dons_r_tops
Team Captain
Straight From the AFL to You
Carlton had 49 more disposals than the Bulldogs, 22 more marks, 5 more effective tackles and 14 more inside 50s. With those sorts of stats, a team would expect to win, but the Blues could only score 17 times from their 347 disposals. Carlton played pass-the-parcel with 12 forward-50 handballs in the second quarter alone (the AFL avg is 13 per match). For all this, the Blues could only score 2 goals from general play for the whole match.
Carlton fans have attempted to blame the umpires for their loss, pointing at the 26-9 free kick count. Matthew Lappin was the main offender, giving away a season record 7.
Essendon had 56 more disposals than the Hawks, 9 more marks, 24 more inside 50s and 12 more rebound 50s. The key to Essendon's dominance began in the centre where they won the centre bounce hitouts 24 to 14 and had 47 more disposals in the midfield. 11 goals came from general play, 11 from marks.
Blake Caracella and Mark Mercuri were exceptional targets up forward for the Bombers. Caracella had an astonishing 100% effectiveness in disposal, picking up 8 effective kicks and 18 effective handballs. Mercuri had 15 kicks and 5 handballs and brought the ball inside 50m 7 times. These two kicked 7 goals between them.
Head to head: Carlton 110 Essendon 97 Drawn 3
Last 10 years: Carlton 10 Essendon 12 Drawn 1
The finals will be almost an anti-climax after the buildup which has surrounded this match - the most hy! ped home and away game for years. But with good reason - it is seen as a clear grand final preview with unbeaten Essendon tackling Carlton, whose run of 13 wins came to an end only last weekend with a narrow loss to the Western Bulldogs. There is no real reason to think the Bombers' streak won't continue. Bradley is back to add more pace but the Blues are without form ruckman Matthew Allan. Central to the main game will be the potential duel between Essendon skipper James Hird and fellow multi-millionaire Anthony Koutoufides, the hottest player in the league at the moment.
Key: Given that Barnes should win the ruck duels, Carlton's midfield will have to be at its best otherwise the Bombers will give their all-star forward line too much supply for the Blues defence to cope. Even if they manage to stop Essendon's glamor spearhead Matthew Lloyd there is still the likes of Mark Mercuri, Steve Alessio, Gary Moorcroft and Scott Lucas.
Carlton had 49 more disposals than the Bulldogs, 22 more marks, 5 more effective tackles and 14 more inside 50s. With those sorts of stats, a team would expect to win, but the Blues could only score 17 times from their 347 disposals. Carlton played pass-the-parcel with 12 forward-50 handballs in the second quarter alone (the AFL avg is 13 per match). For all this, the Blues could only score 2 goals from general play for the whole match.
Carlton fans have attempted to blame the umpires for their loss, pointing at the 26-9 free kick count. Matthew Lappin was the main offender, giving away a season record 7.
Essendon had 56 more disposals than the Hawks, 9 more marks, 24 more inside 50s and 12 more rebound 50s. The key to Essendon's dominance began in the centre where they won the centre bounce hitouts 24 to 14 and had 47 more disposals in the midfield. 11 goals came from general play, 11 from marks.
Blake Caracella and Mark Mercuri were exceptional targets up forward for the Bombers. Caracella had an astonishing 100% effectiveness in disposal, picking up 8 effective kicks and 18 effective handballs. Mercuri had 15 kicks and 5 handballs and brought the ball inside 50m 7 times. These two kicked 7 goals between them.
Head to head: Carlton 110 Essendon 97 Drawn 3
Last 10 years: Carlton 10 Essendon 12 Drawn 1
The finals will be almost an anti-climax after the buildup which has surrounded this match - the most hy! ped home and away game for years. But with good reason - it is seen as a clear grand final preview with unbeaten Essendon tackling Carlton, whose run of 13 wins came to an end only last weekend with a narrow loss to the Western Bulldogs. There is no real reason to think the Bombers' streak won't continue. Bradley is back to add more pace but the Blues are without form ruckman Matthew Allan. Central to the main game will be the potential duel between Essendon skipper James Hird and fellow multi-millionaire Anthony Koutoufides, the hottest player in the league at the moment.
Key: Given that Barnes should win the ruck duels, Carlton's midfield will have to be at its best otherwise the Bombers will give their all-star forward line too much supply for the Blues defence to cope. Even if they manage to stop Essendon's glamor spearhead Matthew Lloyd there is still the likes of Mark Mercuri, Steve Alessio, Gary Moorcroft and Scott Lucas.
