Carlton Media picks its top-five most influential player stats from the Blues' four-point loss to Brisbane at The Gabba on Saturday.
Patrick Cripps
Game-high 22 contested possessions
Patrick Cripps’ 24 disposals didn’t come easily, with 22 of them contested – eight more than next best Ed Curnow and Ryan Bastinac. It was a gutsy performance from the 21-year-old, who returned to the action under some duress after copping a knock to the knee late in the second term.
David Cuningham
Team-high 22 pressure acts
Debutant David Cuningham may have only had seven disposals, but impressed with what he did without the footy. The 19-year-old set the standard in the pressure stakes, recording eight tackles and a team-high 22 pressure acts.
Watch David Cuningham speak post-game
Zach Tuohy
Game-high 8 rebound 50s
Zach Tuohy’s rich vein of form continued at The Gabba. Despite the Blues having 22 more forward-50 entries than the Lions, the Irishman collected a game-high eight rebound 50s and used the footy effectively, with his 92 per cent disposal efficiency the highest of any player who had over 10 possessions.
Jacob Weitering
Equal team-high 9 intercepts
Jacob Weitering’s terrific ability to read the play was on display on Saturday. The 19-year-old was a commanding presence in defence, recording an equal team-high nine intercepts alongside fellow defender Simon White.
Kade Simpson
Team-high 10 score involvements
After having just six disposals in the first half, Kade Simpson exploded into action to spark Carlton’s comeback. The veteran gathered 20 disposals in the second half and seemed to be involved in the majority of his side’s scoring chains, as his team-high 10 score involvements would suggest.
Who were your shining lights on a disappointing afternoon? Head to www.hyundaiengineroom.com.au to vote in the Hyundai Fans' MVP.
