Carlton has clung on for dear life after a stunning late surge from a Christian Petracca-inspired Melbourne almost delivered a famous comeback win in a one-point thriller at the MCG.
The Blues escaped the Demons’ final-quarter onslaught thanks to a desperate last-minute tackle by Nic Newman and Patrick Cripps on Petracca which resulted in a free kick for holding the ball.
It came after Petracca (five goals and two goal assists) almost single-handedly willed Melbourne into the game after the Demons went scoreless for almost 40 minutes in a lopsided start to the match.
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The Melbourne superstar’s left-foot snap from the pocket cut the margin to seven before Max Gawn made it a solitary point with a long-range set shot taken in a hurry to leave time to snatch the game.
A boundary throw-in 40m out from goal gave the Demons their big chance with 30 seconds left, and Gawn’s tap over his shoulder to Petracca was superb only for Cripps and Newman to bring down their explosive opponent.
Carlton entered the clash with a midfield so deep that George Hewett was relegated to the sub role despite the wet conditions he relishes, but the tough on-baller will be needed next week after Adam Cerra appeared to suffer another hamstring injury during the third quarter and was subbed out.
The Blues’ difficulty keeping the same backline on the park for consecutive weeks is also set to continue with Nic Newman facing a possible ban for a late, high bump on Alex Neal-Bullen during the third quarter.
Neal-Bullen showed no ill effects from the shoulder to the face but the incident had similarities to Kysaiah Pickett’s bump on Jake Soligo earlier this season which attracted a one-match suspension.
The 3-2-1 … (via Ben Cotton)
3. PETRACCA FORWARD SWITCH NEARLY LIFTS DEES
Christian Petracca, take a bow, booting a game-high five goals and nearly carrying the Dees to a big comeback win.
Simon Goodwin played Petracca basically exclusively up forward on Thursday night for great effect, helping keep his side in it at stages in a magnificent showing in a losing effort.
The most dangerous forward on the night, the superstar Demon kicked four of his five goals in the second and third quarters alone to keep Melbourne alive when it felt like they were on the brink of getting blown out.
In fact, Petracca kicked five of the Demons’ 11 goals on the night to give them a great offensive boost with their other forwards struggling in the sloppy conditions.
“He’s the one who basically gave them a glimmer of hope. He was able to take a couple of marks – and good marks – and kick goals,” Hawks legend Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy at half-time.
“His kicking from inside 40m is actually very good. He gets criticised at times, but he has a lot of his shots from way outside.
“I thought Petracca going forward gave them just a glimmer of hope.”
So successful was Petracca’s move forward in the second term that he spent 84 per cent time forward in the third term – kicking two goals from seven disposals and four score involvements.
Where the 28-year-old is best utilised has long been a topic of debate given Melbourne’s need for more firepower in the forward half
On Thursday night he showed just how effective that ace up Goodwin’s sleeve can be.
2. BLUES HANG ON AS GUN’S ‘SUPER’ RETURN KEY
The Blues with a huge sigh of relief.
After dominating for the majority of the night, Carlton just held on in a one-point win over Melbourne on Thursday night.
Michael Voss’ side kicked the first five goals off the match to put the Demons on the backfoot early in a buffer that proved important amid wet conditions at the MCG.
Melbourne charged home with four fourth-quarter goals to nearly steal defeat at the death in a grandstand finish to nearly stun the Blues.
Carlton had been sharp in all areas of the ground for most of the night including the return of Mitch McGovern shoring them up behind the ball.
Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna observed McGovern had been “super” and said it “made a big difference” when he was out.
Meanwhile Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson noted how having McGovern and Brodie Kemp back in defence helped Jacob Weitering “get back to his good form” and “leadership role,” having “taken Harrison Petty to the cleaners in the first half.”
Further up the field, Kangaroos legend David King praised the Blues’ pure entries forward of centre. King said Patrick Cripps spending more time forward was a valuable point of difference Voss should continue to utilise.
“I love their vision tonight forward of centre, finding different options. It’s not as bomb-y as what it’d been the previous few weeks,” King said.
“I think Cripps playing forward is something they haven’t really explored, but we saw snipers tonight.”
1. ‘FREAK TALENT’: WALSH PUTS ON MASTERCLASS
Sam Walsh put on a masterclass at the MCG.
The smooth moving midfielder was dominant from the opening minutes of the game, finishing with 34 disposals, 13 contested, 10 tackles and one goal.
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall praised Walsh’s “work rate” and ability to cover the ground so effectively.
“He’s been everywhere. He’s been inside and outside, he’s done it all,” Dunstall said of Walsh on Fox Footy.
“It’s staggering to think what he’s been able to do since coming back from the back injury and not playing much footy.
“Obviously it would’ve affected his training schedule. But he hasn’t missed a beat and just gone bang from the moment he came back in.”
Showing a series of highlights including one where Walsh worked from supporting the Blues defence to streaming inside 50, Roos legend David King said there’s “not many that can go with him.
“When he’s playing like this, I reckon you get the opportunity to explore different things with Cerra and potentially Cripps going forward a bit more often,” King said.
“He’s everything to them – he wins clearances and his run and gun. He’s carried the ball and had a bit more patience tonight, he’s looked very composed.
“I’d love to see his GPS data and the effort runs this bloke puts in. There’s not many that can go with him. He’s a freak talent.”
Watching his workmate and overlap run, Saints champion Leigh Montagna said: “That’s how you get the outnumber, it’s the contest-to-contest running.
