wipe the smile off the face of Carlton supporters after an exhilarating second quarter performance. Essendon stopped Carlton's run of consecutive goals with two of the first three for the term, but from that point it was virtually one way traffic. Carlton piled on nine goals to two for the remainder of the term finishing with a rare ten goal quarter. All the usual suspects featured prominently, with Simpson, Garlett, Waite, Walker, Murphy and Betts all scoring majors while less familiar names such as Levi Casboult and Brock McLean both kicked two for the quarter. Betts' deft tap to Walker streaming into the open goal and Casboult's hit and hope from the boundary line 50m out were the picks of the goals, but we were absolutely spoilt for choice. The Bombers still managed four for the term, a couple against the flow from turnovers, but the game was close to dead with the Blues 52 points clear at half time.

When the spark goes out of a game on occasion it seems the Blues can take their foot off and coast. While in the early part of the third it seemed this might be the case once again, as the Bombers opened with a goal inside a minute, the Blues stuck to the job at hand (i.e. a much needed percentage booster). They piled on another five goals with Garlett, McLean, Waite, Betts and Walker all adding to their existing healthy scoresheets (Walker's bouncing through as the siren sounded). Though outscoring the Bombers five goals to one for the term was clearly very pleasing the highight for me came when the lumbering Casboult displaying his hithero unknown pace in chasing down and apprehending Essendon speedster Courtney Dempsey. When the dust settled and the Blues finally took a break from goal scoring duties, they had amassed a 79 point buffer.

The final term was more of the same and it was great. The only real interest left on the scoreboard surrounded whether the Bombers could keep the deficit under 100 points, which after some threatening moments they eventually managed. The Blues finished with a four goal to one term, in the process Waite bagging his fifth. The final goal came somewhat fortuitously when Murphy was paid a mark that appeared to be taken a split second after the siren sounded. He finished it perfectly for his second goal and 37th possession in a wonderful individual performance having played a major part in a dominant Carlton's 96 point victory. The victory gave Carlton's percentage a healthy lift and also put a significant dent in Essendon's and fleetingly the Blues were in the eight. As the round unfolded they dropped to ninth just one game out of the places but with their slim chances, importantly, still alive.

Subs: Tom Bell replaced Andrew Carrazzo at three-quarter time.

Team

Milestones

Big Winning Margins: This 96 point win was Carlton's 2nd highest winning margin ever against the Bombers. The biggest was in Round 2 of 1936, our only 100 point + win over the Bombers (at the time of writing).

Interesting Facts:

1. This big win added an extra 5% to our percentage, just when it was needed. To add 5% in Round 21 is pretty rare - Bobby Davis was heard to say "Fair dinkum unbelieveable."
2. Scoring quarters: In this second quarter the Blues would kick 10 goals in an amazing feat. We wouldn't kick 9+ goals in a quarter again for just on 10 years

Brownlow Votes

3. Marc Murphy, Carlton
2. Jarrad Waite, Carlton
1. Kade Simpson, Carlton

Best & Fairest Votes

Marc Murphy 42, Brock McLean 36, Bryce Gibbs 35, Kade Simpson 34, Jarrad Waite 34, Levi Casboult 22, Simon White 19, Heath Scotland 13, Andrew Carrazzo 11, Jeffery Garlett 10, Chris Judd 5, Chris Yarran 5

Ladder