Carlton Football Club: The Round Seventeen Review

It's taken me longer than most to become totally convinced by the new and exciting atmosphere surrounding Ikon Park, but I'm finally there. After seeing my blues face the odds and defeat one of today's mot successful clubs in Sydney, I've come to believe that greater times for Carlton are nigh. The list is young, the leaders are inspiring and the vibe right now is insanely positive despite them sitting second-last on the ladder. Purple patch or not, the boys are currently proving they have what it takes to take on anybody on any given day. They are showing glimpses of their potential and are allowing for the rest of the competition to see it. This win against Sydney wasn't exactly a spectacle, but it told much of the idea that Carlton can turn the corner sooner than most think. While finals are certainly out of the question in 2019, things are still looking sweet as the blues are enjoying their footy. It is time that I worry a little less and proudly give my boys the credit they very much deserve. No longer should I hold any doubt when it comes to things getting better.

MARGIN

(Predicted : Real)

-55 points : +7 points

Difference: + 62

Win, lose, win, lose, win... boy what a roller-coaster! In all seriousness, I have to applaud David Teague and those around him for somehow stripping back the plan and installing the spirit back into this team. For three respected victories and two losses adding to a total of eight points, Carlton are truly watchable now. And to think I was saying the complete opposite just over a month ago when Brendon Bolton was in charge. Turns out the change was needed. Bolts without a doubt was a major contributor and inspired many at the club to get the best out of themselves. But it seems he couldn't see where the problems in the performances lied. That's where Teague steps in to fix things up and keep the fans hanging around. In what they call the 'honeymoon period', the blues are attacking the footy and playing to their strengths. The changes have done nothing but bring about good results and encourage praise from people everywhere, with the latest effort being no different. A third in a series of upsets against the swans and the first win at the SCG in eight years.

First Quarter

The best of them yet under the caretaker. An opening term where the blues would finally keep their opponents from kicking away. It began a little scrappy as I expected, but Carlton did well to match Sydney and even do better in certain areas.They prevailed in the clearance work and got reward from it. Their kicking efficiency inside 50 however, was poor and allowed Swans to match our score via turnovers. Levi Casboult produced the first major to continue his blistering form. Sam Walsh with help from a Jack Silvagni assist, was the only other goalscorer for Carlton in the quarter and would further go on to prove why the rising star was his to lose. Paddy Dow copped a heavy knock from Jordan Dawson and saw out the rest of the term to get checked out for concussion. Despite the decent showing, both sides found it tough converting their shots. Nick Blakey and Harry McKay failed twice while Silvagni, Patrick Cripps, Sam Reid and Tom McCartin each finished with a behind next to their names.

Second Quarter
The swans for a small patch got on top in the clearances and inside 50's, but couldn't make their good work count. After seven minutes, Zac Fisher would make something out of nothing deep in Carlton's attacking 50 to give the blues the lead. Following him for goals were fellow smalls Michael Gibbons with a fortunate kick off the ground and Darcy Lang hurriedly from a crowded goal square. Sydney only managed one major, though it was an easy one from quick end-to-end play to an unmanned Kieren Jack. Dow returned to the field after passing the concussion test and being given the all-clear. Hugh Goddard though in his first game wasn't so lucky, suffering a fractured cheekbone from the contact of Blakey's elbow in a marking contest. Cripps and Ed Curnow continued their incredible efforts in the middle to win the contested ball for Carlton, but the outside work from the rest of the team remained as a small problem. The swans were allowed to keep intercepting the ball and push quickly up the ground.

Third Quarter
In spite of Carlton's appreciated efforts, it was their worst quarter. They lost it on the scoreboard by 3 points, kicking one goal to Sydney's two and finishing with five individual players each missing an opportunity. James Rowbottom was quick to get things started, feeding of a fast assist from Sam Reid to score a major within the very first minute. One of Carlton's trade targets in Tom Papley, also got on the board with his own goal for the swans. It was almost another goalless to make it eight for the season so far, but experienced midfielders Curnow and Marc Murphy ensured that wouldn't happen. Ed used his natural strength to reach Marc and allow him to produce an ugly yet important major a few minutes before the final change to create a little breathing space. Silvagni produced one of the quarter's biggest highlights, outclassing Callum Mills with the sharpest of sidesteps before attempting to reach Matthew Kreuzer inside 50 by foot.

