Geelong Advertiser

I’M A BLUES BELIEVER

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START believing, Carlton fans. The Blues are the real deal.

Positioned well at 9-3 in fourth on the ladder, Michael Voss’s team is poised for a premiershi­p tilt.

This is why I love this Thursday night’s monster clash against Richmond, a battle between two big Victorian clubs.

Yes, the Blues won in round 1 and got their supporters buzzing, however, the Tigers were nowhere near their best.

But after years of being bashed up and embarrasse­d by Richmond, it was the perfect opportunit­y for Carlton to announce to the football world that it was back.

Now the club has a chance to ruin their old rival’s finals hopes.

The round 14 blockbuste­r is the first test in a block of tough matches for the Blues.

They meet Richmond, Fremantle, St Kilda – all in Melbourne – then West Coast in Perth and Geelong at the MCG.

That’s a big five-week campaign with four likely finalists in that group.

If they can get through this period relatively unscathed, they are a real shot at this.

Carlton boasts arguably the best forward line in the business, headed by Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow.

On equal footing is Geelong with Tom Hawkins and

Jeremy Cameron.

They are clearly the top-two, two-pronged attacks in the league.

Melbourne lacks two quality spearheads, Brisbane Lions’ top two is questionab­le and

Fremantle, St Kilda, Sydney and Collingwoo­d don’t have two key forwards of the same class.

Richmond, with Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt, is probably the next best, but Lynch is injured and Riewoldt is nearing the end of his career.

Curnow and McKay complement each other so well.

In many respects, they are very much like “Hawk” and “Jez”, but younger and probably more athletic. That’s being a bit picky.

McKay is a big, tall brute in the mould of Hawkins, and Curnow is a hybrid forward who is a strong mark, kicks freak goals and explodes when the ball’s at ground level. Charlie can also cover the ground beautifull­y and provide a target further afield and that’s something that Cameron also provides the Cats.

The other key advantage for Carlton is the midfield.

It boasts Patrick Cripps, a 195cm machine who covers the ground as well as anyone, a ball-magnet in Sam Walsh, the speed and polish of Adam Cerra and a contested-possession king in Matt Kennedy.

Then you look at the defence and the Blues have been rock-solid in that department as well.

Lewis Young has been an excellent pick up and Jacob Weitering was outstandin­g before he injured his shoulder.

The only question mark is when they come up against a genuine elite forward mix such as Hawkins and Cameron.

But if the Blues can survive without Weitering for the time being, and remain in the top four, what an asset he will be when he’s back on the park.

 ?? Pictures: AFL Photos ?? Rocking Blues combo Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay; and (inset), Geelong’s star forward pairing Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron.
Pictures: AFL Photos Rocking Blues combo Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay; and (inset), Geelong’s star forward pairing Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron.
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