Hope for Teague as Blues win three in a row
CARLTON caretaker coach David Teague has taken another massive step towards securing the job full-time with the Blues’ upset 27-point AFL win over Adelaide.
The 13.9 (87) to 9.6 (60) win at the MCG yesterday puts the Crows out of the top eight and will have even greater ramifications for Adelaide, who have lost four of their past five games.
By contrast, the resurgent Blues have won five out of seven since Brendon Bolton’s sacking at the start of last month.
Carlton have won three in a row for the first time since early in 2016.
The win also narrows the gap between Carlton and Adelaide on the ladder, which is significant given the controversial Liam Stocker live trade in last year’s national draft. The higher the Blues finish up the ladder, the better that highly speculative trade looks for them.
Just as Teague’s star is soaring, Blues midfielder Patrick Cripps has surely gone three votes closer to the Brownlow Medal with a sublime performance.
Cripps had 39 disposals – 24 of them contested – and 19 clearances. Adelaide only had 29 clearances as a team.
Key defender Liam Jones also continued his outstanding form by shutting out Josh Jenkins, while ruck-forward Levi Casboult played out of his skin with three goals and 10 hit-outs.
The Crows made big selection calls for this game, particularly the axing of forward Eddie Betts.
His replacement Tyson Stengle kicked the first goal.
Adelaide opened with two of the first three goals but the Blues led by four points at quarter-time.