Carlton vs. Port Adelaide - Round 8
During the week, Port Adelaide declared that it would focus on shutting down the small forwards that had been dominating Carlton's scoreboard for much of the year. And it worked.
Just as well for us that we had a few talls ready to step up and take their place.
Carlton 4.1 | 8.4 | 11.10 | 17.16 (118)
defeated
Port Adelaide 3.3 | 8.5 | 13.7 | 14.8 (92)
It was an impressive game from the get go. A shoot-out with more lead changes than you dared to count. When Carlton had pace, they were unstoppable. But when Port forced them into tempo footy, it was another story. It is an area we have been exposed it over the last few weeks. However, they exhibited much more control than they have in previous games and one would hope this is a step in the right direction.
While our small forwards only managed 3 goals between them, Kreuzer, O'hAilpin, Waite and Houlihan stepped up to kick multiple goals, helped by a plethora of midfielders who stepped up to kick one of their own.
It was going to come down to who had the legs to carry it out.
With Lucas out, it seemed as though Carlton might be the first to fade. What's more, the 5-day break loomed as another challenging stat. The last quarter showed it was anything but that, turning our 9-point deficit into a 26-point victory. If it weren't for wasted opportunities, it might have been more.
A few years ago, we struggled to win fourth quarters. We floated at the bottom of the ladder because we'd either forfeit our lead in the last quarter, or would get blown away during it. Yesterday made the fifth time that we have won the fourth quarter. We have won 21 of our quarters, only 1 less than reigning premiers Geelong who sit on top of that stats ladder.
The win takes us to 5-3. In those 5 games we have beaten both 2009 premiership contenders as well as notching up 2 wins in Adelaide. You can't help but lament the slumps that would otherwise have us sitting pretty.
It may come with a sour taste, with the hamstring injury to Lucas, a shoulder injury to White and a report on Jarrad Waite that could easily go either way, a forced line-up change next week seems eminent. Houlihan too suffered a leg strain, but seems unlikely to miss next week's clash against Hawthorn.
With Bower, Fisher and Walker yet to return for the Blues, there could still be even brighter days ahead yet.
Just as well for us that we had a few talls ready to step up and take their place.
Carlton 4.1 | 8.4 | 11.10 | 17.16 (118)
defeated
Port Adelaide 3.3 | 8.5 | 13.7 | 14.8 (92)
It was an impressive game from the get go. A shoot-out with more lead changes than you dared to count. When Carlton had pace, they were unstoppable. But when Port forced them into tempo footy, it was another story. It is an area we have been exposed it over the last few weeks. However, they exhibited much more control than they have in previous games and one would hope this is a step in the right direction.
While our small forwards only managed 3 goals between them, Kreuzer, O'hAilpin, Waite and Houlihan stepped up to kick multiple goals, helped by a plethora of midfielders who stepped up to kick one of their own.
It was going to come down to who had the legs to carry it out.
With Lucas out, it seemed as though Carlton might be the first to fade. What's more, the 5-day break loomed as another challenging stat. The last quarter showed it was anything but that, turning our 9-point deficit into a 26-point victory. If it weren't for wasted opportunities, it might have been more.
A few years ago, we struggled to win fourth quarters. We floated at the bottom of the ladder because we'd either forfeit our lead in the last quarter, or would get blown away during it. Yesterday made the fifth time that we have won the fourth quarter. We have won 21 of our quarters, only 1 less than reigning premiers Geelong who sit on top of that stats ladder.
The win takes us to 5-3. In those 5 games we have beaten both 2009 premiership contenders as well as notching up 2 wins in Adelaide. You can't help but lament the slumps that would otherwise have us sitting pretty.
It may come with a sour taste, with the hamstring injury to Lucas, a shoulder injury to White and a report on Jarrad Waite that could easily go either way, a forced line-up change next week seems eminent. Houlihan too suffered a leg strain, but seems unlikely to miss next week's clash against Hawthorn.
With Bower, Fisher and Walker yet to return for the Blues, there could still be even brighter days ahead yet.