THE WRAP UP ROUND 12 VS FREMANTLE
Written by Joseph Addamo
Each week, Blue Abroad’s “The Wrap Up” takes a different perspective on Carlton’s post-match review. “The Wrap Up” will provide insights and stats supporting the key trends, moments and patterns of the game that held most influence over the final result. This is your Round 12 Wrap Up following last night’s fairytale finish vs. Fremantle.
Everyone knew it would be an interesting game of football when viewers tuned in and saw Kade Simpson playing in the rain with short sleeves. “Interesting” turned out to be the understatement of the year! There’s just something about playing Fremantle in Perth, and Blues fans would have been thinking that last year’s Marc Murphy banana surely couldn’t have been topped.
With steady rain falling to open the game, it was looking like whoever could win the territory battle and lock it inside their forward half would go on to win the match. Early on, it was all Fremantle. 14 straight Inside 50s in the first quarter and 65% time in their forward half proved too much for Carlton’s backline, conceding the first three goals of the match. Matthew Taberner (3 goals, 3 Contested Marks) looked threatening early, kicking the first goal of the game with Jacob Weitering (9 Disposals, 1 Mark) looking out of his depth for the first time in 2020.
Nat Fyfe and Luke Ryan looked dangerous for the Dockers early and continued their effort throughout the night. Although the influence of Fyfe when resting forward was curtailed by Lachie Plowman and Liam Jones, his game high 6 Inside 50s and 5 Score Involvements highlighted his impact out of the Midfield. As referenced in last week’s Preview, Luke Ryan was once again the cornerstone and architect of Fremantle’s Defence. Ryan had 24 Disposals for the night at 79% Efficiency. His game high 14 Intercepts and ability to launch effectively from deep inside Fremantle’s Defensive Half set the tone and challenged Carlton’s ability to lock the ball inside forward 50. It wasn’t until the 12 minute mark in the second quarter that the Blues finally broke through this to kick their first goal of the game. Levi Casboult (1 Goal, 11 Hitouts, 3 Contested Marks) worked the Ruck contest against Sean Darcy and snapped truly from 25m out. 5 minutes later it was another snap, this time by second-gamer Matthew Cottrell (1 Goal, 14 Kicks, 360 Metres Gained), kicking his first goal in Blues colours. It was a tight affair, with Fremantle heading into half time leading the Blues by a 2-goal margin, 4.3 (27) to 2.3 (15).
The third quarter saw the Blues start to roll, as the heavens closed and the conditions began to dry. Ed Curnow (33 Disposals, 10 Clearances, 536 Metres Gained, 6 Inside 50s) seemed as though he was first to the ball at almost every Stoppage, the clear best-on-ground for the evening. Patrick Cripps also lifted in the second half, gathering 20 Contested Possessions for the game to go with 8 Clearances and 6 Tackles, setting the standard once again for the Blues Midfield unit. Carlton’s dominance in the third quarter was mounting, with repeat Inside 50 entries negating the Fremantle forward 50 entrires from the first quarter (the Inside 50 count finished at 42-41 just in favour of Fremantle). Sam Walsh (24 Disposals, 511 Metres Gained, 1 Goal) broke the deadlock and the Blues looked as though they would run away with the game. However, finishing with 2.5 in front of goal for the quarter made it seem as though Carlton would rue their missed opportunities. We’d been here before, and it looked like the same old story would unfold.
There were no goals kicked in regulation time in the final quarter. Harry McKay and Liam Jones both had set shots at goal with less than 1:30 to go, but neither could convert. The Blues would have one last roll of the dice through Sam Docherty with 20 seconds on the clock, and Carlton fans’ hearts sank as the ball was shanked out of bounds off his boot. Then, disbelief. “Down field” were the words heard over the umpire mics. 9 seconds on the clock. Enter Jack “Clutch” Newnes. Pushing the cameraman, security guard and the pressure of the entire football world aside in an instant, Newnes was staring at the most impossible kick to win the game after the siren. It was an almost identical opportunity that Robbie Gray was faced with when he broke Blue hearts in Round 7 earlier this season. With 57 Fremantle players on the mark, Newnes kicked truly and the ball never looked like missing. Carlton players and fans alike were sent into pure pandemonium as the Blues came away with a win for the ages. After being on the wrong end of these results far too many times, does it really get any better than that?
BREAKING IT DOWN: KEY MATCH INSIGHTS
Doctor, Doctor, give me the NEWNES! Newnes has gone from strength to strength as his first season in Carlton colours has progressed. He had kicked 8.2 for the season out of the Midfield prior to Round 12’s game vs. Fremantle, with his 9th goal proving to be the biggest of his career. There’s nothing more that needs saying about that kick – it seemed impossible to everyone, except Newnes. The confidence he showed under pressure was phenomenal. It wasn’t the only impact Newnes had on the game as well, toiling all night to lay 8 Tackles (a game high) and gather 12 Disposals. This man will stay in the hearts and minds of Carlton fans for years to come after those heroics.
Fresh Faces: Carlton faced a lack of physical presence in the absence of Marc Pittonet in Ruck contests as well as the outside polish that Jack Martin brings week in-week out. Tom De Koning (21 Hitouts, 2 Clearances, 5 Contested Possessions) was given the task of combatting Sean Darcy (41 Hitouts), battling well at ground level although being beaten in the Hitouts comprehensively on the night. Matthew Cottrell was given his second straight outing and delivered with all 14 of his Disposals being Kicks, one of which was the first Goal of his career. Cottrell’s energy and his endeavor around the contest was infectious and will go a long way in holding his spot in the Senior side heading into Friday’s contest against the Gold Coast. Josh Honey only had 4 disposals playing along the half forward line, but a clean pickup in trying conditions in the third quarter and ability to find space were promising signs for the 18 year old Rookie.
Curnow and Cripps’ Clearance Class: With 18 Clearances out of Carlton’s 43 between them, Curnow and Cripps were on a mission from the get-go. Curnow turned in a best-on-ground performance with 33 Disposals acting as the coal that ignited the Teague Train engine room as the game progressed. Cripps, showed his full worth after half time, getting in and under and releasing the ball to the outside run of Zac Fisher and marc Murphy multiple times in a dominant third quarter. Cripps finished with a game high 20 Contested Possessions to go with 8 Clearances. While it can’t always be left up to the usual veteran heads when the going gets tough, their ability to stand up and show this level of leadership and effort is what has been sorely lacking in recent losses to West Coast and Hawthorn.
Walsh’s Wonderful Second Year Blues: There’s no signs of slowing down for 2018 Number 1 Draft Pick Sam Walsh. After copping criticism earlier in the season, Walsh has dragged himself out of a rut of poor form and is back to his best in Blue. He kickstarted Carlton’s third quarter with a Goal and finished with 24 Disposals for the game. His 511 Metres Gained were third highest for the match and his 7 Clearances complemented the hard work of Curnow and Cripps. His 94% TOG was the highest of any Midfielder, a testament to Walsh’s ability to run and compete all day, even in the most difficult of conditions. He hasn’t missed a game since debut, with his poise in tight contests making his 33 game career look as if it is closer to 100. What a luxury it is going to be to have Walsh in a Blues’ outfit in the years to come.
FINAL SCORES
Carlton: 0.1 (1), 2.3 (15), 4.8 (32), 5.10 (40)
Fremantle: 3.2 (20), 4.3 (27), 5.4 (34), 5.6 (36)
Carlton Goals: Newnes, Casboult, Cottrell, McKay, Walsh
Carlton Best: Curnow, Cripps, Newnes, Walsh, Murphy