Five must-see matches for Carlton in 2022.
Written by Ari Stamatakos
Throughout the 2022 Pre-season, Blue Abroad will be providing content to cover everything you need to know about the Carlton Football Club. For what should be an exciting and intriguing 2022, let's take an in-depth look at some players on the Carlton list and preview their 2022 season.
Firstly, of course, every match for the Blues, in every season, are must-see. Especially after the unpredictable nature of the last two seasons, you never know if you're going to get showtime Blues, the ones that smash St. Kilda by five goals. Or the coward Blues, the ones that get belted by North Melbourne.
However, these are five games that are not only are must-see but will define the season as it being a success or another failure.
Round 1 v Richmond
Well, of course, it is. The last time the Carlton Football Club beat Richmond in round one was in 2012. 10, long years in which the Blues haven't beaten the Tigers in round one and have only beat them three times in any fixture since.
It’s been the measuring stick for the Blues in recent times. Especially since the Tigers flag success, it's always been the match to the Blues fans look towards, to see if we have improved. When looking back at the results, it really means nothing.
In 2018, the Blues went five goals up in the first quarter, held that lead until halfway through the last and choked, losing by five goals. That season they only won two games.
The following year, the Tigers got out to 40 points lead before the Blues kicked a goal. Despite a ‘valiant’ comeback, Richmond won by five goals. That season, the Blues went 1-11 and then sacked their coach.
In 2020, pretty much the exact same scenario. Tigers early lead, Blues ‘comeback’, Richmond win by four goals. That season, another poor display by a side that had enormous expectations.
2021, much the same. Despite being more competitive, Carlton fall away in the last quarter, losing by four goals. Then have another underwhelming season.
No matter the result, no matter the year, this result, means nothing. The only time it will mean something, is when Carlton win. Once the Blues get over this mental hurdle, then they will be in business.
If the Blues put up a valiant effort, only to go down by four goals, again, then all the off-season talk, all the acquisitions would mean nothing. Because we have been here before. We have seen this story time after time and until it changes, the Blues will perform as they have been season after season.
History only repeats itself, to those who don’t learn from it. Carlton cant be going through this again, this mental bloke has been holding this club back for years. This is the year where it can break the wall down.
Round 2 v Western Bulldogs
As aforementioned, Carlton hasn't beaten Richmond in round one since 2012. Another stat that ties into the importance of this match, is, the last time Carlton started a season, not 0-2, was in 2012.
For nine seasons, Carlton has lost their opening two games of the season, essentially putting them so far behind the competition, it would take a miracle for them to mount any run at success.
For the Blues to mount a profound run at finals football, going at least, 1-1 is borderline mandatory. And based on the Blues’ history in round 1, that burden on this match increases 10-fold.
When you take the above point, and couple this with the heartbreak that the Doggies gave the Blues fans last season, revenge is on the cards. Carlton’s last quarter capitulation broke the season and ended any hope of finals.
Considering the unbelievable start Carlton had in the match, it made the heartbreak even more painful. The Blues have always played well against the Dogs. Even during the period of time when Carlton was massively underperforming, they found a way to be competitive against the Dogs.
This makes this round two clash absolutely vital; they know they can beat them, it's now up to them to perform in a high-pressure environment.
Round 14 v Richmond
Another Richmond match, however, maybe not for the reason everyone thinks. Yes, the Blues haven't beat the Tigers in a long time. Yes, the Tigers have been the measuring stick of the competition for a long time.
However, for the last couple of seasons, this has been the period during the season where the Blues down tools and put a line through the season. We will see what the new regime is made of, by around round 14.
This is where the new manager hype has died down, the unpredictability has worn off, and we will be judged by our pure footballing ability.
As well as this, this clash will be the third of three big ‘derby’ games in a row. With Essendon and Collingwood being played before this match.
Depending on the results of the previous games, this game could make or break the rest of 2022 for the Blues. With three high-pressure matches in a row, this will test the mentality of the Blues, and really push them to the brink. These three games will be the closest to finals like atmospheres on back-to-back-to-back occasions.
With the final match being against the hardest opposition, a win here will show the Carlton faithful that all the off-season talk and promise, might come to fruition.
Round 22 v Melbourne
Coming towards the business end of the season, this is normally the period where they ‘rest’ their key players and play the kids as, normally, there isn’t anything to play for. Most Carlton fans, by this point, have mentally checked out of the season and are going through the motions.
Watching each match without any real expectations but still enthusiastic enough to have that glimmer of hope each week. The reason why this match is so must watch is - partly because of the opposition.
However, it's also because Carlton fans won't have watched a match, this late on in the season, with such intrigue in a long, long time.
Going back to the opposition. Whenever the pressure is on, the Blues very rarely perform. Countless times, when the pressure is on, the Blues capitulate.
If they want to be treated like a serious threat to the competition, then they need to perform when the pressure is at its absolute maximum. And what better time to prove the doubters wrong. Reigning champs, second last round, finals (hopefully) still in the balance - the pressure won't get any higher.
This is a massive game for the Blues to prove themselves.
Round 23 v Collingwood
We had to get a Collingwood match in here. It’s the match that every Carlton fan pencils down when the fixtures come out, it's the one where you build a whole day around it.
It's the match where the night before, you can't sleep, thinking about all the possible scenarios. It’s the match that you hate waking up to. It's the match you hate driving to the ground to go and watch. It's the match you hate, right up until the first bounce. It’s the match you hate all the way until the final siren. It's the match you can only love when the final siren has blown, and you’ve won.
Not many Carlton fans will forget both games against Collingwood last season. The agony of the first outing versus the absolute ecstasy of the second one, it couldn't have been two more opposite matches.
Imagine the scenes if the Blues secure finals football for the first time in a decade, at the expense of the archenemy.
However, it would also be a nightmare, should the Blues miss out on a finals spot, because of the Pies. Therefore, you can’t like a match against the Pies, until the end, and you’ve won.
