The Wrap Up | R15 V Fremantle Dockers
Written By Ari Stamatakos
MATCH SUMMARY:
It was the 2nd match of a superb weekend of football. With the Dockers travelling to Marvel stadium to take on a depleted Carlton outfit absolutely desperate for all 4 points. This is the closest thing to a top 4 8 pointer the league could get, with the result destined to have massive ramifications on the standings come finals time.
Both sides needed to get off to a fast start, and despite the dominance of the Blues, it was the Dockers who hit the scoreboard first. A deep entry inside 50 saw the ball land in the hands of Matt Taberner, who snapped through his first. The Blues continued to dominate, but couldn't find the scoreboard, and the Dockers pounced. It was a poor kick into the corridor, intercepted by Hayden Young, you progressed the ball forward and found Travis Colyer, who kicked the Dockers second. They got their third through Rory Lobb, which was quickly cancelled out by Harry McKay who got the Blues’ desperately needed first goal of the day. The Blues went into the first change 9 points down, but really content with the way they were playing.
The dominance continued for the second quarter, and like the first, the persistent bombing of the ball deep inside 50 wasn't working. It wasn't until the ball was found in the hands of Zac Fisher, who had the poise and composure to lower his eyes to find Matt Cottrell who marked directly Infront and kicked the first of the second quarter. This allowed the flood gates to open. Charlie Curnow got in on the act kicking his first from a free kick, before the 200th game man, Jack Newnes, kick his first of the game and the roar around Marvel Stadium was unmatched. Lochie O’Brien strolled in and kicked his first, giving the Blues a 15 point lead. Taberner and Curnow exchanged goals to end the half.
In the third quarter, it was almost the reverse of what happened in the first two quarters. As the Dockers dominated the opening period of the third term but it was Matt Cottrell who gave the Blues an early 21 point lead. Two quick goals from Lachie Schultz and Bailey Banfield gave the Dockers a glimmer of hope, before Jack Silvagni kicked a very important goal late in the third, that was added to by Charlie Curnow who lifted the roof of Marvel Stadium with a goal late giving the Blues a 20 point lead heading into the last change.
Carlton needed to ice the game quickly to not allow the Dockers a chance in the last quarter, and an early goal from Charlie Curnow and then the sealer from O’Brien put the game to bed halfway through the last term. It was a glorious display from the Blues, who grinded and clawed their way back into the contest and overran the Dockers by 31 points at Marvel Stadium.
Story From The Match:
The Blues Are Serious Contenders:
This match could've gone either one of two ways. Either a depleted Blues outfit would be out-gunned by a roaring Dockers side that is destined to go deep in September. Or Carlton fought from underneath and slogged their way to 4 points in a ‘signature’ victory that sees them back among the contenders for season 2022. All the talk mid-week was that the undermanned Blues defences would be feasted on by the tall and towering Dockers forwards. Add Nat Fyfe into that mix, and it wasn't looking good for the Blues. But credit to Micheal Voss, they stopped the ball at the source, restricting the Dockers to 40 inside 50’s, down from the 72 they conceded last week. The Blues midfield dominated the match, a complete contrast to their previous encounter, where the younger Dockers midfield bullied Carlton.
This drastic improvement from their previous match, despite the missing pieces in the Carlton side, has shown the drastic improvement that has occurred. Improvement that is essential in building a side capable of contending deep into September.
The Best
Sam Walsh, Sam Docherty, Adam Saad, Charlie Curnow, Zac Fisher, Jack Newnes, Lochie O’Brien.
Final Scores
Carlton: 1.3 (9), 6.5 (41), 9.7 (61), 12.9 (81)
Fremantle: 3.0 (18), 4.2 (26), 6.5 (41), 7.8 (50)
