Game Review

Blues show fight in scrappy win over arch rival
Carlton has recorded a fourth straight win over Essendon. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media

And breathe. Carlton has kept its winning run going in gripping fashion, prevailing by five points over Essendon at the MCG. Needing to come from behind after trailing by as much as 23 points in the second term, the Blues surged home in the second half to prevail 10.12 (72) to 10.7 (67). Emotions were sure to run high in the now-traditional King’s Birthday Eve clash, with the capacity crowd of 76,745 at the MCG belying the ladder positions of the two sides at the midway point of the season. It was clear from the outset that the Bombers were well and truly up for the contest, with the Blues needing to absorb their pressure and numerous inside 50s for the home side. Talor Byrne kicked Carlton’s opening goal of the contest in response to Essendon’s opener, but it was Ben McKay who got the first laugh between the two brothers, kicking his first goal to give the Bombers an early lead. Carlton was undeniably scrappy in the early going of the contest, playing into Essendon’s pressure as the Blues were unable to capitalise when they had ball in hand. That trend continued to start the second term, with Essendon’s midfield getting on top and its forwards reaping the rewards, opening up a three-goal lead. The Blues’ McKay loomed large at the other end and played a lone hand in the second term from a goalkicking perspective, kicking both of his side’s goals from set shots to keep the Blues within striking distance.

Regrettably for the Blues, their other opportunities weren’t seized, only mustering two goals from seven scoring shots for the quarter while the Bombers went at 100 per cent in front of goal to open up a half-time lead. When the teams come out for the second half, the Bombers had the top six ball-winners on the ground for the quarter, but the Blues were much more clinical going forward than they had been in the first half. Tempers threatened to boil over as spotfires bobbed up everywhere between the two arch rivals. After McKay kicked his third with the most Stephen Kernahan of finishes, George Hewett and Brodie Kemp repeated the dosage to have the Blues level at the last change, with the Blues’ defensive setup holding up much stronger in the third term - they conceded only two scoring shots from 12 forward entries. At the other end, the Blues converted 11 inside 50s into six scoring shots - although inefficiency in front of goal prevented the Blues from taking the lead into three-quarter time. After trailing for much of the night, Carlton hit the front early in the last term, with an outstanding defensive effort from Mitch McGovern setting up Ben Ainsworth for his first. Harry Dean continued to defend brilliantly, keeping danger man Nate Caddy to just six disposals and holding up on the last line once again. When Kemp, Byrne and then Will Hayward converted to open up a three-goal gap, the Blues looked home - but two late goals to the Bombers made for a nervy final centre clearance. Carlton held on for the second straight week, making it four consecutive wins against the arch rival - and four straight victories in the last month of football. The Blues will have the bye next weekend before heading to Sydney to take on GWS in Round 15.

Blues deny brave Bombers to notch fourth win in a row
Carlton has defeated Essendon by five points - AFL.com

Carlton has won the Interim Coach Cup in a thriller against arch-rival Essendon by five points on Sunday night. It was a low-scoring, and at times scrappy spectacle, the Blues came back from a 23 point deficit in the second term to win 10.12.72 to Essendon’s 10.7.67 on King’s Birthday Eve at the MCG in front of a crowd of 76,745. The Bombers led for the first three quarters of the match, but after the half-time break, the Blues slowly chipped away at Essendon’s lead, taking the front for the first time at the one-minute mark in the final term. From there, the Blues extended their lead to 18 points, kicking the next four goals in a row. But the young Bombers never gave in, fighting it out until the final siren with majors to Nate Caddy and Zach Reid putting them within a goal with less than 20 seconds remaining. The Bombers were unable to get the final clearance, much to the relief of the Blues, making it four wins in a row under caretaker coach Josh Fraser. Carlton kicked seven goals after half-time, led by spearhead full forward Ben McKay who kicked a game-high three goals. Scuffles between the two sides broke out across the ground as tempers flared in the third term as the Blues began to bring back the lead, the Bombers going into their shells under the pressure.

The momentum of the game shifted after the main break coinciding with a masterful coaching decision to put Blues midfielder George Hewett onto Essendon’s Sam Durham. Durham had been outstanding in the first half with 21 disposals next to his name, but with Hewett following his every move, the young Bomber’s impact was limited to nine disposals after half-time. The Blues’ three goals in the third quarter put them back in the game and when they kicked the first four of the final term, it looked like game over. In the dying moments of the game Harry McKay controversially took a mark 60 metres out and told the umpire he was having a shot on goal deliberately winding down the clock, with his kick eventually dropping 30 metres short. But the final two goals to Caddy - who had had an 'almost' night - and Reid put the game in the balance with seconds remaining. But it was too late, the Blues holding on to register their fifth win for the season.

