The Wrap Up | R11 V Collingwood Magpies
MATCH SUMMARY:
The closest thing to a finals game this group has had. 80 thousand, MCG, Sunday 3:20, Arch-enemy, it doesn’t get bigger than this. Both teams need to win, a massive game in the context of both club's seasons. Carlton looking to consolidate a top 4 place, whereas the Pies would be looking to challenge for that top 8 spot.
The Pies got the first through Jamie Elliott before Charlie Curnow responded in kind meer seconds later. Carlton looking to score early and Corey Durdin's long ball from 60 metres out dribbled through for a goal. Carlton's two young forward guns getting the game underway. Carlton looked to have stopped as the Pies pilled on two goals in quick succession to take an 8 point lead heading into the first break.
That 8 points turned into 14 as Jorden De Goey launched from 50 to give the Pies the perfect start. The Blues weathered the storm and held the Pies until Patrick Cripps kicked a massive captain's goal to get the Blues going again. From there, it was a masterclass for the rest of the quarter. Sam Walsh got his first before Adam Cerra earned a free kick and got the Blues game level. Before Curnow landed like a cat from a dropped mark, picked up and snapped through from 40 to somehow give the Blues a 6 point lead heading into the main break.
The Pies came out the better side in the third term, with two goals from Patrick Lipinski giving them the lead once more. Sidebottom got some space and kicked the third goal of the term as the Pies came into the final break 11 points to the better. A quick goal from Jesse Motlop to start the last quarter gave the Blues some hope. Before Mason Cox and Tyler brown kicked two quick ones to all but seal the game for the Pies. Matt Owies and Ollie Henry traded goals twice and got the margin to 17 points and it was going to take a miracle from here for the Blues. Curnow marks on the 50 before launching a huge left to right bender to get the margin down to 11. Then got a joe to the goose over the top to get the margin back to 5 points. All of a sudden, the game is on. An agonising final 60 seconds culminated in a flying Jack Silvagni snap at goal that went across the face, and with that, Collingwood secured a 4 point win.
The Story From The Match:
One Man Too Many
We all know the injury record that the Blues have had this season. Harry McKay, Mitch McGovern, Marc Pittonet, Caleb Marchbank and Zac Williams. All very integral players in the Blues system and players that make Carlton a 5 times better team should they all be fit. Despite all of this, there was one player that the Blues, under no circumstance, could afford to lose. This man has carried the Blues defensive shape for the past 3 years, Jacob Weitering. It almost seemed that he was invincible, it almost seemed that nothing could ever happen to the closest thing Carlton had to Steve Silvagni.
However, when Weitering clattered into Jorden De Goey and went down clutching his shoulder, the Blues fanbase held their collective breath as they feared the worse. The trauma started as he ran to the bench, shoulder motionless, face emotionless, until he tried to move that shoulder before agony struck. It took some time until reality set in, Weitering was done. On came the sub and the Carlton faithful felt, this was one man too many.
“Next Man Up” has been the mantra for the Blues all season, with injury after injury plaguing their season. However, Weitering is more than a man, he is the pillar in that Carlton backline. And while Harry has Charlie top burden the load, there are very few defenders in the league that can compare to Jacob Weitering. It’s one man too many for the Blues to overcome. They will need to hold on for dear life until Weitering overcomes his injury.
The Best
Sam Walsh, Adam Cerra, George Hewett, Sam Docherty, Adam Saad, Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow.
Final Scores
Collingwood: 3.4 (22), 4.8 (32), 7.12 (54), 11.13 (79)
Carlton: 2.2 (14), 6.2 (38), 6.7 (43), 11.9 (75)
