Dreaming of flag, Eagles take Blues
WEST Coast has served Carlton a reminder of its place in the AFL pecking order, easing to a 24-point win over the Blues.
Carlton’s undermanned defence was found wanting by the flag-hunting Eagles, who prevailed 15.9 (99) to 11.9 (75) at Marvel Stadium.
High-flying Liam Ryan (4.0) and prominent forward Jack Darling (2.2) were Carlton’s chief tormentors, though nine West Coast players kicked goals in the rout.
Jeremy McGovern was dominant within the Eagles’ defensive arc, taking a gamehigh 13 marks and restricting the Blues to a handful of their own inside their forward 50.
Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo were also superb in midfield as Adam Simpson’s side improved to sit alongside ladder leader Geelong with 14 wins from 19 games.
Brisbane joined them on 14 wins after defeating Western Bulldogs later yesterday, sitting below the Eagles on percentage.
Simpson said he wasn’t happy with his side’s clearance work but could otherwise reflect on a “really good win”.
“In the contest around the stoppages we were really struggling … when we got supply we looked pretty dangerous,” he said.
“Our tall backs at stages had good influence on the game.
“When we got some supply … we were pretty efficient in front of goals.”
The win keeps West Coast on track for an all-important top-two finish, or better yet, the minor premiership.
A home clash with Adelaide before a mouth-watering MCG date with Richmond in the next fortnight will prove critical to their hopes.
For Carlton, the result ended a fine run of three straight wins under interim boss David Teague, though the loss shouldn’t affect the caretaker’s chances of landing the full-time role.
There was plenty of effort from the Blues, who simply came up against a credentialed side tuning up for September.
Carlton battled without three first choice defenders — Liam Jones (bereavement), Dale Thomas (illness), Caleb Marchbank (injury) — as well as long-term absentee Sam Docherty.
“I thought the effort was there,” Teague said.
“I thought our boys really cracked in. Super proud of the way they went about it but I think at the end we just saw a really good team.”
Carlton led midway through the second quarter after a spell of midfield dominance, led by Sam Walsh on a quiet day for Patrick Cripps. Then in the blink of an eye, West Coast took the contest away.
Three goals in three minutes saw the Eagles regain the lead and three more in time-on turned a seesawing contest into a comfortable afternoon. Ryan’s star shined brightest.
The 22-year-old kicked truly and buzzed around the contest, taking a courageous high-flying mark as a pack of defenders loomed.
Nic Newman was Carlton’s best, kicking a career-high four goals in a prominent showing off half back.
L. Ryan 4, J. Darling, J. Waterman, L. Shuey 2, J. Cameron, J. Kennedy, J. Petruccelle, O. Allen, W. Rioli.
N. Newman 4, M. Gibbons 3, D. Lang, H. McKay, M. Murphy, S. Walsh.
L. Ryan, J. McGovern, L. Shuey, E. Yeo, J. Redden, A. Gaff, J. Darling, T. Hickey.
N. Newman, S. Walsh, M. Murphy, M. Gibbons, P. Cripps, A. Phillips. 32,802 at Marvel Stadium.