Game Review

Blues disappointing in 56-point loss

A recap of the Round 17 AFL game. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media

Carlton has fallen by 56 points to Collingwood. Despite an even start, the Blues were blown away in the middle two quarters, falling 8.11 (59) to 17.13 (115). Zac Williams was a bright spark in attack with three goals - including the Blues’ first two of the night - but the Blues were unable to withhold the ladder-leading Magpies over the course of the night. The Blues conceded 12 goals in the middle two quarters while only registering three of their own, with the ball living in the Magpies’ forward half and the Blues unable to repel. Collingwood had the advantage in the contest all night, registering 15 more contested possessions in the first half while taking 22-7 contested marks over the course of the game, with Carlton unable to capitalise on its own opportunities when they did come. Errors with ball in hand were costly while the Blues couldn’t capitalise when they did go forward, only able to muster seven inside 50s for the second term with the Pies consistently taking intercept marks. The Blues defended resolutely but a goal on the half-time siren extended the buffer to 24 points, before the Pies piled on eight goals in the third term. Lachie Cowan fought hard on return with 20 disposals and eight marks, while Ashton Moir had some bright moments in the air and kicked his first goal on the MCG in the final term. The Blues will be back in action in six days against Brisbane at Marvel Stadium.

High-flying Pies pile more pain on struggling Blues

The Magpies have crushed the struggling Blues at the MCG - By Gemma Bastiani at the MCG.

Friday night. The MCG. Against its greatest rival. It was a chance for Carlton to prove it was up for the fight, but instead it was Collingwood that dug the boot in. The 17.13 (115) to 8.11 (59) scoreline was established across nine different goalkickers from the Pies, while the Blues' most dangerous player – Zac Williams – was substituted out of the game at three-quarter time with a knee injury. Under the pump and with a coach under pressure, the Blues handed fans some hope in the opening quarter, down by just one straight kick at the first break. But things fell apart, and fell apart quickly, ultimately allowing Collingwood to cruise toward an eighth straight win. There was a distinct lack of chemistry at each end for Carlton. In defence, it was contesting one another for the intercept, without a Pie in sight, and up forward balls were being sent to the advantage of the well-drilled Collingwood defence. In contrast, the Pies' backline waxed and waned as a unit, supporting each other to win the footy, and hit up leads in the forward line with pinpoint kicks.

Isaac Quaynor (three contested marks, six intercept possessions) and Darcy Moore (three contested marks, 10 intercept possessions) worked beautifully together behind the play, and they were so comfortable that Jeremy Howe was subbed out with more than a quarter left in the match. Collingwood played proactive footy. Its repeat efforts and willingness to spread quickly caught the Blues out time and time again. The contested possession metric, which the Pies won 135-117, proved that hardness and workrate. And this was evident not only in the fight to win the ball, but in the elite closing pressure it applied. Unsurprisingly, it was the likes of Nick Daicos (36 disposals, seven clearances) and Josh Daicos (27 disposals, 555 metres gained) who got the ball moving in an attacking manner. The pressure game was especially effective given Carlton's want to move the ball around by hand, whereas the Pies were determined to move the ball by foot – to great effect. There was a real desire from the Pies to play a front-half game, bringing the pressure inside 50, and setting up well 80m from goal. With 13 tackles inside 50 from 60 entries, it repeatedly challenged the Carlton defence. Mitch McGovern's night battling Jamie Elliott was emblematic of this concern. The Pies' midfielders were drawing Elliott to the ball with neat kicks going forward, while McGovern was repeatedly caught on his heels trailing. With four goals for the match, Elliott took his season tally to 41, the most he has ever kicked in a single season with seven home and away rounds still to play.

The second half Blues
Second halves have been a problem all season for Carlton, and on Friday evening that was under a harsh spotlight. A competitive opening quarter whereby the Blues trailed by just one goal fell away, and did so significantly. In the second half Carlton was outscored by 32 points, as it was powerless in the face of Collingwood's attacking momentum. At the source, the Blues couldn't maintain possession, in the air, it was the Pies winning out, and on the deck, Collingwood's speed and early decision making had it in the box seat to win the footy.

