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Blues v Eagles
By Rick Latimer
June 14 2002
We have rounded the turn, 11 rounds down, 11 to go, it's all downhill from here. Well it's hard to see how things can be more downhill for Carlton at this stage. In actual fact, the second half of the season looks to be more promising for the followers of the Navy Blue.
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Something can be salvaged from the season but it must start on
Saturday against the West Coast Eagles.
Hopefully buoyed but at the same time hurting from the outcome of last week's game, the Carlton players will have the desperation and confidence to take it right up to the Eagles who haven't won away from home this season. Mind you our once happy home hunting ground at Optus Oval has been the scene of our two worst losses this season, shellackings in fact at the hands of other interstate clubs, Adelaide and Sydney. Last week we were able to hit a purple patch of form albeit for just one quarter but as it is the only excitement we have been served from the Blues all year, their most recent form is their best. We would be well aware that last time we played the Eagles (round 1 Ansett Cup), was the time our downward spiral began. At the time we took solace in the fact that we had a second string team made up of a lot of youngsters yet to see much if any, time in the seniors. Well does it seem ironic to any of you that a few months down the track, it is those same youngsters that we are now hoping can lift us over the line? It has been a steep learning curve but probably had its beginnings in that inauspicious preseason game. For instance we got a look at a skinny fresh-faced rookie who stood toe to toe and eyeballed Glenn Jakovich. That rookie now looks like he may well be a centre half back of some note over the coming years. Blues supporters everywhere still talk about that moment and hopes are high that once again Bret Thornton will not be intimidated by the stronger and more experienced Eagles players. We also had a brief look at Luke Livingston in that match. He now looks a long term full back and gets a chance to play on a makeshift full forward in Travis Gaspar. The Eagles rely on a strong running game and the Blues finally possess some pace in the midfield with Blake Campbell and Justin Davies (who comes back for an underperforming Justin Murphy) and the clean disposal skills of Brett Ratten and Scott Camporeale. Matching up on Ben Cousins and David Wirrpunda will provide a few moments of anxiety for the match committee while Lance Whitnall and Corey McKernan are certain to be shadowed by either Jakovich or Ashley McIntosh. Combating the influence of Gardinerless Eagles, in particular Cox in the West Coast ruck is probably where the result of the match lies. Hotton and Merrington will get the job more than likely though the sneaking suspicion is that McKernan will gain his fair share of time in the centre if the Blues are struggling. This would leave Whitnall and Brendan Fevola to do the bulk of the scoring once again. Providing we can get good value from players that have gone missing this year, (see Matthew Lappin) over four quarters, I'm hoping we will see a vastly different Carlton side to what we have been seeing. With most of our squad back and showing signs of cohesion last week, anything but a victory this week will be considered a disgrace. No longer can we simply point at a young player and talk about his potential, no longer can we point to a good first half or a good last quarter and suggest we are getting close. We have got as close as we can get without getting the four points and now we have to change our fortunes around. My chin is up, my fingers are crossed while my belief in on a knife edge. Blues to win by... it doesn't matter what margin. When last they met: Round 10, 2001 - Carlton 21.23.149 d West Coast 3.12.30. Goals Carlton: Fevola 3, Whitnall 3, Beaumont 3, Hulme 2, Lappin 2, Silvagni 2, Bradley, Camporeale, Doering, Houlihan, Koutoufides, Ratten Goals West Coast: Fletcher, Gardiner, Jones Carlton: West Coast: Gardiner 17 possessions, 9 marks, 22 hitouts Morrison 19 possessions, 6 marks |
« Round 12 15 June 2002 Optus Oval
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