Blues Plan To Exorcise Inner Demons
Blues v Demons
By Shane Thiele
July 13 2002
Before we get too far into this preview I'll get two words off of my chest.....ANTHONY KOUTOUFIDES!....Unless you've been living where life fails to exist i.e. Mars, Pluto, Adelaide! you would know by now that the great man is back.
|
One name has dominated the lead-up to Sunday despite the fact his
on-field influence will no doubt be minimal. What impact can a man
who has missed 10 months of Football have in his first game? Read on
and find out....
As we all know it was far from pretty but the Blues managed to
double their winning record last week against the struggling Tigers.
We can at least be thankful that although the wins have been few and
far between the boys have at least given us 9 days to celebrate on
both occasions in 2002. The Demons on the other hand return to
Melbourne with the prized scalp of a beheaded lion brutally slayed
in it's own domain.
On form we have little chance but there are a number of factors
which may weigh in our favour. So folks, pour yourself a glass of
your favourite poison, make sure it's half 'full' not 'empty as we
all must be optimistic......perhaps finish that one and pour a
couple more....Are you with me yet, do you think we can win?....No?
Well keep going then.....what are you looking at???.......I love
yoasdajlkkdlew.....OK, I think you are ready!!
* The Monkey is off the back.......
Forget about how we played against Richmond, the fact is we won!
Don't concern yourself with the standard of the game until you see
what effect a win has on the side. With every loss came extra
pressure. The lack of run and risk taking over the past few weeks
has been obvious. A classic example was the first 15 minutes against
Brisbane. In a game when no-one expected the Blues to get close the
team ran in numbers and were leaving their opponents for dead.
Suddenly thoughts of an unlikely victory started to enter the psyche
and the shackles once again tightened.
They stopped against the Eagles when 13 points up and they failed
to score in the last eight minutes against Richmond. This was a team
who feared defeat. Remember how you felt waking up Saturday morning
knowing we'd finally done it. Well imagine how the players must now
feel!
* Nine day break.......
All year sides have struggled to back-up after a frolic in the
Queensland sun and fingers crossed this week will be no different.
Melbourne were fantastic last week and surprisingly finished
stronger than the locals but were made to do it the hard way clawing
back from a six goal plus deficit. When watching the Lions closely
for our preview a fortnight ago, I noted their lack of
accountability at times for their opponents. Last Sunday was no
different at the Demons took full toll. Melbourne swarmed in
numbers, and at times our screens were filled with a sea of red and
blue. Neitz had a field day on Leppitsch and if the Blues allow them
the same latitude Fred Fanning's goal-kicking record may be under
threat. Beaumont may be the experienced choice but don't be
surprised if Livingston gets the gig.
* Small backline.....
No not again! I hear you cry, well do not fear folks for once we
are not talking about the Blues. On paper Whitnall and McKernan look
to have it all over Ellis, Bizzell & the inexperienced
Chris Lamb but unfortunately it wont be as straight-forward as it
reads on paper. Jeff White holds the key to Melbourne's chance's and
would fancy himself against the smaller and less experienced Andrew
Merrington. The formula is quite simple. The longer Merrington can
hold his own in the middle, the longer Corey can stay forward.
Someone tell the boy his career is on the line and lets see what he
can produce.
* Kouta!....
Despite his expected limited influence on the game, you wonder
what effect his presence will have on the rest of the side. Simon
Wiggins, Luke Livingston, Blake Campbell, Bret Thornton and even
Andrew Eccles & Corey McKernan have never lined up next to the great
man. The change rooms will be buzzing, his enthusiasm infectious
and expect an extra 5,000 people with '43' on their back to walk
through the turnstiles.
Will Melbourne become Koutoufides conscious and let a lesser-name
slip under their guard? Will he defy the odds and produce a game
similar to Round 1 2001 where the Adonis turned the match despite
missing the entire pre-season with his first serious knee
injury???........glass still half full??.......Well, probably not
but I have no doubt he will make a difference in one way or another.
Now of course most of my predictions are based on hope rather
than reality or form. Melbourne have troubled the Blues throughout
the last decade regardless of ladder positions. Apart from the focal
point in Neitz, we find it difficult to match-up on the '6 footers'
Robertson, Green, Bruce & Vardy. Their midfield is solid without
being spectacular but it's their work-rate and run that will test
the Blues line-up. Last year Camporeale had his hands full with
Peter Walsh and Sunday may be no different. Against the Lions Walsh
applied the hand-brake on a rampant Jason Akermanis and will no
doubt have either Camporeale or Brett Ratten in his sights.
So in summary, whether you put it down to a peaceful week's
sleep, finishing too many 'half full glasses' tonight or a severe
case of 'Hutchinson's disease' I feel surprisingly optimistic. To
win last week was one thing but to do it with limited contribution
from the likes of Ratten, Whitnall, Camporeale, Lappin, Bradley
and Murphy does give some hope for the future.
It will take more than a couple of cameo's to get over the line
against Melbourne but some players must now realise that they still
have eight weeks to save their season.
As much as I like the look of Brendon Goddard and Paul Johnson.
Having them wearing Navy Blue next year is still not my preferred
option.
Carlton's history against Melbourne
Played 190, Won 106, Lost 82, Drawn 2
Longest wining sequence - 16 wins (1905-1911)
Highest Score for - 25.15 - 165 (1986)
Lowest Score for - 1.2 - 8 (1903)
Greatest winning margin - 116 points
Greatest losing margin - 81 points
Last time they met
Round 15 - Optus Oval - 2001, Attendance 23,951
Melbourne 18.9 - 117 d Carlton 16.15 - 111
Key ball winners (All numbers possessions unless
indicated)
Camporeale - 33
Ratten - 27
Silvagni - 25
Yze - 28
Walsh - 25
Ward - 23
Inside 50's - Carlton 67, Melbourne 47
Possessions - Carlton 372, Melbourne 283
|
« Round 15 14 July 2002 Colonial Stadium
|
|
Old Dark
Navys.net
|
