On a Sunday night at the MCG, two mortal enemies walked onto the field of combat for the 252nd time in football history.
The Blues were under the gun, with everyone questioning whether they are any good and if have the hunger for it, while the Bombers were seemingly flying under the radar, with the finals word daring to be dreamt about.
Did the jungle drums continue to beat for Michael Voss or did Lygon Street pump into the early hours? The Blues lead the head-to-head 127-118 with 6 draws … who added to their tally? Let’s find out, and how we got there.
The Curious Case of Carlton
Any football fan knows the narrative around Carlton. They’re showing potential, and they fail to live up to the expectations of the fans and the administrators. When you look at the list on paper, they are formidable in many areas. So, where is everything breaking down?
I look at this side and wonder how many are playing for each other and their coach … it doesn’t seem like many. We have seen Port Adelaide galvanise for their coach this year, but something is yet to click for the Blues. Perhaps it’s a lack of stability … I mean, by the time it’s 11am every third Monday it seems that they’ve changed their coach. That can’t be good for anyone associated with the club. The mental strength and toughness of the players also comes into question. It seems that whenever things get tough, they go missing. Very few players are able to lift, and then take their teammates with them. Cripps and Walsh have traditionally done that, but they are shadows of their former selves.
Trolling Carlton and their fans is memeworthy and fun for neutrals. However, whenever the most heavily supported teams are firing, it’s good for football. The crowds are full, the hype is real, and the game just seems even better. Carlton need to work out who they are, or risk remaining in mediocrity for an extended period. Of most concern, in my eyes, is that they are considered a finals threat, especially in comparison with Hawthorn. However, coming into tonight, Carlton have won six of their past 20 H&A matches, while the Hawks have won eight.
They have good people off-field in Brian Cook and Michael Voss. Hopefully, for the sake of Lygon Streets trade, they can figure out who they are and find some form again soon.
Can We Now Trust the Bombers?
For all the despair of the Carlton fans, and the disappointment they are shaping to be in 2023, there is something building at the hangar. Brad Scott is showing that coaching nous runs in the family, as he is bringing the sash to life. The Bombers showed tonight that they have gears – they can chip the ball around and maintain possession, and they can equally take the game on with speed, and organised chaos.
When they are running in waves and sharing the ball by hand, they are incredibly difficult to stop. What’s made a big difference to them from 2022, as a neutral, is the belief, the collective buy-in from all the players, the sustained effort, and their ruthless efficiency.
They were beaten at the contest for extended periods and Carlton had the momentum, but they fought hard, kept their shape, and repelled. More importantly, when they had the momentum, they floored the throttle and capitalised on it. That, in many respects, was the big difference in the game – efficiency and capitalising on momentum.
If You Can’t Handle the Heat, Then Get Out of the Kitchen
Or don’t play for either of these clubs.
– Essendon bringing the heat (evidenced by the tackle from Hobbs on Walsh)
– goal kicking: to half-time, Charlie was 0.4 while Peter Wright had two shots, for 2.0 putting the Dons in front (6-1 clearances in this time).
Styles Clash
And no, I’m not talking about the finishing move by the Phenomenal AJ Styles … I’m looking at how the clubs played. Essendon had the bulk of territory in the opening quarter, forcing Carlton to react on turnover, with their forwards high up the ground, and resulting in long range shots at goal. The Bombers were more prepared to play a kick-mark game at times, changing the tempo from their usual run-and-gun handball from the back half.
Starting second half, Bombers kept the ball in motion, and smashed Blues around stoppage. They were efficient and moved the ball with speed. The way in which the Bombers surged the ball forward built pressure, and by kicking straight, they extended the lead on the scoreboard.
Carlton took control back for much of the last quarter, yet were outscored by the ruthlessly efficient Bombers.