Two rising stars go head to head
In a look to the future of these two clubs, the game produced the mouthwatering match-up of Blues young defender and round 12 Rising Star Harry Dean lining up on talented young Bombers forward Nate Caddy. In a battle that fans of these two clubs can look forward to for a long time, the two wrestled out the match in what was an even contest. Though Dean kept Caddy to just the one major, Caddy had a number of electric moments, whilst Dean was able to get his hands on the footy more with 15 disposals.

McKays kicking goals at both ends
Under interim coach Dean Solomon, Ben McKay has switched from defender to forward. In his second consecutive game up the scoring end, Ben McKay kicked two goals, whilst at the other end his identical twin Harry, kicked three of his own. It’s just the second time the two have played against each other at AFL level in their 11-year careers.

Best: H. McKay, G. Hewett, N. Newman, J. Smith, S. Walsh.

Work to do, but Blues find a way in fourth straight win
Josh Fraser speaks on Carlton's Round 13 win. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media

Found a way to win.
It wasn’t always pretty, but a five-point win ensured Carlton kept its momentum rolling heading into the bye after the King’s Birthday Eve triumph over Essendon. Having to come back from 23 points down against a spirited Essendon outfit, the Blues hit the front early in the last quarter and held strong against the arch rival to make it four consecutive victories.

On how the game played out:
“It was probably the start we expected: all credit to Essendon and the way they set the game up, the spirit in which they played. It wasn’t unexpected from our end. It’s another challenge for us and great learning in how to handle those occasions. I didn’t think we played particularly well tonight, and again, all credit to Essendon with the pressure they applied. “We were able to hang in long enough and take some important moments in the second half. We challenged ourselves around work rate at half time, and our midfield getting to work a bit more. It looked a bit better in the second half.”

On what needed to change after a slow start:
“We were a bit frustrated in the box with how we were moving the ball inside 50. I think it’s an area of the game we’ve got a fair bit of work to keep doing. It looked better after half time and we were able to bypass a lot of their numbers at different stages to get some cleaner looks heading inside 50. Our forwards got to work a bit more. “There’s a template for what it looks like when we’re at our best, but that’s an area we’ve got more to do in.”

On how the midfield battle changed in the second half: “Some of the method around stoppage, we weren’t loving. Leigh Adams has done a great job with our midfield, and again tonight, the way he controlled that part of the game and made adjustments… we sent Hewett to Durham in the second half which had an impact. “It was largely around our method and making sure our starting points were strong. We coughed the ball up a lot in the first half, we had to tidy that up. Credit to the players: they were met with some challenges, we challenged them at half time and they responded. That’s another sign of us moving forward.”

On not taking opportunities in the first half: “From the transition aspect, our fundamentals and execution wasn’t at the level we would expect. That made it hard, it fed their game at different stages. We set the field up reasonably well and had options to move the ball, but we weren’t as clean as we would’ve liked. “In the second half, we were able to make a few adjustments and we got more reward for effort moving the ball inside 50. That’s another part of the game we need to become more consistent at.”

On winning four consecutive games:
“I haven’t stopped to think too much about it. I said when this opportunity arose that we were going to be very process-driven around what our Monday-Friday looks like, and give ourselves the best chance to perform on the weekend. We’ve seen some big growth, but we’re aware we’ve got a long way to go. “I haven’t looked too far ahead and I haven’t stopped to reflect too much, other than what learnings we can take forward and how we get to work. I’m proud of the group with the inroads we’ve made. We just had a team meeting then: we’re all really aware that we have work to do and we’re not a finished product.”

On what recent weeks have done for the group:
“It’s lifted morale, winning does that. But there’s a process attached to it. I’d like to think we’re not fluking results: there’s a consistent approach to the way we’re playing and being able to win different ways. That’s what tonight presented. “I can’t heap enough praise on Essendon with the way they attacked the game and the pressure they brought: it challenged us in different ways. We were able to manage that over the course of the game. It’s important to learn how to win, and also manage winning and the expectation that comes with that. That’s what we’re learning to do.”

