Carlton take on Melbourne at the MCG this afternoon, with the Blues looking to respond after two demoralising losses on the trot. Join us from 3.15pm AEST for live scores and commentary.
After three rounds the Blues were riding high as premiership favourites, undefeated with a percentage of 194.7 after momentum building wins against Richmond and Brisbane before performing a demolition job Collingwood on the grand stage of Friday night football.
It was hard not to be impressed by the stoppage work of Chris Judd and Andrew Carrazzo, the run and link of Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs, and the multi-faceted forward set-up delivering goals at will.
Kruezer and Hampson were a dangerous ruck/forward duo, and the defence was a team within a team, banding together to repel opposition entries.
Then came a clash with the Bombers who, identifying what they believed to be a frailty against physical opposition, intimidated the Blues with force and attack on the ball and man.
Sam Lonergan set the scene by shattering Carrazzo’s shoulder in the opening minutes, which left the renowned tagger ‘disappointed’.
Probably the same feeling that his team’s supporters were feeling at the lack of hardness shown by Carlton on the day.
What Essendon believed turned out to be true, and soon enough St Kilda and Adelaide followed suit, not just beating Carlton, but savaging them, breaking more bones in the process.
Murphy’s shoulder the latest to be mangled after coming off second best to a Patrick Dangerfield bump.
From round four onwards, Carlton’s win-loss record stands at 2-3 with a percentage of 89. Take out a walk in the park against GWS, and they are 1-3 and 72.
Hardly the record of a side with finals aspirations, much less a vaunted premiership contender.
Of course, no respect can be won today against a Melbourne outfit that is a basket-case at best, and should be sent for a spell in the VFL at worst.
It’s difficult to comprehend just how it has gotten so badly so quickly for the hapless Dees, and most have had their crack at it.
After a win over Collingwood in the NAB Cup, supporters ‘played down’ the victory, even though privately their hearts leapt.
“Finally,” they whispered to each other.
“A hard edge to go with our talent-laden list, put together with high draft picks over the course of years at the bottom of the ladder. This will be the year we break our finals drought, with top four to follow in 2013.”
Unfortunately for these supporters, this year they have learned one of life’s hardest lessons – the greater the hope, the heavier the despair.
But nine rounds in, despair is but a dot in the rear-view mirror, replaced by a numbness borne of grieving with a heavy heart.
The Melbourne players, with some notable exceptions, particularly Nathan Jones and Mitch Clark, have been accused of lacking desire, and seen to be poorly skilled.
A marriage of these two components is not going to end happily on the field, and the proof has been there for all to see.
In a nutshell, they can’t get their hands on the ball, and can’t keep it when they do.
At the selection table, the hard-talking Mark Neeld has dropped Aaron Davey a month too late, Colin Sylvia has been given his umpteenth wake-up call, while Cale Morton is a soft, outside runner with poor skill and shouldn’t pull on an AFL jumper for the rest of the year.
Can the Dee’s cause an upset? The simple answer is ‘no’, even though there are probably 15 or 16 teams who would fancy their chances against the Blues this week, such is the extent to which Carlton’s season has derailed.
Such is the nature of ‘car-crash’ football, most neutrals I talk to are hoping for either a one goal Melbourne victory, or the Blues to triumph by 120 points.
Unfortunately for those that love slowing down to see the wreckage, I don’t see either happening.
Carlton by 49 points.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Im sorry to say but it was a terrible game to watch up until the last quarter. Melbourne are completely rubbish and carlton arent any better than an average team.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Thanks for joining me today, and don't forget to have a look at my take on the Tigers bright future after their win over the Hawks in tomorrow's edition of The Roar.
Cameron Rose
Expert
So, an uninspiring contest comes to a close, and result was as it was always destined to be. The Blues had the all 411 times to Melbourne's 340, and also led the tackles 89-73. After the inside 50's were even at 3/4 time, Carlton got on top 59-50. The same old problems for the Dees today, but at least they cracked in, and provided a genuine contest. In fact, they still had some hope of winning the game early in the last quarter, before it was a seven goals to none to finish. Melbourne were better than they have been, and Carlton will take the four points, but not much more save for the form of the unheralded types like McLean and Ellard. Robinson was impressive all day, and Andrew Walker showed his talent floating through the middle and finishing with a couple of goals as well. The Blues will finish the round in sixth position on the ladder, and travel to Port next week, while the Demons have to face Essendon at the MCG, where another loss awaits.
