The Old Dark Navy's
30 May 2001, 22:30
Well the Blues tried hard to recreate the game they lost against the Magpies, only their superior skill allowed them to sustain the comeback against the Roos on this occasion. This is NOT a habit we should be getting into.
This game was clearly a case of the gutsy Roos not allowing the Blues to get any momentum going at all for the first half. It was expected that the Blues had the game and the guns to put North away at any time, but the Roos won the tactical battle in the first half. As it turned out, Wayne Brittain won the second half and therefore the battle over Denis Pagan.
North jumped the Blues early with a lot of spark provided by Jess Sinclair and Byron Pickett and more encouraging signs by Corey McKernan as well as some powerful rebounding from defense from Glen Archer and John Blakey. One of the pivotal matchups was David King on Matthew Lappin. Both were key contributors for their side as they were allowed to play their own games without having to watch each other too closely. The Roos did a great job by dragging Simon Beaumont deep into their forward line where his run out of defense was blunted. Carlton turned the ball over far too much and on occasions where there was no pressure on them. In fact, the only Blues player that could hold his head high in the first half was Scott Freeborn who collected the ball with the calmness of a veteran.
The expected matchup of Leigh Colbert on Anthony Koutoufides did transpire and almost to perfection for the Roos. Kouta was relatively quiet by his standards but not necessarily out of form. The heavy attention he received and the ball not falling his way meant that the biggest gun of them all was not a factor. Kouta did compete very well up forward however allowing the Blues running players to rove the packs effectively. Brendan Fevola was soundly beaten by Glen Archer and Lance Whitnall was a required presence across half back on many occasions. Silvagni too was just not right and seemed to be carrying an injury throughout the game. In the ruck, Spider Burton was proving to be a handful for Mark Porter and produced a handful of contested marks, something he has struggled to do of late. Jason McCartney was a colossus in the Roos back half and battled on courageously on one leg when injured later in the game.
For the second half, Brittain swung the changes. Beaumont was thrown upfield, Whitnall was put on a wing. Big Lance on a wing! An interesting assignment for the big guy in his 100th game. Here we go!
A change came upon the game immediately. Houlihan was lively, Darren Hulme was inspirational, Camporeale shook Shannon Grant's tag, Ratten regained his poise and Bradley cut loose. Perhaps, the player that most started the Blues resurgence was Michael Mansfield. Yes, I said it, you read it, we all saw it. I'll say it again .... M-M-Mansfield. This was clearly the best game the much maligned (mainly by us) former Cat has played for the Blues. His desperation showed the way for the frustrated Blues at the time of the greatest need. Combined with Beaumont cutting loose with a sensational third quarter, the Blues reduced a 35 point half time deficit into a 5 point cliffhanger at the last change. With all the momentum going Carlton's way and the Roos not having produced a goal for an extended period of time, it seemed that the Blue boys would run away with it. But like all good champions, the Roos lifted and suddenly the running game of Carlton evaporated and the game turned into an arm wrestle. Memories of the Pies game when the Blues looked sensational to overcome a big deficit and hit the front only to run out of steam and hand it back again, ran rife in my thoughts. Fortunately, a goal befitting a champion, by Lance Whitnall from 50 metres secured the result and the one quarter Blues had got out of jail.
This game was clearly a case of the gutsy Roos not allowing the Blues to get any momentum going at all for the first half. It was expected that the Blues had the game and the guns to put North away at any time, but the Roos won the tactical battle in the first half. As it turned out, Wayne Brittain won the second half and therefore the battle over Denis Pagan.
North jumped the Blues early with a lot of spark provided by Jess Sinclair and Byron Pickett and more encouraging signs by Corey McKernan as well as some powerful rebounding from defense from Glen Archer and John Blakey. One of the pivotal matchups was David King on Matthew Lappin. Both were key contributors for their side as they were allowed to play their own games without having to watch each other too closely. The Roos did a great job by dragging Simon Beaumont deep into their forward line where his run out of defense was blunted. Carlton turned the ball over far too much and on occasions where there was no pressure on them. In fact, the only Blues player that could hold his head high in the first half was Scott Freeborn who collected the ball with the calmness of a veteran.
The expected matchup of Leigh Colbert on Anthony Koutoufides did transpire and almost to perfection for the Roos. Kouta was relatively quiet by his standards but not necessarily out of form. The heavy attention he received and the ball not falling his way meant that the biggest gun of them all was not a factor. Kouta did compete very well up forward however allowing the Blues running players to rove the packs effectively. Brendan Fevola was soundly beaten by Glen Archer and Lance Whitnall was a required presence across half back on many occasions. Silvagni too was just not right and seemed to be carrying an injury throughout the game. In the ruck, Spider Burton was proving to be a handful for Mark Porter and produced a handful of contested marks, something he has struggled to do of late. Jason McCartney was a colossus in the Roos back half and battled on courageously on one leg when injured later in the game.
For the second half, Brittain swung the changes. Beaumont was thrown upfield, Whitnall was put on a wing. Big Lance on a wing! An interesting assignment for the big guy in his 100th game. Here we go!
A change came upon the game immediately. Houlihan was lively, Darren Hulme was inspirational, Camporeale shook Shannon Grant's tag, Ratten regained his poise and Bradley cut loose. Perhaps, the player that most started the Blues resurgence was Michael Mansfield. Yes, I said it, you read it, we all saw it. I'll say it again .... M-M-Mansfield. This was clearly the best game the much maligned (mainly by us) former Cat has played for the Blues. His desperation showed the way for the frustrated Blues at the time of the greatest need. Combined with Beaumont cutting loose with a sensational third quarter, the Blues reduced a 35 point half time deficit into a 5 point cliffhanger at the last change. With all the momentum going Carlton's way and the Roos not having produced a goal for an extended period of time, it seemed that the Blue boys would run away with it. But like all good champions, the Roos lifted and suddenly the running game of Carlton evaporated and the game turned into an arm wrestle. Memories of the Pies game when the Blues looked sensational to overcome a big deficit and hit the front only to run out of steam and hand it back again, ran rife in my thoughts. Fortunately, a goal befitting a champion, by Lance Whitnall from 50 metres secured the result and the one quarter Blues had got out of jail.