Goalkickers: L. Henderson 2, M. Robinson, T. Bell, L. Casboult, B. Gibbs, R. Warnock, B. McLean, A. Everitt, J. Garlett 1.

Umpires: D. Harris, C. Kamolins, B. Rosebury

Injuries: Tom Bell (fractured finger).

Ladder: 16th

Game Review

In perhaps their worst effort to date in a dreadful season for the club, Carlton was utterly demolished by a disciplined Collingwood side on this Friday night in front of more than 68,000 at the MCG. Although hard-hit by injury, the Blues had no answer to the Magpies’ intensity, and slumped to their fifth defeat of the season after managing only a miserable 2.7 in the first three quarters. They restored some pride by adding 8.3 in a last-term onslaught, but were still well-beaten by six goals.

Coming off successive wins over the Western Bulldogs and West Coast Eagles, Carlton had faint hopes of resurrecting their season with a win over the Magpies, until their prospects dived with two key withdrawals. When Chris Yarran’s hamstring strain ruled him out on selection night, Andrew Carrazzo was an adequate replacement. However, only hours before the first bounce, Carrazzo and Jarrad Waite both withdrew, so midfielder Tom Bell and first-year recruit Sam Docherty were called up. Troy Menzel was named as the Blues’ substitute. Extra piquancy was added to this clash because it was the first game against his old club for Carlton’s high-profile recruit Dale Thomas. The animosity toward him from the black and white masses was palpable even during the warm-up. A chorus of boos greeted him from all sections of the crowd when the teams ran out, and persisted throughout the game.

The match got off to a perfect start for Carlton, when Mitch Robinson launched himself onto the shoulders of his opponent to take a sensational mark, and goaled from 40 metres out. Thomas won a free-kick in a similar position a minute later, but shanked the shot and it dropped short to be punched through for a behind. From then on, the quarter (and indeed the game) belonged to the Pies, whose tackling, pressure and field kicking was far superior, and at the first break they were up by 14 points.

The second quarter was almost a fiasco for the Blues, who rarely penetrated the Collingwood defence and added a miserable 3 behinds in 28 minutes of often dumb, timid football. Meanwhile, Collingwood added 4.2 to stretch their lead to 37 points at half-time. The tackle count was 37 to 21 in the Magpies’ favour by then, they were on top all over the ground and the game was as good as over.

Carlton supporters spent the third quarter with their hands on their heads in disgust, or covering their eyes as the rout continued. At long last - nine minutes into the term, Tom Bell swooped on a loose ball and ran into an open goal for Carlton’s second major of the match. The Blues’ field kicking remained poor and their confidence was shot, and only Collingwood’s inconsistent shooting for goal kept the margin between the teams to 56 points at three-quarter time.

With every right to do so, Blues coach Mick Malthouse quietly but emphatically ripped into his team during the last break, and the Blues regained at least some pride by outscoring Collingwood by 8.3 to 4.5 in the final term. But the horse had well and truly bolted by then. The Pies had lifted their foot from the gas pedal, and the result was never in doubt.

It’s always difficult to find positives after a defeat such as this, although three Blues who emerged from this debacle with their reputations intact were Kade Simpson, Simon White and first-gamer Sam Docherty. In a typically gutsy effort, ‘Simmo’ never stopped trying to lift his side, and his disposal efficiency of 83% was testament to his coolness under pressure. In perhaps the best game of his career so far, White was Carlton’s only clear winner all match, while Docherty won his share of contested possession at both ends of the ground in a solid debut.

Subs: Troy Menzel replaced Kane Lucas during the third quarter.

Team

* Tom Bell and Sam Docherty replaced Andrew Carrazzo and Jarrad Waite in the selected side

Milestones

Debut (Carlton): Sam Docherty
Last game: Heath Scotland
Celebration Games: This was a 150th celebration for the Blues. We wore a special 150th guernsey in this game, but it was not to be....

Brownlow Votes

3. Jamie Elliott, Collingwood
2. Dayne Beams, Collingwood
1. Tom Langdon, Collingwood

Best & Fairest Votes

Simon White 6, Sam Rowe 4, Andrejs Everitt 3, Mitch Robinson 3, Robert Warnock 3,

Ladder