Cameron Rose
Expert
DISPOSALS Carl: McLean, Robinson 33, Ellard 30, Simpson 26, Gibbs, Walker 25 Melb: Jones 27, Bail, Grimes, Frawley 24, Watts 23
Cameron Rose
Expert
FULL TIME CARLTON 15.17 107 d MELBOURNE 6.13.49 GOALS Carl: Betts 5, Robinson 3, Walker, Hampson 2, Armfield, Kruezer, Tuohy 1 Melb: Clark 3, Howe, Blease, Jones 1
Cameron Rose
Expert
Line bettors getting nervous as it was 52.5, and the margin is 52. Joseph clears from deep to Ellard, who finds Kruezer, but Rivers sends it back, only to be marked by Ellard again. Happy to just mark time and build their Dreamteam points now. Judd finds Betts on the lead, who marks 20m out, and will line up for his fifth. He kicks the final goal of the match on the siren. Carl 15.17.107 Melb 6.13.49 0 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
Judd is released, and forward he goes. Warnock hands it to Betts, who finishes sweetly from 50m, his 4th goal. The margin is 52 points now, but it hasn't been a stellar performance from Carlton. Carl 14.17.101 Melb 6.13.49 2 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
Robinson bashes it forward by hand, as good as a kick, and the Carlton forward all want another goal. It's cleared through Grimes and Jamar. Jamison sends it back, but Watts drops back to mark, and accpets a 50m penalty after some late treatment from Betts. Nothing in it though. Throw in deep in Melbourne's fifty, and Simpson clears, but Gibbs puts it out on the full. Carl 13.17.95 Melb 6.13.49 3 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
The Dees go forward, and Bennell swoops out the back, but only hits the post from 8m out. Carlton clears it for a throw in on the wing. Both sides happy to wait for the final siren now. Bootsma sets up Betts, who goes long to Hampson, who will surely kick this one after marking 10m out. He does. Carl 13.17.95 Melb 6.13.49 4 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
Scotland clears to Walker who creates a contest, and Simpson finds the crumbs. His snap just misses. The Watts kick in is marked by Hampson, and Neeld doesn't seem to be the happiest about it. Hampson shanks it out on the full, and Watts will get another chance. Carl 12.17.89 Melb 6.12.48 6 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
Clark shows a lightness of foot deep in his forward line, but his work is only finished with a snapped behind. Gibbs kicks long to Robinson, a beautifully weighted kick to his advantage running into goal, which he does after taking the mark. Carl 12.16.88 Melb 6.12.48 8 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
Nicholson has been far from Melbourne's worst today, getting a bit of it in the back half, seems a smart type. Walker goes long from outside 50, but just pulls the kick. Carl 11.16.82 Melb 6.11.47 9 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
Demons still desperate, not giving in despite the game having slipped away. A few stoppages before it gets out in the open, Blease using his pace to get away. Magner sends it long to Howe, and Clark goes long but Warnock intercepts. Andrew Collins seems to have suffered a knee injury of some sort, and is being helped from the ground. Carl 11.15.81 Melb 6.11.47 11 to go 4th Quarter
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Demons are losing the tackels *and* the possession count again. Unforgivable - if the other side has more of the ball, you need to be wrapping arms around them.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Kruezer working into the game a bit today, has been okay after a terribly disappointing month. Clark snaps a behind after getting a loose ball. Actually pretty good in the air and on the ground this year. It goes down the other end though and Judd sets up Walker for an easy goal. Carl 11.15.81 Melb 6.11.47 13 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
Trengove and Nicholson combine to send Melbourne forward through Watts, but Bootsma stops him in his tracks, enabling the Blues to clear through Walker and Scotland. Frawley outmanouvers Simpson and marks unopposed. Carl 10.15.75 Melb 6.10.46 14 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
A couple of stoppages on the outer wing see the game slowed once more, but Judd wins a free for a hold, and the Blues sweep it forward for Betts to swoop on to the loose ball and kick his third. It's over as a contest now, so it's about damage control for the Dees. Carl 10.15.75 Melb 6.10.46 16 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
Robinson wins a free at the centre bounce, and Gibbs snaps a behind after Kruezer finds him. Can the Demons respond? There's no doubt they want to, but the ability simply isn't there. Carl 9.15.69 Melb 6.10.46 17 to go 4th Quarter
Cameron Rose
Expert
May have been McLean instead of Ellard, both have been important today.
Cameron Rose
Expert
The ball is deep in the Carlton forward line and Ellard finds a loose ball, handpassing to Kruezer who snaps cleanly for a goal. Carl 9.14.68 Melb 6.10.46 18 to go 4th Quarter