SUMMARY
A depleted Carlton has suffered a 60-point loss to Essendon in its NAB Challenge match in front of a near-capacity crowd at Ikon Park on Sunday.
A zero-to-seven-goal second quarter created too high a mountain for the baby Blues to climb, as Essendon finished a 1.13.8 (95) to 1.3.8 (35) winner.
Blues supporters turned out in their droves after a huge build-up to the game, with a packed crowd of 18,718 creating an old-school atmosphere reminiscent of the ‘90s.
Despite the loss, they would have been encouraged by what they saw from No.1 draft pick Jacob Weitering, who finished with 19 disposals in defence in a composed performance.
Fellow draftees Jack Silvagni and Harry McKay were also lively after coming in on the second half, but Essendon’s experience ultimately proved telling.
Carlton will now have a week off before facing Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Friday March 11 in its final NAB Challenge game.
SETTING THE STAGE
Emotions ran high in the lead-up to today’s game, with a return to the spiritual home bringing back countless treasured memories for the Carlton faithful.
Remarkably, the Blues hadn’t hosted the Bombers at Ikon Park in any competition since Round 10, 1992 – a 52-point win that day with Stephen Kernahan bagging seven goals in front of 27,993 fans.
In a throwback to the '80s/'90s, Sunday’s teamsheet had surnames synonymous with Carlton on display: Buckley (Dylan Buckley), Silvagni (Jack Silvagni) and McKay (Harry McKay).
The latter pair joined fellow 2015 draftees Jacob Weitering, David Cuningham and Charlie Curnow in the team, giving the Carlton faithful the chance to watch the new generation at the famous old stomping ground.
Missing from the team were regulars Patrick Cripps, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Walker, Matthew Kreuzer, Simon White and Dale Thomas, while Sam Kerridge was rested after his superb start in Carlton colours last week.
With captain Murphy on the sidelines, Kade Simpson took the reins as captain for a second consecutive week.
New Essendon coach John Worsfold was in familiar territory for his first game in charge.
The 47-year-old, who was an assistant at the Blues during the 2000 and 2001 seasons, included just four top-up players in his team - Ryan Crowley, Jonathan Simpkin, Sam Grimley and Sam Michael.
Led by new captain Brendon Goddard, the Bombers also blooded No.5 draft pick Darcy Parish.
History was made in more ways than one, with Eleni Glouftis becoming the first female field umpire to adjudicate an official AFL game.
FIRST-HALF SUMMARY
The Blues made a slow start, trailing Essendon by 46 points at half-time.
After a tight, scrappy first quarter which ended in a goal apiece, the Blues were overpowered in the second quarter, conceding six unanswered goals and a supergoal.
Turnovers and conceded free-kicks cruelled the Blues, with the latter contributing to goals from Essendon's Zach Merrett, Will Hams and Courtenay Dempsey.
Joe Daniher was also the benefactor of a 50m penalty, slotting home from the goalsquare late in the first half.
With the likes of Dale Thomas, Patrick Cripps, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Sam Kerridge missing from the midfield, youngster Nick Graham shouldered the load of the work in the middle, gathering a team-high 15 disposals.
A positive for the Blues from a poor first half was the performance of Weitering, who recorded 10 disposals down back in a composed display.
Jacob Weitering in action. (Photo: AFL Media)
Silvagni, McKay, Matthew Dick and Sam Docherty were benched in the opening half.
SECOND-HALF SUMMARY
Coach Brendon Bolton took Michael Jamison, Kade Simpson, David Cuningham and Levi Casboult off at half-time, with Silvagni, McKay, Dick and Docherty their replacements.
It was Carlton’s youngsters who breathed life back into the contest in the third quarter, with the Blues winning the term by three points.
Andrew Gallucci, who was lively throughout the day, received a handpass to slam home from close range.
McKay got the jump on his opponent to take a leaping grab and nail his first major for Carlton just minutes after Ed Curnow’s supergoal.
The big forward was involved again on the stroke of three-quarter time, laying a huge tackle on the Richard Pratt Stand wing to spark a scuffle with the Bombers and ignite the Carlton faithful.
VIDEO: Carlton kids spark some passion
Missed chances from Ciaran Byrne and Dylan Buckley hurt the Blues in the last quarter, with exciting build-ups leading to golden scoring opportunities for the young pair.
The Bombers made the Blues pay, with Shaun McKernan responding and Daniher adding his third goal in the space of two minutes.
Ryan Crowley struck the final blow, blowing the margin out to 60 points with a goal after the final siren.
Despite Essendon winning the second half by 14 points, the Blues showed more encouraging signs.
COACH'S REACTION
"We only had 90 rotations today, so we're looking for our group to endure and we got good game time into our players," Bolton said post-match.
"We'll use the whole NAB Challenge to refine our ball movement. We've got a fair bit of work to do in that area.
"We'll play a much stronger squad against Sydney in a few weeks time."
Watch Bolton's post-match press conference
CARLTON 0.1.1 0.1.2 1.3.4 1.3.8 (35)
ESSENDON 0.1.3 1.7.3 1.10.5 1.13.8 (95)
SUPERGOALS
Carlton: E Curnow
Essendon: Z Merrett
GOALS
Carlton: McKay, Smith, Gallucci
Essendon: Daniher 3, Goddard 3, Grimley, Hams, Long, McKernan, Dempsey, Crowley, Merrett
BEST
Carlton: Graham, Tuohy, Weitering
Essendon: Goddard, Zaharakis, Edwards, Z Merrett, Gleeson, Bird
Click here for match stats
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Essendon: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: O'Gorman, Schmitt, Jeferry, Glouftsis
Official crowd: 18,718 at Ikon Park
