THE NARROWEST of margins ended Carlton's season in a pulsating game of football against the old enemy.
With Collingwood taking home the 13th Richard Pratt Cup, a stunning third quarter looked to put Carlton's destiny in its own hands, overturning a 19-point deficit into a 24-point three-quarter-time lead come the final siren.
However, despite the best efforts of inspirational captain Patrick Cripps and a number of other Blues, a late Collingwood goal broke Carlton hearts to see the home side fall by a solitary point.
Quarter one
Carlton didn’t get off to the best start, failing to score a goal in the first term while Collingwood managed three. Caleb Marchbank and Jacob Weitering were influential in the first term, using their intercept ability and kicking efficiency to get the Blues moving out of their defensive 50, while Lewis Young contributed four intercepts as well. Adam Cerra was busy on his return, picking up 11 disposals in the first quarter. The highlight of the Blues game was their clearance work, winning the clearances 11-5, doing their best work at the stoppages: however, their inability to convert going forward hurt them, leading to a 20-point deficit at the first change.
Quarter two
It was a much-improved start to the term by the Blues, with Matt Owies slotting a goal in the first two minutes, then quickly setting up another one for Harry McKay, bringing the Blues within single digits of the Pies. Carlton produced a much more contested style of play, winning the contested possessions count 45-30, as Patrick Cripps led the way with 13 contested possessions at the half. Charlie Curnow took two impressive contested marks in the forward 50, but was unable to convert them into goals, but Carlton still managed to halt Collingwood’s transition game and get repeat forward-50 entries. Two late goals from the Pies put the Blues on the back foot, heading into half time with a 19-point deficit.
Quarter three
It was all Navy Blue in the third term as Carlton delivered an eight-goal quarter to Collingwood’s one. The Blues managed to hold the Pies to a single point until the 25-minute mark of the term, with Cerra kicking things off with a goal in the first minute. Sam Docherty was the next to slot a goal following a 50-metre penalty, while Cerra kicked his second from outside the 50-metre mark. Marchbank laid a ferocious tackle to keep the momentum with the Blues, while goals from McKay, Motlop and Curnow widened the Blues' lead. A bruising spoil from Liam Stocker typified Carlton's relentlessness at the contest while Zac Williams got more involved in his return game. Once Collingwood broke a six-goal run and finally got a goal on the board, Curnow instantly responded with his second for the day, followed shortly by Motlop’s second, giving Carlton a 24-point lead heading into the final term.
Quarter four
The Blues kept up the pressure that they brought in the third term, getting repeat entries in their forward half. To the frustration of the home Carlton crowd, some wayward kicking left the Blues with some missed opportunities in front of goal, while the Pies got their way down the other end as the quarter transpired. As half chances went begging for the Blues, the Magpies took their own, taking the lead through Jamie Elliott. The siren sounded with Carlton in desperate search of a score, falling by one point to the old enemy.
Three things from the game
1. Adam Cerra played a dominant game after missing last week with due to injury. Picking up 27 disposals (11 in the first term) and kicking two goals, Cerra was a key player in the middle in arguably his best game so far for the Club, putting his head over the ball and distributing well out of contested situations.
2. Sam Docherty played an explosive game in the middle, attending more centre bounces than any other Blue and gaining 786 metres throughout the course of the day. As well as having a goal of his own, Docherty gathered 29 disposals, seven tackles and six clearances, starring once again in a midfield role.
3. It was a result which will burn for the Blues over the course of the summer. After a shaky first quarter, the Blues stuck to their guns and produced a style of football that saw them dominate large portions of the game against a finals-bound opponent. However, the events of the final term will no doubt sting Michael Voss' side.
CARLTON 0.3 2.5 10.8 10.14 (74)
COLLINGWOOD 3.5 5.6 6.8 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Carlton: Curnow 2, McKay 2, Motlop 2, Cerra 2, Docherty, Owies
BEST
Carlton: Cripps, Cerra, Docherty, Curnow, McKay, Setterfield, Young
Crowd: 88,287 at the MCG