Fourth Quarter

Although the margin never changed, the blues looked like the winners. They remained on top in the clearances and took advantage of them early. Casboult got his second to become the only multiple goalscorer for the game. Silvagni followed a couple of minutes later, adding to his great run with a quick snap thanks to a handball receive from Curnow. Isaac Heeney and Reid came with the answers, but McKay would break both Sydney's hearts and finals chances with his small forward ability to run into the open goal towards the end. Jake Lloyd got a late consolation goal, but it was too late. Carlton throughout the term persisted with the extra loose man down back, feasting on Sydney's rushed entries. Lachie Plowman now and then played the role. But it was Nic Newman who would enjoy it the most against his old team and go on to arguably finish the game as the best on ground. It wasn't the prettiest of games, but the blues won with many players once again contributing nicely.

PLUSES / MINUSES

1. Not conceding five goals in the first quarter.
2. The extra loose man tactic worked a treat.
3. The return of Patrick Cripps.
4. The midfield work of experience duo Ed Curnow and Marc Murphy.
5. The unbelievable yet impressive form from Levi Casboult.
6. Jack Silvagni and Will Setterfield are finding their feet.
7. Sam Walsh is so damn consistent. Maybe I should leave this here every week from now on.

1. Hugh Goddard fighting hard for his debut, only to get injured during the game. Very unlucky there.
2. I'll excuse the boys for the kicking given the breeze making things difficult. But considering Carlton have long been accused of poor efficiency by foot, it's best that improvement in this area remains a primary focus.
3. The entries inside attacking 50 are still a little frustrating. The boys have to starting hitting targets properly.
4. Darcy Lang did a couple of nice things that led to the final result including a goal and a forward half intercept. I still feel however that his work rate is a tad low.

SCORES

1. NIC NEWMAN 20

2. Marc Murphy 10
3. Ed Curnow 9

4. Matthew Kreuzer 8

5 = Levi Casboult 6.5
6 = Sam Walsh 6.5

7. Patrick Cripps 5

8. Lachie Plowman 4

9. Will Setterfield 3

10. Harry McKay 2

11. Jack Silvagni 1

12. Zac Fisher 0

13. Kade Simpson -1

14. Michael Gibbons -2
15. Dale Thomas -3
16. Sam Petrevski-Seton -4
16. Lochie O'Brien -5
18. Darcy Lang -6
19. Matthew Kennedy -7
20. Paddy Dow -8
21. Liam Jones -9

22. Hugh Goddard -10

TOTAL

1. Patrick Cripps 153.5
2. Sam Walsh 125.5
3. Nic Newman 119
4. Ed Curnow 96.5
5. Marc Murphy 82
6. Sam Petrevski-Seton 69
7. Dale Thomas 60.5
8. Matthew Kreuzer 60
9. Andrew Phillips 20.5
10. Charlie Curnow 20
11. Kade Simpson 14

12. David Cuningham 13.5
13. Zac Fisher 10
14. Will Setterfield 7.5
15. Levi Casboult -1
16. Matthew Lobbe -2
17. Harry McKay -6.5
18. Jack Silvagni -7
19 = Hugh Goddard -10
19 = Harrison Macreadie -10
21. Darcy Lang -13
22. Tom Williamson -13.5
23. Jarrod Garlett -14
24. Lachie Plowman -17
25. Alex Fasolo -25
26. Matthew Kennedy -25.5
27 = Michael Gibbons -26
27 = Cameron Polson -26
29. Caleb Marchbank -28.5
30. Liam Stocker -30
31. Lochie O'Brien -45
32. Paddy Dow -46
33. Jacob Weitering -53

