The Wrap Up | R6 V Fremantle
MATCH SUMMARY
Primetime football returns for the Carlton Football Club, as they cross the Nullarbor to face the roaring Fremantle Dockers on their own deck. A hostile environment faces these Blues for the first time this season, as they attempt to go back to back and go 5-1 to start the season.
It was a cagey start to the game, with booths sides playing a very conservative style, not willing to give each other an inch. But it was the Blues that got the first, through Matt Owies, who got the ball rolling. Despite the Dockers dominating the majority of early stages of the game, it was the Blues who kicked away, this time through Charlie Curnow. Freo finally got their reward for dominance, with Rory Lobb kicking his first on the stroke of halftime. The Blues went into the quarter time break 4 points up after being very efficient with their chances, whereas the Dockers were butchering the ball left, right and centre.
The second quarter has been the quarter for the Blues throughout the season. Not losing a second quarter at all during the season, there were plenty of expectations that the Blues were going to run away with this game. However, the Dockers had done their research and came prepared, and absolutely smashed the Blues from pillar to post. The Blues got the jump start through Harry McKay; however, his goal was quickly cancelled out by Will Brodie. They then got on a run, Lachie Shultz with a brace, Sean Darcy and Michael Walters got goals in quick succession to give the Dockers 20 points lead. Jack Martin’s smash and grab goal was responded to by another Walters goal just before the half to give the Dockers a 19 point lead heading into the main break. The Dockers played their way to perfection in the second term, dominating in all areas of the ground, not giving the Blues an inch.
Carlton hasn't won the third quarter this season, and this unfortunate trend was about to continue as the Dockers maintained their stranglehold on the game. Just lick McKay in the second, Lobb kicked the opening goal of the term within a minute, giving the Dockers the perfect start. Skipper Patrick Cripps tried to get the ball rolling for the Blues, kicking a really good goal from 45 out. But when Shultz responded quickly with another goal, it looked like the game was slowly getting away from the Blues. Then Blake Acres kicked one of the goals of the season, running hard against the pocket before snapping it off the right boot, as it sailed left to right going through for a goal. One of the goals of the season, no doubt. Cripps got another before the three quarter time siren to give the Blues a slither of hope heading into the last.
The trend this season has been Carlton hanging on towards the end of games after taking a big lead earlier on. Now the task has been completely reversed. They needed to reverse a big scoreline and storm home with a bang. And when Patrick Cripps got the first of the quarter, kicking his third, it looked like a possibility. When Lewis Young floated forward and took a good mark and kicked a goal, it looked like it could happen. However, two Sam Swintkowski goals on either side of Curnow’s second put the end to that comeback, as the Blues fell short by 35 points over in the west.
BREAKING IT DOWN: KEY MATCH INSIGHTS:
Gold Coast on repeat:
It was a familiar story for the Blues. Just like it was against the Suns, the Blues have once again been exposed for having a one-dimensional game-plan. If the game plan, which is heavily contested and clearance centric, can work, it is one of the most dominant game plans in the AFL. However, the fact that Carlton struggles to progress the ball from defensive 50 with any real urgency is hurting them big time. It was exposed against the Suns and exposed once again against the Dockers. Now the onus is on Michael Voss and the coaching staff to find another way around this. They need to create another avenue to score because the Blueprint has been set on how to beat the Blues. Teams now know the way to get on top of them, it up to the coaches to make sides think twice when versing the Blues.
The Best:
Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty, George Hewett, Adam Cerra, Sam Walsh.
Final Scores
Fremantle: 1.4 (10), 7.6 (48), 11.9 (75), 14.13 (97)
Carlton: 2.2 (14), 4.5 (29), 6.7 (43), 9.8 (62)
