CARLTON went down fighting in the 2019 season opener, but were ultimately outclassed by 33 points against Richmond.

A first-quarter blitz by the Tigers meant that the Blues were firmly on the back foot early. 

The Blues took momentum into the final quarter, after a third term resurgence saw them cut the Tigers’ lead to just 13 points. The experienced Richmond ran out the game the much better of the two sides.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Blues, with new recruits Nic Newman and Will Setterfield having an immediate impact and Sam Walsh found his feet very quickly in his debut. 

Quarter-by-quarter

Q1:

The Tigers got the fast start in the first quarter, kicking the first five goals of the game. There was a better response from the Blues in the second half of the term, as they were able to slow down their rampaging opposition. Patrick Cripps once again showed what a class act he is, collecting 10 possessions and laying three tackles as the going got tough for the Blues.

Q2:

A goal to new Blue Alex Fasolo provided a spark in the second quarter, as they managed to lock the ball down in the forward half. The lift in pressure was noticeable throughout out the middle of the ground, and best demonstrated by the bone-crunching tackles of Dale Thomas and Liam Jones. A late goal to Zac Fisher had Carlton on the front foot.

Q3:

Thanks to two quick goals from Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, the Blues cut the Tigers’ half-time lead back to 15 points. The highlight came halfway through the quarter when the debutant Sam Walsh danced through traffic in the forward line before delivering the ball to the milestone man Marc Murphy to finish for a very classy goal.

Q4:

The Blues went into the final quarter full of momentum, having cut the Tigers’ lead to 13 points. While they lifted early thanks to defensive efforts from Lachie Plowman and Kade Simpson, the Tigers rallied to take the game away from the Blues.

Moment of the match:

Nic Newman could not have done more in his Navy Blue debut, but then he did. The new recruit pushed forward from the backline, intercepted the ball just outside 50 and delivered a beautiful left foot goal from just inside the boundary. The reaction said it all.

Player of the match:

With 32 disposals, six tackles and seven clearances, it is hard to look beyond captain Cripps as the player of the match. The midfield bull led from the front, and set a high standard for the rest of the team to follow.

Three things we learned:

  1. Sam Walsh looked totally comfortable on the big stage. The No.1 draft pick was involved from the outset and didn’t let up, finishing with 24 disposals. He was critical in Carlton’s second and third quarter surge.
  2. The additions of Nic Newman and Will Setterfield are going to be very handy throughout the year. The new Blues collected 26 and 24 disposals respectively, in an encouraging start to their lives in Blue.
  3. Patrick Cripps is still the same Patrick Cripps. He was once again the most dominant midfielder on the ground, leading from the front with his young teammates alongside him.

Up next:

The Blues hit the road and head to the City of Churches for a game against Port Adelaide.

Match summary:

Carlton          0.1     4.4    8.8      9.10 (64)

Richmond      5.4     7.8    10.9     14.13 (97)

 

Goals:

McKay 2, McGovern, Fisher, Murphy, Newman, C. Curnow, Fasolo, Thomas

 

Best:

Cripps, Newman, Weitering, Setterfield, Murphy, Walsh

 

Attendance:

85,016