34. Liam Jones -66
35. Mitch McGovern -66.5

THOSE WHO IMPRESSED ME

Patrick Cripps

Welcome back Crippa. We all know it has only been two matches. But for a player as strong and influential as this one, two matches can be a very long time. The 2019 captain returned from the sidelines not having missed a beat. He dominated around the field despite missing two shots for goal, collecting 28 disposals, 19 contested possessions, 8 clearances and 8 tackles. The best thing about this performance was that Cripps didn't need to bear the heavy load. Now under the eyes of David Teague, many of the blue boys are getting to play their strengths. The experienced duo in Ed Curnow and Marc Murphy maintained their midfield positions, using both their strength and sharpness to allow their fellow skipper a little more time and space on the outside. The man himself post game, expressed significant approval of the strategy and saw the benefit. It ensured that his game still mattered while the rest of the boys played their roles too. Respect to Carlton for fighting without Cripps. But this guy is always going to make us better, and he definitely proved that here.

Nic Newman
I'm finding myself to be one of several fans having to defend this guy. He may not be an absolutely amazing user of the ball by foot, but that barely leaves his footy smarts taking a hit. Nic Newman is most definitely one of the best new recruits for any club running around this year. As soon as he was picked up by Carlton, I was ecstatic. His work rate is now and then astonishing. The mature-aged defender knows where to place himself for the intercept. Against the swans on the weekend, he occasionally played the extra loose man down back and took advantage of Sydney's hurried entries. It was a performance that made up for most others, as he judged space very well and used his time wisely. Newman led the disposal count for Carlton with 32, along with the marks (13) and defensive rebounds (9). He was considered best on ground by consensus amongst both blues supporters and other onlookers, and deservedly so. It was a game that all but solidified his value.

Sam Walsh

I'm sure everybody can understand me when I say that I'm in awe. My fingers were crossed from the very beginning, hoping Carlton would not second-guess in considering this kid at pick one when others mentioned names like Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine an Bailey Smith. Well was I right or was I right? Looking at Sam Walsh as a player and there is very little I can find wrong with him. He is the epitome of consistency right now with his ultra-steady numbers. He's committed to his role and carries no inflated ego. And the fact he has future captain written all over him. Sure his ball use lately has left a bit to be desired, but his grit and determination speaks over all. There is no dropping of the head. There is no disappearing. There is no further deterioration of any sort. Walsh has even won the praises of superstar teammate Patrick Cripps and one of the all-time Carlton greats in Greg "Diesel" Williams. Just another lazy 28 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 6 inside 50's and a goal. Not to mention 8 running bounces. I'm not one for the rising star, but him not winning it will only prove my point. He simply has to for the award to have any validity.

Honourable Mentions

Levi Casboult, Ed Curnow, Matthew Kreuzer, Marc Murphy, Lachie Plowman, Will Setterfield

THOSE WHO DISAPPOINTED ME

Paddy Dow

There are several Carlton boys that look to be enjoying their games and are recording season-best numbers under Teague. But there are also one or two players that have gone the other way. Paddy Dow could possibly be the biggest example. Ever since the experience was placed back into the centre circle, Dow has found himself mostly battling up forward against bigger frames. Although his scoring opportunities have slightly increased, his disposal numbers have dropped from an average of 17 per game under Bolton to approximately 8 under Teague. Average tackles have also dropped from 3 to 1 and the pressure is nearly non-existent. The move has seen him often fail to impose himself on the game. I won't go too hard on Dow given the unfortunate incident that left him out for a fair amount of time to undergo a concussion test. But this drop in both form and impact sees him currently hanging by a finger. There is every chance he could face being dropped or managed to make way for somebody else. I don't want that for the guy, but reality will come sniffing.

