Essendon v Carlton: Blues get season back on track in see-sawing shootout

Harry McKay had to pass a COVID test in time, after waking up with a “24-hour bug” on Sunday, to play a key role in Carlton’s impressive comeback victory over Essendon at the MCG.

The young key forward had a quiet first half, but finished with a wet sail as he banged home four goals in the second to help the Blues execute a 37-point turnaround.

“I think it’s just a bit of gastro, nothing too bad,” Carlton coach David Teague said.

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“He just woke up and he wasn’t feeling great and we had the conversation and he said, ‘Nah, I think I can get the job done for the team to a level we need’, and obviously he’s been in great form.

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“He hit the scoreboard, gave us a contest and he’s a very hard man to defend because of his speed and height.

“I was super proud of Harry’s game … didn’t complain, didn’t tell any of his teammates, just went out there and kept competing.”

But the Blues didn’t escape the match unscathed with Mitch McGovern injuring his hamstring late and Paddy Dow having to be subbed out due to an eye injury which severely impaired his vision.

“I went up to him and he just shook his head, so he’s pretty disappointed,” Teague said of McGovern who will likely miss multiple weeks.

It’s unclear as to whether Dow will be fit to face the Western Bulldogs next week, but Zac Williams (soreness) and Marc Murphy (neck) are good chances to return.

Carlton dasher Adam Saad was roundly booed all game by Essendon supporters in his first game against his old side, and the sound was music to Teague’s ears.

“I loved the boos because they were quite regular so it meant he was getting the ball a bit,” Teague said of Saad who was one of Carlton’s best players.

Blues captain Patrick Cripps wasn’t overly influential in the first three quarters, but saved his best for last with a superb final term.

“At three-quarter time … he looked at me and said, ‘I’ve got this’, and when your leader does that, the way he played the last quarter [was great] and he’s a very important player to us,” Teague said.

After being jumped by the Bombers in the first 45 minutes to trail by 21 points, Teague said the Blues were able to change things up simply by defending better and subsequently becoming more potent in their attacking half.

Carlton won’t have to wait long to test their wares against the AFL’s best teams again. After being beaten by Richmond, Port Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions already in the first six weeks, they have the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne to look forward to over the next fortnight.

“We love those games and we want to play in those games,” Teague said.

“I think we’ve played three of the top four from last year and we haven’t got the job done so that’s our next step as a group.

“From a defensive point of view to beat these teams you can’t give them too many looks and we’ve got to get better.

“But I’m really confident if we play near our best … we can beat the Bulldogs or beat Melbourne.

“Our best is good enough to beat anyone, the challenge is going out there and executing under pressure.”

MATCH REPORT: BLUES WIN SHOOTOUT AS SAAD SILENCES BOMBERS

Carlton has got its faltering season back on track on Sunday with a 16-point victory over arch enemies Essendon in an entertaining contest at the MCG.

In a match that featured eight lead changes, the Bombers started the stronger and shot out to a 21-point lead early in the second quarter.

But for the remainder of the game, Carlton became more organised and methodical and eventually busted the contest open in the final quarter to open up a game-high 28-point lead.

Carlton had 11 of the first 16 inside 50s, but failed to make hay while the sun shone and the Bombers proceeded to dominate the ball to finish with 16 of the last 19 forward entries of the opening term.

After trailing by four points at the 20-minute mark, they booted five of the next seven goals to take a 20-point lead early in the second quarter.

Essendon more than tripled the Blues for uncontested marks in the first stanza (31-10) and picked holes in Carlton’s defence routinely. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti was the biggest beneficiary with three of his team’s first six majors.

But Carlton successfully managed to slow down the frenetic pace of the match and shut down the Bombers’ space, helping themselves to five consecutive goals to take a 10-point lead early in the third term on the back of more considered ball use.

The Bombers had the first 12 clearances of the third quarter, and capitalised by kicking the next three majors. However, Carlton’s increased pressure levels helped them wrest control back and turn a three-point deficit into a 28-point lead early in the final quarter, on the back of four consecutive goals, to shut the door on Essendon for good.

WALSH, CURNOW INSTRUMENTAL

Walsh was Carlton’s best player with 33 disposals (13 contested), eight clearances, eight score involvements, 510 metres gained, a goal and two goal assists and his third quarter, in particular, was massive as he gathered nine disposals to help turn the tide Carlton’s way. Ed Curnow was also instrumental in the third term, collecting 11 of his 26 touches while keeping Zach Merrett to just two after the star Bomber had 16 of his 25 disposals in the first half.

HARRISON JONES BREAKS OUT

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Bombers with young key forward Harrison Jones having a breakout game.

He had shown glimpses throughout the early parts of the season of his enormous potential and on Sunday it all came together for him as he pulled in a game-high five contested marks as well as 10 touches, three goals.

Essendon coach Rutten said the 20-year-old, who was taken pick No. 30 in 2019, had his best game for the club and proved on Sunday he could match it with the league’s top defenders.

“He’s been an important player in our forward line, but I thought some of those contested marks (were excellent),” Rutten said.

“One of the goals he kicked I think he had three Carlton defenders jump up to spoil and Jonesy comes down with the mark, and then he has the ability to finish in front of goal.

“They’re the sorts of things we are seeing more and more from him and hopefully tonight gives him the confidence and belief he can match it with (the best).

“They’ve got some pretty good defenders in (Jacob) Weitering and (Liam) Jones, and the like, so hopefully tonight is something he can really bank and we see more of that from him.”

SAAD SILENCES THE MASSES

Carlton speedster Adam Saad copped boos all day long from the crowd in his first game against his old side, and Essendon fans had plenty to boo about, especially late in the first term when he ran to 52m out and sent a beautiful long bomb over the goal umpire’s hat.

The star defender was involved in numerous meaningful plays, finishing with an equal team-high eight score involvements, to go with 21 disposals, a game-high 679 metres gained and six intercepts.

Rutten downplayed the influence Saad had on the contest saying he didn’t think the former Bombers’ linebreaker was “a huge factor in the game” or a “major concern”, despite racking up a team-high 677 metres gained from his 21 disposals

CARLTON OWIES HIM ONE

With Carlton up by 11 points in the first minute of the final term, Nik Cox had the chance to put the Bombers within five points, but second-gamer Matthew Owies laid a crucial tackle from behind in the goal square, forcing the ball to hit the No.8 pick’s knee and dribble over for a rushed behind.

Owies played a key role with three majors.

TEMPERS FLARE

There was no love lost between arch rivals Essendon and Carlton.

A goal to second-game Blue Matthew Owies saw a spotfire erupt with players from both sides rushing in to back-up their teammates.

BOMBERS 6.4 8.7 12.8 16.11 (107)

BLUES 4.2 8.5 14.7 19.9 (123)

LERNER’S BEST

Bombers: Hooker, Stringer, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Jones, Laverde, Heppell.

Blues: Walsh, Saad, E.Curnow, Weitering, McKay, Cuningham, Cripps.

GOALS Bombers: Hooker 5, McDonald-Tipungwuti 4, Jones 3, Stringer 3, Smith.

Blues: McKay 4, Owies 3, Betts 3, Fogarty 2, Cuningham 2, McGovern, Walsh, Saad, E.Curnow, Cripps.

INJURIES

Bombers: Nil.

Blues: Dow (right eye), McGovern (hamstring).

UMPIRES Howorth, Findlay, Fleer

VENUE MCG

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LERNER’S VOTES

3 S.Walsh (Carl)

2 A.Saad (Carl)

1 E.Curnow (Carl)

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