“To be able to execute and finish your work when you do run at that speed and length, it’s elite.”
CARLTON vs. MELBOURNE — AS IT HAPPENED
Final teams are in for tonight’s clash. There are no late changes, with George Hewett (CAR) and Taj Woewodin (MEL) named the starting substitutes.
With tumbling at the MCG, the ball might end up a cake of soap.
St Kilda great Leigh Montagna said before the game the Demons “do not play well in the wet”, with Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall stating “everything’s going to be simplified tonight” as the panel discussed the weather’s implications.
However, coach Simon Goodwin told Fox Footy pre-game “we’re prepared for wet weather … for these kinds of conditions.”
On the other side of the ledger, speaking to the panel pre-game, Carlton coach Michael Voss reflected on his side’s recent defensive disharmony and how it correlates with the form of Weitering.
“I think we can concede some of that,” Voss admitted.
“We’ve certainly had plenty of discussion about that, and obviously we’ve been talking over the last couple of weeks about our defence and what it needs to look like, and how we support ‘Weiters’.
“How our system moves together will be important. There (are) obviously individual battles that need to be won, but there’s (also) a system that needs to operate around it, and it has to operate to our strengths.
“We feel like we haven’t quite got that (system) as good as what we need it — certainly not consistent enough — and that’s something we’d like to implement tonight.”
Just prior to the first bounce and the rain appears to have lessened, though conditions will still be slippery in the early stages.
Superstar Blue Sam Walsh has made his impact felt early, snapping the game’s first goal after playing a part in the initial build-up and inside 50.
Marc Pittonet kicked Carlton’s second goal of the contest before Jack Martin — playing his first game of the season — marked impressively over Melbourne’s Jake Lever and booted the Blues’ third major from a set shot.
Harry McKay then marked and kicked Carlton’s fourth-straight goal to make it 4.0 to no score.
The Blues have cornered the Demons on a number of occasions, stifling their attacking chains and hitting back hard in transition.
Tom De Koning kicked his side’s fifth goal of the term to cement a 30-0 lead at the first change.
This is just the second time in the past 33 years Melbourne has been rendered scoreless at QT. The last time came in Round 19, 2008 against Geelong.
“They have made a massive statement, the Blues,” Dunstall told Fox Footy at quarter-time.
“They’ve come out with purpose, they’ve come out with aggression, and they’ve gone bang, bang, bang. They’ve taken their opportunities.”
With his team on the canvas, Christian Petracca might have single-handedly dragged the Demons back into this game.
The bullocking midfielder — playing forward — kicked Melbourne’s first goal of the night, had another shot that missed, and then booted their second to reduce the deficit to 23 points.
Charlie Curnow took a soaring grab but couldn’t capitalise on a set shot from nearly directly in front.
Just a couple of minutes later, though, Patrick Cripps scored Carlton’s seventh goal to restore a 31-point advantage.
Matthew Owies then marked and goaled to establish a game-high 37-point lead, before Melbourne’s Daniel Turner pulled one back with a nice set shot.
Carlton’s half-time buffer was 31 points.
“Carlton have completely outplayed them,” Dunstall told Fox Footy at half-time. “They’ve been able to back (the first quarter) up.”
Sam Walsh has 20 disposals, three clearances, five tackles and a goal to half-time.
“He hasn’t missed a beat. He’s just gone ‘bang’ with his form since he came back in (from injury),” Dunstall added.
Jacob Weitering, whose recent performance has been the subject of discussion, was one of Carlton’s stars in the first half, recording 12 disposals and six marks and playing a key role in quelling Melbourne’s attacks.
“He certainly hasn’t let Michael Voss down in the first half of this game,” Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson told Fox Footy at the main change.
“He’s absolutely taken Harrison Petty to the cleaners in that first half.
“(Brodie) Kemp and (Mitch) McGovern coming back in … that’s allowed Weitering to get back into that leadership role in defence.”
Curnow kicked the first goal of the second half with a brilliant solo effort, though play was then halted for a potential score review. One wasn’t forthcoming, however, as Kozzie Pickett issued an immediate response as the Demons streamed out of the middle.
An error in defence by Tom McDonald handed the Blues their second major of the second half, with the margin now sitting at an equal-game-high 37 points.
A glancing elbow from Blues defender Nic Newman on Melbourne’s Alex Neal-Bullen is likely to attract the attention of the Match Review Officer.
After Neal-Bullen kicked the ball, Newman appeared to make minimal contact with the head of the Demons forward. The act resulted in a downfield free kick to Bayley Fritsch, who couldn’t convert the set shot.
“He’ll have a case to answer, no doubt. That’s a glancing elbow to the chin,” said Seven commentator Dale Thomas.
The Blues made their sub, with Adam Cerra (hamstring) exiting early and George Hewett coming onto the ground.
The Dees kicked the last two goals of the third quarter to get within 22 points of the Blues at the final change. Carlton will take some beating from here, but Melbourne has given itself an opportunity to stage a late comeback.
George Hewett, fresh into the action after being subbed on for the injured Cerra, snapped the first goal of the fourth quarter for the Blues. It makes life very difficult for Melbourne now.
Jacob van Rooyen kicked a responding goal for the Demons, but they’ve wasted chances to reduce their deficit further. It’s a 19-point game with a little over five minutes remaining.
Christian Petracca kicked his fifth goal to get the Dees within seven, then Max Gawn made it a one-point game!
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