The Wrap Up | Round 15
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” provides 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 15 Wrap Up following Carlton’s to GWS.
MATCH SUMMARY: A glimmer of Finals hope was well and truly alive for the Blues, after Melbourne dropped what should have been a relatively straight-forward win against the struggling Swans. Any extra incentive Carlton needed was on full display for the first half, with a grit and determination to stay in the contest clearly on show from the Senior players. However, as has been the story for so much of the season, it was another fourth quarter fadeout that now shuts the door on any Finals aspirations this playing group may have had for 2020.
Jack Martin (14 Disposals, 8 Marks, 1 Goal) looked to set the tone early for the Blues, with a phenomenal chase-down tackle Inside 50 on Lachie Whitfield (15 Disposals, 7 Intercepts, 318 Metres Gained) to set up the first goal of the night. The Giants hit back and made it look as though it would be a long day at the office for Carlton. Their transition and entry Inside 50 in the first quarter seemed like a training drill at times. Toby Greene (19 Disposals, 6 Score Involvements, 7 Marks) found space with ease to kick the opener for GWS, and there were danger signs early for the Blues. However, to the surprise of many, the final 3 first quarter goals went the way of Carlton, taking a 13 point lead into quarter time. It was game on.
The Giants inaccuracy in the first quarter (5 behinds) continued into the second quarter, kicking another 4 behinds. The Blues also lacked any scoring power in the second, as the contest transformed into am arm-wrestle between the two sides. Harry McKay (1 Goal, 5 Marks Inside 50, 3 Contested Marks) looked threatening in attack for the Blues, but his wayward set-shot kicking for goal left much to be desired. Carlton’s defensive structure setting up behind the ball was the catalyst for an ugly and gritty performance to half time, stifling the free flowing ball movement of GWS. The margin was 12 points at the main break, and the Blues were in with a serious chance of an upset win.
The tense affair continued into the third quarter, with only two goals kicked between the two sides. Carlton seemed in control and the more threatening side to score. However, the scoring shots went begging, and left the door ajar for the Giants as the quarter was coming to a close. A late soccer goal from Marc Murphy (18 Disposals, 4 Inside 50s, 4 Score Involvements) gave the Blues some breathing space heading into the final break. In a low scoring game, the 15 point margin was beginning to look like it would be enough for a Carlton victory, if you were a neutral fan. As Carlton supporters, this position was all too familiar.
The first 3 Centre Clearances of the final quarter went the way of the Giants. Carlton, yet again, went into their shell and their confidence was lackluster. Within 5 minutes, through two goals to young gun Giant Jake Riccardi, GWS were back to within 3 points of the Blues. Harry Perryman (14 Disposals, 5 Inside 50s, 72% Disposal Efficiency) sealed Carlton’s fate, running back with the flight to steal an aerial ball from Tom Williamson (15 Disposals, 6 Intercepts, 359 Metres Gained) and put the Giants in front for the first time since the first quarter. From here, they never looked back, prevailing as 9-point winners and leaving Carlton to reflect on yet another final quarter capitulation.
Source: presstories.com
BREAKING IT DOWN: KEY MATCH INSIGHTS
Errant Entries… Again: The first quarter told a different story for goalkicking execution for the Blues than in recent weeks. Although the Giants had the majority of momentum, Carlton’s 64% Inside 50 Efficiency highlighted their ability to take advantage of their opportunities once in scoring positions. They converted 4 goals from 7 Inside 50s, while the Giants could only muster 1 major from 13 entries. If this trend had continued for the rest of the game for the Blues, the result would have been put beyond doubt. The most damning stat that highlights Carlton’s 2020 season is the 1 goal they kicked from their final 42 entries Inside 50. This simply is not good enough for a side aspiring for a Finals berth. Early scoreboard pressure is only effective if a side can continue to mount that pressure throughout the course of the game.
Haynes Plane: Carlton would have been aware of the intercepting ability of the Giants across half back, led for the majority of the season by Nick Haynes. With this in mind, and considering the aerial prowess displayed by Darcy Moore for Collingwood in the game prior, any on-looker would have expected an adjustment to the way in which Carlton were looking to enter their forward 50. Game highs with 13 Intercepts, 8 Intercept Marks, 17 Kicks and 536 Metres Gained from Haynes paints a picture of the lack of dynamism for the Blues in this capacity. Admittedly, Carlton did lower the eyes more than they previously have when hitting up targets Inside 50, however was evidently not sustained for long enough with a lack of quality of execution. The long kick to three talls does not work for the Blues when the opposition defence sets up with a sweeper like Haynes or Whitfield across the half back line. Why is there no adjustment to this if it is so clear to the average onlooker?
Walsh’s Way: It is an indictment on a football club when a second-year Midfielder is consistently their best performer week-in-week-out and when the intensity of the contest lifts. Taking nothing away from the 2019 AFL Rising Star, Sam Walsh continues to show why he is streaks ahead of his draft class, leaving the likes of Conor Rozee and Bailey Smith in his rear-view mirror with continued improvement each week. With 95% Time on Ground, his endurance and aerobic capacity as Carlton’s hardest working Midfielder should set the tone for every other player around him. He led Carlton with 23 Disposals, to go with 4 Inside 50s and another goal which has become the new standard Walsh sets for himself. Yet to play 40 games, the 20 year old is a star. If there was any question surrounding his appointment to the leadership group in only his second season, it has well and truly been eradicated now. In an improved yet frustrating season for the Blues and their fans, the continued emergence and consistency of Sam Walsh is something to reflect positively on.
Source: heraldsun.com.au
FINAL SCORES
Carlton: 4.0 (24), 4.3 (27), 5.8 (38), 5.9 (39)
GWS: 1.5 (11), 1.9 (15), 2.11 (23), 6.12 (48)
Carlton Goals: Dow, Martin, McKay, Murphy, Walsh
Carlton Best: Walsh, Weitering, Docherty, Setterfield, Curnow
