The Wrap Up | Round 1 V Richmond
Written by Ari Stamatakos
MATCH SUMMARY
It’s back. While it wasn't the season opener, the traditional Thursday night Carlton vs Richmond fixture was here to stay in 2022 and it was perfectly poised to be a great match up. After a disappointing 2021 for both sides, starting 1-0 was imperative for them to bounce back and kickstart a new campaign. It was fever pitch at the packed MCG for what was sure to be a ripping contest.
It started hot, as Tom De Koning had the first highlight of the match, rising high into the MCG sky to take a gorgeous mark to set the tone for the Blues. Despite this, it was the Tigers who drew first blood through Shai Bolton, who strolled into the forward 50 and kicked the first of the game. The Blues responded quickly however, through manic forward pressure, the ball spilt to Matt Kennedy who high looping ball went straight through the middle. This hard work was undone, however, as Liam Baker and Bolton kicked the next two of the game to put the Blues on the canvas early. And when Tom Lynch took a good, contested mark to kick Richmond’s fourth of the quarter, it was danger signs early for the Blues
As the second quarter got underway, the Blues needed an inspirational moment from somewhere, and where else to find it, but from the skipper, Patrick Cripps. Strolling to the 50 to slam home his first within the first three minutes of the quarter, before taking a very good mark and kicking his second within a matter of minutes. The margin cut back to 5 points and the Blues were back. They would then hit the front for the first time in the match, as Lochie O’Brien hit Corey Durdin lace out and went back to kick his first. It would go from bad to worse for the Tigers, as an undisciplined 50-metre penalty gave Sam Docherty a set shot directly Infront. Perhaps the best moment of the game, Docherty, after coming back from 2 ACLs, surviving 2 cancer scares, and not knowing whether he will play footy again, goes back and kicks a goal. The MCG became unglued as there was not a dry eye in the house. Half time came and the Blues led by 7 points.
The Tigers came back roaring in the second quarter. They kicked their first through Lynch, who, through good bodywork, slammed home uncontested from the goal square. And then, within a flash, Jake Aarts gave the Tigers the lead through another undisciplined free-kick. Some good ball use gave Harry Mackay a chance to level proceedings once again, and he kicked truly to restore parity. But from there on in, it was all Richmond. As Noah Bolta kicked two goals in a flash, before Jack Riewoldt imposed himself by kicking his first. Jack Silvagni’s goal was cancelled out by Dustin Martin who both kicked their first of the night. The Tigers led by 15 points heading into the last change.
15 points quickly became 21 as every Blues fan in the stadium had seen this all before. A valiant effort but beaten by the better side, starting 0-1 again, on the backfoot from game 1 again, ‘same old Carlton’, but we should've known better. This isn’t the same old Carlton, this is the Micheal Voss era, a different Carlton. Durdin gets the comeback going through a goal from nothing. George Hewett kicks his first as a Blue after another 50m penalty against Richmond. Cripps kicks his 3rd of the game after the ball landed on his chest through a scuffed kick and suddenly, it’s a two point game. But the Blues weren't done there, Will Setterfield laces out Jack Martin who marks 50 out from goal. It seemed the whole world was watching this kick, a hush filled the bleachers as Martin’s kick went high in the night sky, fading right-to-left, going through goal post height - cue the roar. Carlton is Infront. Then the party starts. From the bounce, the ball spilt inside 50 and Zac Fisher decided to join the act. Despite not being his game, this was his moment, and he owned it. O’Brien kicked another not long after and then the Tigers fan were emptying in their droves. Adam Cerra put the icing on the cake and the Blues, for the first time since 2012, start the season 1-0. How good was that?
BREAKING IT DOWN: KEY MATCH INSIGHTS
Controlled Demolition
For the longest time, whenever Carlton has one a match, it has never been in the most conveying of fashions. While Thursday night wasn't exactly convincing, the Bleus put out their best performance in a long time, and 25 points actually flattered the Tigers. The Blues won every single KPI. Contested Possessions (135-114) Uncontested Possessions (225-188) Clearances (40-22) Tackles (42-32) Tackles inside 50 (14-1) Inside 50’s (64-40). This, from start to finish was a controlled demolition and it only started showing on the scoreboard in the last quarter. At no change did the Blues have a positive goal to behind ratio and considering they hit the post 3 times, all in relatively key stages of the game, it could've been very different should the Blues had their kicking boots on.
The Best
Patrick Cripps, Matt Kennedy, Adam Cerra, George Hewett, Sam Docherty, Adam Saad, Corey Durdin, Jack Silvagni.
Final Scores
Carlton: 1.3 (9), 5.9 (39), 7.12 (54), 14.17 (101)
Richmond: 4.5 (29), 4.7 (31), 10.9 (69), 11.10 (76)
