The Old Dark Navy's
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From Old Dark Navys.net
WE ARE THE NAVY BLUES
We are the Old Dark Navy Blues, we're the team that ... come on belt it out with gusto .... never lets you down, we're the only team .... Phew. How sweet it is. The Blues have finally overcome their inner demons to record their first victory in almost 3 months.
Sure the opposition were fighting demons of their own. Sure Carlton were ordinary, Richmond were ordinary and let's face it, the umpires were beyond ordinary at times.
It matters not. Bret Thornton, Luke Livingston, Blake Campbell and Sam Cranage got to sing 'Lily of Laguna' for the first time in Navy Blue colours and the Blues may have just turned the corner.
Late changes probably helped both teams with Richmond playing the emotion card, bringing in Knights while for Carlton, Cranage came in for Mansfield (feeling like a jinx Micky?).
The Tigers jumped the Blues early with Brett Ratten unbelievably keeping a ball from going out of bounds deep in defence only to see Pettifer on the end of a handball and the first goal resulting. Brad Ottens then stamped his authority with two goals, the second of which came from an unlucky free against Livingston who had his arm pinned in a tackle. When Tivendale stepped over the goal square while kicking out from a Blues behind, the umpire missed it and the effects were felt moments later when Bowden kicked the Tigers fourth and Blues fans everywhere would have been looking for somewhere to hide.
Enter Corey McKernan ... The big number 2 almost put himself into the centre ruck duels and the Blues lifted all around him. Equally as inspiring were Adrian Hickmott and Simon Beaumont who was taking great delight in watching opponent Matthew Richardson self destruct gradually throughout the match. Goals to Camporeale, McKernan and Wiggins brought the Blues back into the game at quarter time and the feeling was that the Carlton of last week were on their way back.
Corey McKernan opened with a mark and goal in the second quarter and the Blues hit the front for the first time. With Corey floating into the ruck contests though, Carlton were struggling to find a forward target. Lance Whitnall was playing on the defensive side of the centre to lend assistance in the bid to cut off Brad Otten's on the lead while Brendon Fevola's bruised posterior limited our goal scoring options. The Pettifer and Ottens show continued and when Bowden chimed in for his second, the Blues found themselves 22 points behind. Lance Whitnall and Scott Camporeale were both regular visitors to the sidelines under the blood rule which interrupted the Blues flow. Camporeale's bleeding nose was testiment to a ridiculous umpiring decision that saw Campo having his face driven into the MCG turf by Bowden and Bowden getting the free kick inside 50 for being tackled too high. The mind boggles. Fortunately Bowden missed the shot and justice was served though that one point may have been crucial down the stretch.
Adrian Hickmott having been resolute in defence moved forward after his opponent Pettifer found space and made him pay for three goals. This was just the tonic the Blues needed as they worked harder to bottle up play in their forward line. A great chase and tackle by Hicky lead to a Wiggins goal and a bullet Ratten handball out of a pack and Hickmott was rewarded with a goal of his own. Half time and an eleven point Tiger lead and the Blues still had to work on their attitude.
A nice give by Fevola to Doering and Corey shepherded through the first goal of the third quarter and the game was back in the balance. When Corey capped off a great passage of play from Houlihan, Campbell, Doering and Fevola together with a 50 metre penalty against Sziller, the Blues were once more in the lead. Again McKernan got on the end of a sweet Camporeale pass and Carlton threatened to run away with it. Moments later Ottens was inexplicably allowed to take an uncontested mark inside 50 to reduce the margin to one point. While Luke Livingston displayed some SOS like skills running out of defence, some costly lapses on the dangerous Tigers big man highlighted how far he has to go. A Tiger turnover saw Bradley set up Fletcher for a goal and then Knights picked Bradley's pocket to set Pettifer up for his fourth goal. The Tigers had regained the lead at three quarter time and had whatever advantage the wind was offering going into the last quarter.
The other noticeable thing was Carlton's obvious lack of confidence later in third quarter as they started playing ultra-conservatively a quarter and a half out from full time.
When Whitnall went forward and scored the first goal of the last quarter to put Carlton in front once more, the Blues seemed to free up a little and believe they could do it. Tivendale again threatened to win another game for the Tigers with a brilliant kick and that old de ja vu was hanging ominously in front of our faces. But one man was inspired throughout the game and wouldn't take no for an answer and when McKernan kicked his fifth goal after fine lead up work from Houlihan and Camporeale, the lead had changed yet again.
The Blues needed something special to exorcise the demons of 10 straight losses and when the Tigers looked like stealing another game from under our noses, Matthew Lappin rose high above a pack in defence to save a dangerous situation. When he appeared a few seconds later up forward to give Doering a goal, the Blues had breathing space with a few minutes remaining. A free to Zantuck close to goal made the margin two points. From there on in Carlton tried to play out time. A snap by the Zantuck made the margin one point but then another frustrated free kick given away by Richardson allowed the Blues to steady and work the ball forward where they wound down the clock.
For the Blues, McKernan and Beaumont starred. Old stagers McKay and Hickmott showed the way while Wiggins, Doering and Campbell showed experience beyond their years. The youth policy is paying handsome dividends for the Blues though the experience gained from a victory is worth so much more. The confidence in the team should hold us in good stead for the rest of the year and give us a real shake at shedding that wooden spoon position. Everything crossed? Touched wood? Okay, now strap yourself in, this could be one hell of a ride.
