Charlie Curnow has kicked seven goals for Carlton, but the Western Bulldogs staved off a stunning late rally to keep their AFL season alive with a pulsating three-point win at Marvel Stadium.
The Dogs led by 34 points late in the last quarter but the brave Blues rattled home with the last five goals of Saturday night’s see-sawing contest in front of 35,479 fans.
Curnow brought the margin back to three points when the young star kicked his seventh goal with just under three minutes remaining, but the Dogs hung on to claim their fifth win of the season – 15.13 (103) to 15.10 (100).
Carlton’s last, desperate forward thrust with under 30 seconds left was snuffed out when Josh Dunkley was awarded a free kick for high contact just outside the Blues’ attacking 50.
In a night of wild momentum swings, the Dogs coughed up a 34-point lead to trail by seven points late in the third quarter.
They climbed off the canvas to restore that advantage with the first four goals of the final term, but Carlton – a different beast under David Teague – came again and only just fell short of a second win under the caretaker coach.
Dunkley was brilliant for the Dogs with 41 possessions and 10 tackles, while Jack Macrae (37 disposals) and Patrick Lipinski (29) also chipped in.
“I’m just really proud of the way that they stuck at it,” Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said.
“We got our noses back in front at three-quarter time and, especially this year, we haven’t always been that sound in close games.
“So the ways the boys pulsed and got that margin was terrific.”
The Dogs were short-handed for most of the night after Tom Liberatore left the game with a jarred knee in the second quarter. He will undergo scans but the club are optimistic he hasn’t ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament.
Curnow was the star for the Blues, but his brother Ed was crucial in the attempted fightback, curbing Marcus Bontempelli’s influence when he went to him early in the second term.
Patrick Cripps almost lifted his team over the line again with 22 disposals and Sam Walsh (22) continued to build his case for the rising star award.
The Bulldogs led by 19 points at the first break and they should’ve been further in front.
The Blues looked wobbly as the margin stretched to 34 points, but a team-lifting major to Matthew Kreuzer helped to drag them back to 21 points at halftime.
It narrowed to six points at the last change after Curnow inspired Carlton with three majors in the third quarter.
The Dogs appeared to have the game in hand before the Blues snapped out of their late torpor only to be denied in the frantic final moments.
“I was proud of the comeback but we’re here to win,” Teague said.
“I thought we were a really good chance to win if we executed and we didn’t quite execute well enough.”
Wayne Kerr
Guest
I agree with you about the 100 points and Cripps only getting 22 possessions. These are definitely positives.
Wayne Kerr
Guest
Here are the positives: “LOB” is far better under Teague. Charlie kicked a bag. Ed nullified Bontempelli. We got ourselves back into the game and hit the front. We fought it out until the end. Sam Walsh continued to star. Sign this guy up for ten years. Casboult stood up down back. The coach felt hurt by the loss and expected better. We kicked 100 points despite losing. We played attractive football with an uncomplicated game plan. The negatives: Another slow start. These sleepy first terms have to be rectified. We exhausted all our energy playing catch up football that it took it’s toll. We still can’t win at night. We still remain anchored to the bottom and let another opportunity slip. We could not beat a team that we beat on Easter Sunday. As it stands we still lose pick one... thanks Steve. Honorable losses are not victories.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Love the way the blues fight back twice in what was a quite amazing game and score the magical 100 points that was so vital for so long but it is still apparently a disaster. Lots of positives, not least of which was Cripps only having 22 possessions.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Not sure why they stopped playing? Perhaps their opposition made that happen?
M B
Guest
Carlton have a victory, followed up by an honorable loss. What’s next? A belting?
Cat
Roar Guru
It wouldn't have helped to lose Libba but surely they can't be that shallow of a midfield to struggle with the loss of a single player whilst playing the worst team in the league. Dogs have more issues than missing one player. I know Bevo got them a flag but since that magical run the Dogs have been shocking.
Sammy
Guest
Carlton lose to a team in 15th place that had won 2 of its last 9 games before last night. Watching ut had the bulldogs not butchered their spot up passes inside forward 50 early in the game it would have been a big win to them. Not sure why they stopped playing for large parts of the second half but maybe liberatore being off and being a man down hurt