CARLTON has weathered an almighty scare from Greater Western Sydney, winning by 15 points amid a downpour on Sunday evening.
A day of heavy rain in Melbourne continued at Ikon Park, contributing to the miserly 5.8 (38) to 3.5 (23) result on a slippery deck.
In a game of momentum shifts, Giants kicked the first two goals of the game before Carlton scored the next three in the first half. The arm-wrestle continued before the Blues kicked away in the final term.
The result keeps Carlton’s top four hopes alive coming into the final round of the home and away season.
Recruit Claudia Whitfort scored two goals to sit alongside her 24 possessions, four tackles and four clearances, while the ever-impressive Erone Fitzpatrick continued her strong season after re-signing this week to 2030 (27, including six intercepts). Their captain in Abbie McKay also provided a strong presence all evening (28 possessions, seven tackles).
Alyce Parker continued to drive her team’s engine room, with an important 29 possessions, eight clearances and 510 metres gained in the wet. Tilly Lucas-Rodd also played a strong defensive role (26 disposals, five tackles) in game 101.
In challenging conditions, it was always going to be about which team could best adapt and take territory at all costs – whether that meant soccering the ball off the ground or thumping kicks driving it forward.
It was the Giants capitalising early, including an opportunistic toepoke in the goal square by Tarni Evans to open proceedings before Zarlie Goldsworthy snapped around the body to extend their lead.
As the rain kicked up a notch (and never quite eased), momentum shifted into the hands of the Blues who had 75% efficiency inside forward 50 from their eight entries in the first quarter.
Poppy Scholz’s booming kick inside 50 found Darcy Vescio in the pocket, reading the bounce best before picking the wet footy up and scoring their side’s opening goal.
The ball lived in the Giants’ forward half for the first ten minutes of the second term but they’ll rue their missed opportunities as the only goal of the quarter came against them - and the flow of play.
Scholz pounced on a deliberate free kick in the forward pocket, sending it to Nell Morris-Dalton who capitalised on the resulting scuffle on the goal line.
The ball ping ponged between the ends with limited scoreboard impact in the third term. The only goal came from a tough mark and conversion by Goldsworthy from a distance. Every Giants player got around the 21-year-old reigning club best and fairest whose football has been limited by injuries this year.
An early miss in the final term gave Carlton a one-point lead before Sophie McKay found Scholz on the lead to convert.
Whitfort snapped late under pressure from 40m out to seal the deal.
Déjà vu
If you were wondering if you’ve seen this movie before, you’re right. In the same round last year, the Giants faced Carlton at Ikon Park on a very rainy Sunday afternoon. Thankfully this year there was no lengthy lightning delay sending both teams back to the sheds mid-quarter. The final scoreline this time around was also a lot closer than that match, when the Blues ran out 46-point winners.
Blues defenders stand up
It was a day for the backlines given the grim conditions. Last week, reigning All-Australian Harriet Cordner was the lone shining light for the Blues backs as they went down to the Bulldogs, repeatedly mopping up. But no one could accuse the Carlton defenders of that on Sunday evening – Ciara Fitzgerald (12 intercepts, 12 contested possessions), Maddy Hendrie (seven intercepts) and Amelia Velardo (three tackles) all playing important roles as the Giants had 36 forward 50 entries for the match.
Up next
Carlton flies up to Brisbane to face the Lions at Brighton Homes Arena for a Saturday twilight game that will decide their finals position. The Giants end their season hosting Gold Coast at Henson Park on Sunday afternoon.
CARLTON 2.1 3.2 3.5 5.8 (38)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.3 2.4 3.5 3.5 (23)
GOALS
Carlton: Whitfort 2, Vescio, Morris-Dalton, Scholz
