Round 10 – Carlton v Western Bulldogs
Disco Monagle
Apologies for the delay preparing this review as I was totally knackered last night and there was no way I was going to be able to stay up to or to 2 or 3am, as well as, I had my own sporting challenge today which further delayed this review.
Please enjoy.
Carlton, Sacking (forced resignations) Coaches is so 1980’s Lygon Street
I gave myself a self-imposed media blackout for a week just for peace of mind, and it was so peaceful and stress free, so, what did I miss? Lo and behold, what could have changed in a week? Oh poo, Voss resigned (pushed) and Josh Fraser is now the new interim coach of the Blues.
I am flabbergasted and totally aghast.
Last week, I implored the Carlton players to get a bit of the 1980s arrogance and ruthlessness about them, but I wasn’t referring to the Baggers Board favourite 1980s blood sport of sacking coaches.
I just did not see this coming as in the second half last week against the reigning ps,remier the Blue boys did good as they outscored and outclassed the Lions, playing with a freedom that I haven’t seen all year.
Oh dear, now it all makes sense.
The Carlton players knew at halftime last week, or at the very least they had an inkling, Vossy was on his way out the door. The pressure valve was released and suddenly the Blues could play without fear as they outscored the Lions well and truly in the second half.
Goodness gracious me, how very Carlton!
Since David Parkin, Carlton’s last premiership coach, finished up in 2000, there has been a who’s who of coaches who have been hailed as the great saviours one year, only to end their tenure acrimoniously slinking out the back door of Ikon Park with a note saying, return to sender.
Wayne Brittain followed in Parkin’s footsteps for a couple of seasons, before Denis Pagan tried his darndest to besmirch his coaching record. Brett Ratten replaced him with some success, but as they say, this is Carlton, so Ratts was replaced by Mick Malthouse, followed up by Brendan Bolton, then the Teague Train, and finally Michael Voss. Before I forget, Josh Fraser is now the third caretaker coach after John Barker in 2015 and Ashley Hansen in 2022.
Just for the sake of completeness, let’s compare the Lygon Street coaching merry-go-round with their opponents the Western Bulldogs who had just one coach since 2015.
I’ll repeat that, the Western Bulldogs have had the same coach since 2015, compared to three coaches and two stand in coaches (now their third) at Princes Park over the same period of time.
Further, and in the infamous words of Terry Wallace, I’ll spew up if anybody says Voss lost the playing group. Apart from what does that even mean, we’ve heard it all before as a copout excuse for the demise of Ratten, Pagan, Malthouse, Brittain, Bolton, Teague, with even Barker and Hansen apparently also losing the playing group.
Where were/are these lost players?
Carlton – the 80s retro gift that just keeps on giving.
For the record, Josh Fraser has already said he does not want to coach Carlton beyond season 2026.
The Sleeper
Carlton aside, there is game to review, and the Baggers are fronting up to a Bulldogs team which is slowly trying to makeup for lost ground after one too many injuries this season.
Whilst I’m finally talking about the Bullies, they are potentially the sleeping giants of the competition, and they will be looking forward to second half of the season when some of their stars return, but they can’t keep losing games they should win.
For better or worse, the Dogs are currently flying under the radar, with most of the talking heads concentrating purely on the ladder trendsetters and for the time being leaving the Dogs out of any discussions.
The question on everybody’s lips is do the Baggers suddenly find form and win, or does the overall class of the Boys from the Kennel prevail?
So, What Transpired at Marvel?
If Michael Voss was watching the Blues rip the Dogs a new one, he may have muttered under his breathe, you bastards, you absolute bastards.
Carlton played a resounding four quarters of football for the first time this year, resulting in their second win for the year in a dour and at times boring struggle.
So let’s break it down.
Harry McKay and the Dogs Reliance on Marcus Bontempelli
Harry McKay is the Baggers barometer, and from halftime in the Blues loss to Lions in Round Nine to the final siren against the Dogs, the big man has put together some of his best work in a number of years.
Harry is an impact player, and he imposed his will in the second half as the Blues surged forward on the back some of his leadership and efforts.
Some players don’t need over 25 disposals to have a real impact and on paper it reads like Harry had an average game, but stats alone undersell his presence, impact and leadership.
Also, it is pleasing to see Harry protecting the Crippa from being belted from pillar to post in ruck contests by taking ownership of the fill in ruck position.
While big Harry had real impact on the game, the Dogs are relying too heavily on their superstar player, the Bont.
Heaven forbid the Bont has a quieter than normal game and somebody else has to stand up. Against the Blues at Marvel Stadium, not one senior Dogs’ player put their hand up to assist the Bont, who slightly down on form.
Ryley Sanders and Bailey Dale tried hard, but they never looked like they were going to turn the game on their own boot. Further, after Sanders and Dale (and the Bont) there is a huge chasm the Dogs next best player.
Arthur Jones was his usual exuberant self, but he had a night where the ball just bounced the wrong way.
Oscar Baker, the guy who looks like a 1970s porn star, was a bit like Jones. He had a good game but it could have been great if he had held his composure. Baker is a true salt of the earth battler and a bit of character, and he needs to string four or five reasonable games together to become a permanent fixture in the Dogs team.
Rory Lobb, or more affectionally known as the Lobster, had a serviceable game on his return from injury. Lobb highlights the Kennel’s reliance on Tim English, as in his absence set role players like Lobb are forced to play roles they are not familiar with, or not very interested in.
While the Bont had a quiet night by his lofty standards, I still had him the Dogs best. The onus of stepping up when he isn’t doing the extraordinary must fall on Ed Richards and Joel Freijah. Against the Blues neither player rose to the occasion.