On Harry McKay’s performance, playing against his brother for the second time:
“What I know about Harry is he’s had some really big moments for us - it’s easy to say in the last month, because we’ve got results, but his game has been threatening to open up for a while. Going into the ruck has helped him, he looks more than competent in there and he’s able to give ‘Pitto’ some rest who has carried a big load for us. “Harry’s aerial presence, his ability to kick goals, being able to go into the ruck - his game looks more rounded. He’s another experienced player that we’ll challenge to keep getting better and find ways to improve. His game tonight was really important, and he’s leading - he’s making others around him better.”

On further emergence of youth:
“Really exciting. It’s been so important that we’ve had experienced players leading and playing well, so our inexperienced youth can come into the team and play roles. Their development has been really exciting. The best part about them is their resilience in games, where it might not be clicking for them straight away but they’re having really important moments. “They’re all very team-oriented and they’ve got a want and appetite to bring pressure and energise their teammates. The break has come at a good time for our young guys, and we expect them to bounce into the Club when we return and keep getting better.”

On what the bye represents for the Club:
“We spoke in there about how we handle the break, and it’s important that the players get away to recharge and refresh. They’ll go about that in a really professional manner. It’s an opportunity for them to be better prepared for when they come back to the Club, and it’s also a chance for our staff to refresh. “Our coaching group, our high performance team, our footy department more broadly have done a power of work and they deserve to get a few days back. It’s important we handle this break well. There’s a level of trust that we will, and when we return to the Club we’ll be energised to get working again.”

On VFL performances:
“There’s guys pressing for selection. We’re trying some players in different roles and trying to find different avenues for players to come back into the team. The pleasing thing is the players in the AFL side are holding up their end of the bargain and playing well. “The challenge for guys playing at VFL level is to continue to perform well on the weekend, and also train incredibly well. That’s another way to perform, we’re driving our training standards as hard as we are on game day.”

On Sam Walsh:
“His shoulder has been a bit grumbly, he’ll appreciate a couple of days to recharge but he came back onto the field. He’s tough as nails and had a terrific start to the season for us, he’s led the way beautifully. This time of year, most players are carrying some soreness - he’s okay.”

In: Wade Derksen
Out: Jacob Weitering (calf)

Milestones

50 Games: Lachlan Cowan
150 Goals (AFL): Ben Ainsworth
Career High Two Goals in a Game Talor Byrne
Last Game: Flynn Young

Interesting Facts

1. Harry McKay amd his twin Ben McKay were the leading goal scorers for their respective teams.
2. Will Setterfield's most recent win in the Essendon vs Carlton game was the Blues' one-pointer in Round 4, 2020. He missed the 2021-22 wins before switching to the Bombers and missing the 2023 win. He played in the 2024-25 losses.
3. The AFL had a record crowd of 390,753 attend this round of footy, surpassing the previous record of 367,974 set in Round 22, 1998.

Free Kicks

Carlton 19
Essendon 24

Umpires

Craig Fleer, Jack Howard, Cameron Dore, Eleni Tee.

Reports

Sullivan Robey (ESS) careless contact with an umpire - fixed financial sanction of $1,000 with an early plea.
George Hewett (CARL) careless contact with an umpire - charge challenged and dismissed.
Patrick Cripps (CARL) careless contact with an umpire - charge challenged and upheld, fixed financial sanction of $1,000 with an early plea.
Ben Ainsworth (CARL) instigator of a melee/wrestle - fixed financial sanction of $1,000 with an early plea.
Lachlan Blakiston (ESS) instigator of a melee/wrestle, fixed financial sanction of $1,000 with an early plea.
Jacob Farrow (ESS) misconduct against Brodie Kemp (CARL) - fixed financial sanction of $1,000 with an early plea.

Front Runners

1. Archer Day-Wicks (Essendon) 14.6km.
2. Kyle Langford (Essendon) 14.2km
3. Xavier Duursma (Essendon) 14.1km.
4. Zach Merrett (Essendon) 13.9km.
5. Nick Haynes (Carlton) 13.6km.

Disposal Efficiency

1. Adam Cerra 89%
2, Nick Haynes 88%
2. Sam Walsh 88%
3. Oliver Florent 87%
3. Harry Dean 87%
3. Nic Newman 87%

AFLCA Votes

8 - Sam Durham (ESS)
7 - Zach Reid (ESS)
6 - Harry McKay (CARL)
6 - George Hewett (CARL)
2 - Will Setterfield (ESS)
1 - Nic Newman (CARL)

Brownlow Votes

3 George Hewett
1 Harry McKay

Best and Fairest Votes

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