The Bombers have shown that they have a discernible style in 2023, and, while they may not get it right week in and week out, their brand is starting to become recognisable (maybe that’s simply because I’ve reviewed a handful or more Bombers games this year). On the flip side, the Blues seem totally fixated on kicking it to Harry and Charlie that when that option is taken away, they struggle to move the ball forward and to hit the scoreboard.
Capitalising on Momentum
Q2 – Blues + 32 disposals, +22 CP, +17 ground balls, +10 I50, 47% efficiency (all in forward half); yet they only kicked 2.5 to Essendon’s 2.2
Q3 – opening 9 mins: Bombers 4.1 to 0.0; 13 C to 6 + 7.1 to 2.0 to blow the game open. They finished the term 7.1 to 2.0 and, even with Essendon having all the play, the Blues managed only 6 tackles.
Q4 – Blues made all the running, but couldn’t really eat into the lead. Inefficient going forward, and wasting opportunities.
I’ve tried to find some positives for the Blues, but it’s limited. Around the ball, we know they are good. They had their moments tonight and generated some good field position. At times, their defensive structure was more than sound – this gave them repeat forward 50 entries. Had they converted better, then we may have seen a different result. So, the positive there is that they were able to generate shots, they just couldn’t finish. Charlie Curnow finished with 2.4 as one of the leading culprits, particularly early.
Another positive, is that Michael Voss and co had said that the Blues would play with more dare. We definitely saw that, but moreso when the game was on their terms. There are little glimpses there that will keep the Blues hierarchy and fans invested, the team just need to bring it consistently and work out their identity.
From the Viewing Gallery
Who had Alex Cincotta on their multi or bingo card for first goal scorer? Sizzling goal to open proceedings from long range, to get the Carlton crowd rowdy. Beyond that, his attack on the footy and willingness to put his body on the line shows he’s a footballer – it’s a shame there’s so few in his team who are prepared to do the same.
You wouldn’t have thought Peter Wright hadn’t played a game of footy so far in 2023. His attack on the footy, sure hands, and straight kicking really helped the Bombers to set the game up tonight – especially during their third quarter onslaught.
It may have taken an injury for him to get full midfield minutes, and not everyone takes their opportunities, but Ben Hobbs has grown into his role and the position as each week goes by. He finished with 25 disposals, 8 score involvements, 5 inside 50’s, and 415 metres gained. He has shown that if the Bombers do happen to lose Darcy Parish, there is a ready-made replacement.
The Carlton HBF’s gave them great run. Adam Saad and Alex Cincotta in particular used their overlap run, and good disposal to serve their side. They setup plays and did what they could to generate impact for the Blues.
Jye Menzie, Sam Durham, and Will Snelling are some of the lesser lights in the Bombers team, but they add so much. Their pressure, attack on the ball, and non-stop run add layers that complement the inside mids and the tall forwards.
Good to see Harry McKay hit a long-range drop punt for a goal, reminding everyone that he can hit a drop punt, and hit it well.
Zach Merrett was tagged early and then moved forward and had a significant impact. He was involved in numerous scores, and his pressure was evident all night.
Adam Cerra led all-comers for contested possessions (14), I50’s (7), and score involvements (10), to go with the second most disposals (31). He ran all night and was a big reason for the Blues controlling big portions of the game.
The number of goals from the Carlton mids this week – 0
Total for the season from Cripps, Walsh, Kennedy, and Cerra – 9
To put that in perspective, Connor Rozee has ten by himself, Petracca has 11. Tim Taranto has 12. Even Nick Daicos has ten. Two could add to those tallies tomorrow.
The Blues’ mids are just not dangerous. How do you remedy something like this?
Well, the Bombers launched themselves into 6th (equal 3rd), with a big win in Peter Wright’s return. The Blues are now languishing in 15th on the ladder, in the year that their 2019 5-year plan said they’d win the flag … the writing is on the wall for the Blues, and they get a chance to respond next Sunday as they host the Suns at the MCG. For the Bombers, they go into the bye full of momentum before heading to Perth to take on the Purple Haze of Fremantle.
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