Ed Richards seems to be a bit off the boil this season in comparison to last year, and while it might sound harsh, if Bevo was tempted to make a statement by dropping a senior player, he may well have Richards in his sights. Harsh, but sometimes a player has to be dropped for the coach to make the statement that no player is safe.
Joel Freijah tried hard against the Baggers but given the raps on him I sense the Dogs faithful now expect more from him.
Ollie Florent, Will Harward and Ben Ainsworth
This is possibly the first time this season the Blues midrange recruits all performed in the same game. While Ollie and Ben have put in some stellar performances, Wilbur hadn’t showed the Baggers faithful on a consistent basis his value to his new club.
Florent was arguably the Blues best on ground starting attacks from halfback, Hayward was either the Blues second or third best player on the night, while Ainsworth put in a solid performance.
Florent, Hayward and Ainsworth are honest players and while they are not the big names the Blues need to rise up the ladder, they are certainly important pawns as the Blues rebuild.
Jack Ison, Matthew Carroll and Jagga Smith
Where have Carlton been hiding Jack Ison?
Jack Ison’s first game for the Baggers was a ripper as he just put in all night, and he was rewarded with a goal (even though he left another couple out on the park).
After a bleak week at Princes Park, the performance of Ison gives hope for the future, while the slightly more mature Matthew Caroll with 25 games to his name, keeps getting better every time he runs out on the park for Baggers.
Jagga Smith is a beauty and given the raps on him I think a lot of sceptics are asking way too much at this stage of his career. Smith reminds me of Josh Rachele who is now playing the best football of his career after four or five years in the system.
Be patient with Smith, as the upside is huge.
It will be an interesting watch to see what young players Josh Fraser gives an audition to for the Blues in preparation for their new mentor next season.
Adam Saad
I know, I know, he didn’t play but his omission by the Blues new interim Coach made a huge statement. That statement is that if you want to be part of the Blues future then substandard performances by established players will no longer be accepted.
Fraser has immediately stamped his imprimatur on the Blues by making a huge statement at the selection table.
The Blues Old Guard
Dual Brownlow Medallist and Blues’ skipper, Patrick Cripps, is a bit like Harry McKay in that his last six quarters of football has been his best for the season. He seems to have his old hunger for the ball back, and he looks happy.
There have been rumours about Cripps’ future, and if the Blues wish to retain him, they will have to come up a Godfather type contract. While some of the Blues senior citizens may want to end their careers at other clubs, it is essential the Blues retain Cripps.
Would anybody blame Cripps for leaving? Probably not, but he is the conduit to the chances of the Blues future attempts at success. Cripps would be fully aware he will not be a part of the Blues’ next premiership, but he strikes me as the kind of captain who is selfless and his leadership is crucial nurturing the incoming youngsters coming through.
If the Blues do intend to climb out of the mire, then keeping Cripps no matter the cost is a must.
George Hewett, Nic Newman, Mitch McGovern, Nick Haynes, and the previously mentioned Adam Saad will be charged with the responsibility of assisting the new breed of Baggers coming through the system for the rest of the year, knowing full well the kids will replace them in the team probably sooner rather than later.
All of the above-named senior citizens at Princes Park all came to the Blues from other clubs to further their careers at Ikon, and they owe Carlton for the opportunity afforded them, as such they should all be attempting to leave the club in a better position than when they first came to Carlton.
The Blues’ senior citizens, whether it be in the seniors or the magoos, now take on the role of being mentors for the next generation Baggers.
The Western Bulldogs – Who Are You?
No club which aspires to playing on the MCG on the last Saturday in September should be solely reliant on two or three players, whether they be out injured or have a quieter than normal day. But that does seem to be the case with the Dogs.
The Western Bulldog at their best are brilliant and to boot, compelling and entertaining viewing, but for the last couple of seasons the Dogs have teased their faithful, only to let them down after a few things don’t go their way.
While there were some important outs for the Dogs team that took to the field at Marvel to take on the Blues, they still looked stronger than the besieged Blues on paper, and they had as much on the line as Carlton, but they folded under real and perceived pressure.
Losses such as the one to Carlton have become commonplace for the Dogs since 2022, reflecting how fragile and fickle the Dogs’ best is when compared to when they meekly surrender.
If the Dogs remain as fragile as they have been in the last month, they will struggle to even qualify for the Wildcard games this season, which would make the season a total failure
In Summary
Carlton proved they are a better than just one win for the season, and while they can’t make the finals this year (unless they win nearly every game), they will have a say in the makeup of the Top 10.
On the other hand, the Doggies’ season is going from bad to worse, and yes, injuries are playing a large part of the wins and losses at the moment, but that shouldn’t mean they play a listless and fickle brand of football. Further, players like Richards, Freijah, Bramble, even West and Davidson need to give the Bont a decent chop out from time to time.
In a dour and boring watch for the neutral armchair critics, the Blues got the win they needed under new coach Josh Fraser, while the Dogs can only lick their wounds and prepare for next week.
Well done Baggers.
Next Week
Good news Carlton fans, this will be last week for a while before I review a Carlton game, having watched them more than my own team this year.
Once again, the Blues play in a stand-alone prime time fixture when they travel to the City of Churches to take on the Power, while the Bulldogs host the much improved and exciting Demons at Marvel in the Sunday afternoon graveyard shift.
Fearless Leader will be reviewing the potential match of the season as the Cats host the Swans next Saturday afternoon, while at the same I will be covering the Scott Pendlebury tribute match. Seriously AFL, was it not possible to separate both of these games as stand-alone fixtures rather than the Power v Carlton?
Finally, buy HB Meyers a coffee, he reviews four games every weekend, and he ensures at least a couple of articles are published each day. Fearless Leader is a bloody ripper.