Making a meal of it
Things looked worrying for Carlton just seven minutes into the game. A flying shot on goal from the Pies seemed an easy kill for both Jacob Weitering and Harry O'Farrell who were sitting in the defensive goalsquare. But both ran at the footy, Weitering shaping to spoil, and O'Farrell wanting to take a chest mark, and in the mix of it all, the ball evaded both defenders and bounced through the big sticks. Upon review, Blues fans breathed a sigh of relief as the slow motion replay showed the ball grazed the bicep of O'Farrell on the way through. But ultimately, it was a concerning suggestion of the state of Carlton's defensive organisation and communication.

The rivalry continues
It's not the last time that Carlton and Collingwood will go head-to-head this year. The clubs will face off to open the NAB AFLW season kicking off on Friday, August 14. Launching the 10th season of the League, the Blues and the Pies give a nod to the very first AFLW match played back in 2017. Back then it was Jasmine Garner kicking the first goal in the competition's history, Darcy Vescio kicking four, and Lauren Arnell leading the Blues out. This time around it will be No.1 draft pick Ash Centra donning the black and white, and father-daughter selection Sophie McKay in the navy blue.

Best: T. De Koning, P. Cripps, J. Weitering, A. Cerra, Z. Williams.

'We let our club down': Voss laments Blues' unacceptable performance.

The Blues must accept whatever comes their way for a "really poor performance" against the Magpies, coach Michael Voss says. - By Gemma Bastiani at the MCG

In front of more than 75,000 people against its arch-rival at the MCG, Carlton let its fans down, according to coach Michael Voss. A 56-point loss to Collingwood – a margin that ultimately flattered the Blues – came due to poor skill execution and decision making, and was exacerbated by six changes at the selection table during the week. "We let our club down tonight," Voss said frankly. "We want our supporters to be proud of us, and we didn't do that tonight. There's an expectation on the way we want to be able to play, and we didn't do that tonight. So, that's something that we're going to have to sit with. Not going to avoid that conversation, we'll have to cop our whack. "We have to cop it because we can't tolerate that. That was a really poor performance." After a strong start, whereby the Blues trailed by just one goal at the first break, Collingwood took hold of the game, winning contested footy and turning that into damaging attack. Across the second and third terms, the Pies outscored Carlton 78-24, putting paid to the game.

Voss took his leaders aside at three-quarter time to address the freefall, and ultimately won the final quarter by four points. "It's more about standards. What standards do we accept, and what standards are we accepting from one another right now?" Voss said of the conversation. "So, what feedback do we actually give to one another and how direct do we need to give it? Because there's a sense of urgency in that moment to be able to correct, and we weren't able to do that, so engaging the leaders was effectively that conversation." Unfortunately, it was simply too little, too late for the Blues. "We got the response, but it's too late… you still want to see actions that show that, you know, what are the winning behaviours that we want to continue to promote at this football club?" Voss said.

Team

B:	22 Harry O'Farrell	23 Jacob Weitering	11 Mitch McGovern
HB:	2 Lachlan Cowan	26 Nick Haynes	15 Sam Docherty
C:	36 Cooper Lord	9 Patrick Cripps (c)	13 Blake Acres
HF:	8 Lachie Fogarty	12 Tom De Koning	6 Zac Williams
F:	14 Orazio Fantasia	30 Charlie Curnow	43 Ashton Moir
Ruck:	27 Marc Pittonet	4 Oliver Hollands	29 George Hewett
Interchange:	32 Matthew Carroll	5 Adam Cerra	3 Jesse Motlop
	44 Francis Evans
Substitute:	45 Flynn Young
Coach:	Michael Voss
Emergencies:	35 Billy Wilson	19 Corey Durdin	33 Lewis Young

In: Harry O'Farrell, Lachlan Cowan, Ashton Moir, Marc Pittonet, Matthew Carroll, Francis Evans.
Out: Jordan Boyd (omitted), Lewis Young (omitted), Billy Wilson (omitted), Alex Cincotta (omitted) Jack Silvagni (groin), Adam Saad (concussion)

Substitute: Flynn Young (replaced Zac Williams at three-quarter time).

Free Kicks

Carlton 11
Collingwood 14

Front Runners

Cooper Lord 15.1km
Oliver Hollands 14.9km
Blake Acres 14.6km

Milestones

150 Games as Captain: Patrick Cripps

AFLCA Votes

10 - Nick Daicos (COLL)
8 - Darcy Moore (COLL)
5 - Darcy Cameron (COLL)
5 - Jamie Elliott (COLL)
2 - Daniel McStay (COLL)

Brownlow Votes

3 - Nick Daicos (COLL)
2 - Jamie Elliott (COLL)
1 - Darcy Moore (COLL)