2024 Opening Round - What did we learn?
Written by Josh Gulabovski
Breath. Can you believe it? No, no, can you really believe what we witnessed on Friday night? After what seemed like a dire start to our 2024 campaign, the Blues turned the tables and pulled off the seemingly impossible as they heroically fought back from an almost insurmountable 46 points deficit to claim an Opening Round victory at the Gabba. Even more impressive is the fact that Carlton’s opening round win brought an end to the 14-game winning home streak for the Brisbane Lions dating all the way back to Round 23 2022.
Entering the inaugural Opening Round without two key cogs to the Carlton machine in Walsh and Wietering, the Blues faced a formidable challenge against the Lions as we looked to secure our first win at the Gabba since Round 9, 2013. Unsurprisingly, it was the premiership favourites who jumped out of the blocks as they asserted their dominance right from the outset. The Lions wasted no time in quickly building a daunting 46-point lead that threatened to extinguish any hope of a Carlton comeback.
In such dire circumstances, the Carlton faithful both travelling and in front of their TVs naturally looked to our stalwarts and superstars for something to claw us back into the contest. When called upon, it was those superstars who delivered, however, it was the emergence of a young seventh gamer in Jack Carroll that truly caught the eye of every Carlton supporter.
Pick 41 in the 2021 AFL Draft, a young Jack Carroll from East Fremantle in WA, may be slowly becoming the next bull in the Carlton midfield. Entering the game as the substitute for an injured Sam Docherty, Jack Carroll delivered a performance that contradicted his relative inexperience, collecting ten touches and a crucial third quarter goal to help the Blues secure a memorable one-point win. Carroll’s contribution played a pivotal role in the Blues spirited fightback, earning him well-deserved recognition as one of the standout performers in Friday night’s one-point win.
What truly set Carroll apart was his remarkable composure, there was no better example of this than his critical goal in the third quarter to bring the deficit back to just two points. For a player with such little experience, Carroll’s ability to thrive under pressure and impact the game decisively spoke volumes about his potential. After enduring endless speculation from armchair pundits about Carroll's readiness for the big stage, his performance against the Lions finally laid any doubts to rest. It was a glimpse into the promising future that lies ahead for Jack Carroll and the Carlton Football Club.
Next is Richmond at the home of football, the MCG, and an opportunity for young Jack Carroll to build on his Opening round performance and take his opportunity in that Carlton midfield with both hands. Under the guidance of one of the greatest midfielders in coach Michael Voss, along with the star power of Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra, the ceiling for Jack Carroll is truly limitless.
