Goalkickers: E. Betts 5, J. Waite 3, J. Garlett 2, M. Murphy 2, S. Hampson 2, Z. Tuohy, A. Carrazzo, C. Yarran, C. Judd 1

Umpires: C. Donlon, L. Farmer, S. Meredith

Ladder: 2nd

Game Review

Contenders or pretenders? It came down to that. Sure it was only round three and we all know the season is a marathon not a sprint, but it was hard not to the think that the result was going to say something about how seriously we should take the 2012 version of the Blues. Carlton, desperate to impress against a top four side from the last couple of seasons. Collingwood, eager to continue their dominance over the Blues dating back to early 2009. After back-to-back victories in the opening rounds the bookies had Carlton as favourite, but was that favouritism justified given this was their first challenge against quality opposition?

Having pulled up well from their respective practice matches and VFL hit-outs Michael Jamison and Nick Duigan were welcomed into the 22 for the first time this campaign (Duigan as substitute). It gave the paper version of the defensive line-up a much sterner, surer, safer look to it. The casualties were Jordan Russell and Bret Thornton who joined Brock McLean as emergencies.

When the ball bounced to open the first quarter conditions were near perfect. A beautiful autumnal evening in Melbourne with hardly a breath of wind. A standing-room only crowd had been predicted, somewhere in the vicinity of 90k, and when Eddie Betts kicked truly from about 50m to open the scoring it was clear plenty of them were wearing navy blue. The Blues signalled their intent with fierce tackling and intense pressure around the ball whenever it was in dispute and the Pies looked slow and nervous as a result. Jarrad Waite slammed through the second on the run after receiving from Kane Lucas in a classic coast-to-coast play and when Zach Tuohy marked an errant clearing kick on 50m it was clear who'd settled better. Tuohy's classic kicking technique was on show again as he punched through a long set shot for Carlton's third and a dream start. Chris Judd and Marc Murphy had been given first use by Matt Kreuzer at the majority of stoppages and Andrew Carrazzo was in everything as was Heath Scotland. The early dominance lead to large minutes in the Carlton forward half. When Collingwood finally got on the board it wasn't long before Betts answered after some fabulous work from the Carlton big men. Kreuzer's iron first clearing the ball from the bubble before Shaun Hampson gathered and dished to a goal-bound Betts. Waite followed up with his second to stretch the lead to 23 points when it appeared the dream night had ended for Dennis Armfield. Clutching his knee after landing awkwardly in a wild spinning collision with Judd, his game (if not season) looked over. Somewhat surprisingly the hard man (with the small mo) jogged off the ground after a period with the medicos and down into the change rooms. Miraculously, only a few short minutes later he was tearing around out on the ground again, tackling with his normal gusto. With the immediate panic over Carrazzo performed a little miracle of his own when he soccered through out of mid-air as Mitch Robinson cleared Carlton's congested goal-square from a bounce. Betts ran another ring around Harry O'Brien for his third and the Blues were looking every bit like winners with a magical seven goal term. A late goal to the Pies had narrowed the margin to 23 points at the first break but it was clear that Collingwood had the task in front of them.

The second term saw Collingwood employ their well documented plus one behind the ball and it initially appeared to have the desired effect. In their rush to get the ball forward the Blues often turning over to the loose man and though they still had plenty of possession and opportunity it seemed much of it was being squandered. Collingwood had chipped away and with three unanswered goals to the mid-point of the term, had reduced Carlton's lead to a mere nine points which was not much to show for all the Blues' early dominance. Good teams buckle down and fight on and that the Blues did. Jeff Garlett, quiet till now, marked and goaled from a tight angle to settle the Blues. Then Murphy scooped up the spillage from a marking contest in Carlton's goal square and slammed through another at full tilt. A somewhat wasteful 2.6 for the quarter had kept Collingwood alive but Carlton still held a handy 22 point lead at the main break.

An already undermanned Collingwood was stretched to the limit when Garlett created the night's highlight soon after the recommencement. After stealing the ball in mid-flight from an errant handball on the wing Garlett took off. Reaching top speed in a few short strides he bolted towards goal, bouncing the ball metres in front himself and leaving a trail of flailing defenders in his wake before dribbling through from 20m and bringing the Carlton crowd to their feet. Collingwood hung in there briefly with one of their own before Betts snagged his fourth after Ed Curnow had calmly popped one out in front for him to run on to. This started the run that was to break the Magpie spirit. Continued dominance at the clearances from Murphy and Judd, Carrazzo doing a marvellous blanket job on Pendlebury, inspiring hardness from Tuohy and great courage from Armfield all meant the dam would eventually burst. Four consecutive goals followed with a beautiful crumb and snap from Betts for his fifth among them. Carlton's six goal term producing a 47 point match winning lead as they headed to the huddle for the oranges.

The last quarter was something of a formality for the Blues. Collingwood were spent and the intensity from both teams didn't live up to the frantic pace of the earlier terms. Fittingly Murphy and Judd kicked the opening goals for Carlton getting some scoreboard reward for their superb efforts around the ground throughout the game. Now for the wait to see which of them gets the Brownlow votes. The Blues third and final goal came when Hampson roved a loose ball from a throw in. His unexpectedly assured pick-up, blind-turn, spin and snap goal was nothing short of amazing for man of 201 centimetres and 102 kilograms. A smile inducing party-trick to round out the rout was wonderful, as was the 60 point margin. A statement of intent in anyone's language.

Subs: Nick Duigan replaced Kane Lucas in the fourth quarter

Team

Milestones

Interesting Fact: This would be the first time since 1995 that Carlton would win all three first games (ie be 3-0), a feat that would not be repeated until 2022!
Interesting Fact: This would be the first time since Round 13, 2010 that each of Kreuzer, Waite and Jamison - crucial talls - would play in the same Carlton team.
Interesting Fact: It was Chris Judd's 50th Carlton win
Brownlow Votes: With his 2 Votes in this match (see below), Heath Scotland would bring up his 50th Brownlow Vote for the Carlton Football Club.

Brownlow Votes

3. Chris Judd, Carlton
2. Heath Scotland, Carlton
1. Marc Murphy, Carlton

Best & Fairest Votes

Andrew Carrazzo 45, Chris Judd 45, Marc Murphy 42, Eddie Betts 39, Lachie Henderson 36, Bryce Gibbs 35, Matthew Kreuzer 29, Heath Scotland 29, Jarrad Waite 7, Dennis Armfield 6

Ladder