Cats Claw Blues After The Final Siren
By Rick Latimer
June 12 2002
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Officially the latest review in ODN history, this offering is
being pieced together to complete the 2002 set. Apologies for the
lack of professionalism but quite frankly we have all had trouble
reaching deep in this soul destroying state we find ourselves in.
It certainly is a cruel game ..... read on if you feel courageous.
As you may have guessed by the opening paragraph, Carlton ventured out to Colonial on Sunday to play what we thought was a winnable game against Geelong ...... and we lost. No surprises on the surface, we've become quite adept at losing this season. For the sake of historical accuracy, I'll attempt to recount the manner of the loss. Firstly Justin Davies was a late withdrawal, surely a fall out from his mysterious fainting episode during the previous week, and was replaced by newly promoted two time rookie Jordan (how do you pronounce it) Doering. From the opening siren Carlton played like a bottom side, disorganised, dispassionate, disinterested. Only Brett Ratten was really showing the way but then that goes without saying. Strangely Ratts faded out almost completely in the second half but still was one of our best overall. A couple of goals from free kicks so soft that they would make a marshmallow blush combined with Carlton's ineptitude gave the Cats a unbeatable 37 point lead at three quarter time.
After ten minutes of the last quarter, the margin was still 38
points and there was no reason to believe anything would change in
the remainder of the match. Carlton can barely manage eight goals
in a game this year let alone a quarter. But that is exactly what
they did. Eight awe inspiring, confidence filling goals. The
downtrodden players from the Carlton Football Club, streamed
downfield and found their targets. They ran rings around their
Geelong opponents. Brendan Fevola was sensational rising high above
a pack to take a huge mark and capped it off with a goal.
Youngsters Blake Campbell and Jordon Doering found space and time to
create. Lance Whitnall cut loose of the Ben Graham lesson he had
been getting all night. When the Cats threatened, they were
repelled by Luke Livingston and his merry men on the backline. Two
umpiring decisions later and Matthew Lappin had put the Blues in
front with half a minute remaining. Spine tingling stuff. Genuine
excitement for the first time this year ........ it had to
end. History will record that Peter Riccardi marked and slotted a
55 metre goal after the siren to win the game for the Cats. It will
barely mention the incredible torment of Simon Wiggins who will go
to his grave knowing that he touched that ball in its flight. It
will barely record the significance in this game as far as the Blues
endeavours to lift themselves from the bottom of the ladder.
Why did this review almost go by the wayside? There is only so
much pain a passionate fan can take.
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« Round 11 9 June 2002 Colonial Stadium |
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| Carlton | 2.1 | 5.7 | 6.11 | 14.12.96 |
| Geelong | 4.4 | 8.4 | 13.6 | 15.10.100 |
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