WE ARE THE NAVY BLUES
We are the Old Dark Navy Blues, we're the team that ... come on belt it out with gusto .... never lets you down, we're the only team .... Phew. How sweet it is. The Blues have finally overcome their inner demons to record their first victory in almost 3 months.
Sure the opposition were fighting demons of their own. Sure Carlton were ordinary, Richmond were ordinary and let's face it, the umpires were beyond ordinary at times.
It matters not. Bret Thornton, Luke Livingston, Blake Campbell and Sam Cranage got to sing 'Lily of Laguna' for the first time in Navy Blue colours and the Blues may have just turned the corner.
Late changes probably helped both teams with Richmond playing the emotion card, bringing in Knights while for Carlton, Cranage came in for Mansfield (feeling like a jinx Micky?).
The Tigers jumped the Blues early with Brett Ratten unbelievably keeping a ball from going out of bounds deep in defence only to see Pettifer on the end of a handball and the first goal resulting. Brad Ottens then stamped his authority with two goals, the second of which came from an unlucky free against Livingston who had his arm pinned in a tackle. When Tivendale stepped over the goal square while kicking out from a Blues behind, the umpire missed it and the effects were felt moments later when Bowden kicked the Tigers fourth and Blues fans everywhere would have been looking for somewhere to hide.
Enter Corey McKernan ... The big number 2 almost put himself into the centre ruck duels and the Blues lifted all around him. Equally as inspiring were Adrian Hickmott and Simon Beaumont who was taking great delight in watching opponent Matthew Richardson self destruct gradually throughout the match. Goals to Camporeale, McKernan and Wiggins brought the Blues back into the game at quarter time and the feeling was that the Carlton of last week were on their way back.
Corey McKernan opened with a mark and goal in the second quarter and the Blues hit the front for the first time. With Corey floating into the ruck contests though, Carlton were struggling to find a forward target. Lance Whitnall was playing on the defensive side of the centre to lend assistance in the bid to cut off Brad Otten's on the lead while Brendon Fevola's bruised posterior limited our goal scoring options. The Pettifer and Ottens show continued and when Bowden chimed in for his second, the Blues found themselves 22 points behind. Lance Whitnall and Scott Camporeale were both regular visitors to the sidelines under the blood rule which interrupted the Blues flow. Camporeale's bleeding nose was testiment to a ridiculous umpiring decision that saw Campo having his face driven into the MCG turf by Bowden and Bowden getting the free kick inside 50 for being tackled too high. The mind boggles. Fortunately Bowden missed the shot and justice was served though that one point may have been crucial down the stretch.
Adrian Hickmott having been resolute in defence moved forward after his opponent Pettifer found space and made him pay for three goals. This was just the tonic the Blues needed as they worked harder to bottle up play in their forward line. A great chase and tackle by Hicky lead to a Wiggins goal and a bullet Ratten handball out of a pack and Hickmott was rewarded with a goal of his own. Half time and an eleven point Tiger lead and the Blues still had to work on their attitude.
A nice give by Fevola to Doering and Corey shepherded through the first goal of the third quarter and the game was back in the balance. When Corey capped off a great passage of play from Houlihan, Campbell, Doering and Fevola together with a 50 metre penalty against Sziller, the Blues were once more in the lead. Again McKernan got on the end of a sweet Camporeale pass and Carlton threatened to run away with it. Moments later Ottens was inexplicably allowed to take an uncontested mark inside 50 to reduce the margin to one point. While Luke Livingston displayed some SOS like skills running out of defence, some costly lapses on the dangerous Tigers big man highlighted how far he has to go. A Tiger turnover saw Bradley set up Fletcher for a goal and then Knights picked Bradley's pocket to set Pettifer up for his fourth goal. The Tigers had regained the lead at three quarter time and had whatever advantage the wind was offering going into the last quarter.
The other noticeable thing was Carlton's obvious lack of confidence later in third quarter as they started playing ultra-conservatively a quarter and a half out from full time.
When Whitnall went forward and scored the first goal of the last quarter to put Carlton in front once more, the Blues seemed to free up a little and believe they could do it. Tivendale again threatened to win another game for the Tigers with a brilliant kick and that old de ja vu was hanging ominously in front of our faces. But one man was inspired throughout the game and wouldn't take no for an answer and when McKernan kicked his fifth goal after fine lead up work from Houlihan and Camporeale, the lead had changed yet again.
The Blues needed something special to exorcise the demons of 10 straight losses and when the Tigers looked like stealing another game from under our noses, Matthew Lappin rose high above a pack in defence to save a dangerous situation. When he appeared a few seconds later up forward to give Doering a goal, the Blues had breathing space with a few minutes remaining. A free to Zantuck close to goal made the margin two points. From there on in Carlton tried to play out time. A snap by the Zantuck made the margin one point but then another frustrated free kick given away by Richardson allowed the Blues to steady and work the ball forward where they wound down the clock.
For the Blues, McKernan and Beaumont starred. Old stagers McKay and Hickmott showed the way while Wiggins, Doering and Campbell showed experience beyond their years. The youth policy is paying handsome dividends for the Blues though the experience gained from a victory is worth so much more. The confidence in the team should hold us in good stead for the rest of the year and give us a real shake at shedding that wooden spoon position. Everything crossed? Touched wood? Okay, now strap yourself in, this could be one hell of a ride.