Hugh Goddard

Another player I can't go too hard on since his time on the field was cut short, but his impact prior to that moment was close to minimal. Only two effective disposals and three tackles. He trailed behind his opponents and once or twice found himself coming from the wrong positions. Regardless, he deserved the debut for the sensational work with the Northern Blues. And perhaps he deserved a little more time in the Carlton team. It's a real shame this can't happen, but I hope that Hugh will very soon find his spot back in the side before the season's end. He is one of the many decent additions to the list and has become a sign of the blues newfound willingness to have their players challenge each other. It's an effective search for quality and one of a few slow but incredibly efficient ways to building a formidable football team for the future seasons. Goddard to me isn't a reject of any sort. He is one of plenty at the club right now personifying determination and resilience.

Matthew Kennedy

Last round, Matthew Kennedy had a decent performance where he at least scored two goals from six scoring shots. This round however, he could not back it up in any way. As a matter of fact, it was nearly the complete opposite. Kennedy was rarely sighted, finishing off with eight disposals and laying one solitary tackle whilst not registering any score. Was all the talk about a potential new home in the forward 50 too soon? Supporters are beginning to doubt whether the investment was worth it. The young man couldn't break into the middle and apply the necessary pressure weeks ago. His conversion rate in front of goal remains unclear following a very small sample. And now it seems that he will lack steadiness in his game. I was initially excited in seeing the growth of Kennedy and I anticipated him putting his size to use. Sadly my interest is starting to wane and I too am wondering whether he'll find his regular spot in the team.

Dishonourable mentions
Darcy Lang, Lochie O'Brien

OTHER NOTES

- Hopefully the board can see the spirit and the positive vibes shared between all from the players to the Carlton faithful. Look at the results and don't shut down Teague just for his small resume.
- Too those who were hoping for it this year, suck it! Kade Simpson cannot surpass Kevin Murray's record of 208 AFL/VFL losses in 2019. And there is a chance that never happens as Kade's future remains uncertain. Even if he does play on and surpass the record, it won't change how fantastic of player and servant Simmo has been over eighteen seasons at the Carlton Football Club.
- Can somebody tell Paul Roos to get his head out of Dane Rampe's bum? The constant praise from him for every little thing Rampe did was over the top and unnecessary.

NEXT WEEK

The blues return to Victoria for the first of three consecutive home games. This one being at Marvel Stadium against the Gold Coast Suns, who are not looking so great at the moment after back-to-back spankings from Richmond and Adelaide respectively. Carlton are expected to make good of their third chance at consecutive wins for the first time in two years, while the suns are desperately searching for answers. They have lost twelve matches in a row, with their last win being against none other than the blues thanks to a miraculous Jack Bowes goal. Will Carlton seek vengeance and make it thirteen to add to the Gold Coast misery? While everything says they should, the blues have long been known to make the easiest of chances look extremely difficult. They have even gone on to lose some of these winnable games from their lack of intensity or poor skill. Of course, we have a well-respected interim coach taking the reigns and the side looks reinvigorated. My preseason prediction says it will be around a six-goal victory, but I am not going to hang my hat on it and I wouldn't be surprised if the boys let me down. Perhaps I am a little pessimistic... just this once.

PREDICTED LINE-UP

IN - Jacob Weitering, Liam Stocker, Josh Deluca
OUT - Hugh Goddard (Injured), Paddy Dow (Managed), Matthew Kennedy (Omitted)
NEW - Josh Deluca (Subiaco (WAFL))

FB - Kade Simpson - Liam Jones - Jacob Weitering
HB - Dale Thomas - Lachie Plowman - Nic Newman
C - Marc Murphy - Ed Curnow - Jack Silvagni
HF - Michael Gibbons - Levi Casboult - Sam Petrevski-Seton
FF - Darcy Lang - Harry McKay - Will Setterfield
R - Matthew Kreuzer - Patrick Cripps - Sam Walsh
I - Josh Deluca - Lochie O'Brien - Zac Fisher - Liam Stocker

E - Tom De Koning - Matthew Lobbe - Matthew Owies - Jarrod Garlett

Carlton Blues by 35 points

Travis "TJ" James