Carlton’s season sinking fast with leaky defence
Carlton #Carlton
Should Carlton miss the finals this season, which appears increasingly likely, it will not be through the inability of their talent-laden attack to kick a decent score.
The Blues kicked 13.13 (91) at Marvel Stadium on Sunday against the Western Bulldogs, which is the highest score the Dogs have conceded in 2021. Yet they lost by 16 points.
Such a disappointment did not look likely when, with Eddie Betts turning back the clock with five goals, they had complete control.
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Carlton’s failure to stem the tide when pitted against elite rivals will be very much at the forefront of any review.
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The Blues have spoken a big game about being ready to tackle the best. The chatter rings hollow when they fail repeatedly, with the manner of their loss to the Western Bulldogs galling.
Carlton led by 27 points midway through the third term, but kicked only one more goal, that by Patrick Cripps with the match well and truly lost.
It is an important triumph for the Western Bulldogs, particularly with ruckman Stefan Martin absent.
They looked lacklustre through the middle stages and at risk of a second defeat in succession after last Friday’s loss to the Tigers.
But with captain Marcus Bontempelli immense when gathering 32 touches and Josh Bruce lively in attack with five goals, they were able to find a way to win, which good sides tend to do.
They remain outright second, a game behind the unbeaten Demons, and retain a handy buffer over other top four rivals with the season more than a third of the way through.
The Blues will again be the target of heavy scrutiny after blowing another opportunity against a contender after previous losses this season to premiership aspirants Richmond, Port Adelaide and Brisbane.
The performance of some of their highest profile players is concerning. The Blues were belted in the middle in the latter stages.
Cripps and high-priced recruit Zac Williams shared just five disposals in the last term and only 24 in total.
That is not good enough for players supposed to be driving the standards.
Carlton face the unbeaten Melbourne next Sunday at the MCG in what is, effectively, a final chance to prove their worth, for another loss would see them slip further from the eight.
But Melbourne appears to have talents that Carlton do not. Resilience, for example, and a desire for defence, which proved the difference against the spirited Swans at the MCG on Saturday night.
The Demons have kicked 714 points this year. The Blues have booted 711. Yet the Demons have conceded only 492 points compared to Carlton’s 747. That is a difference of five goals per game.
Only Essendon, Hawthorn and the winless North Melbourne have fared worse defensively than Carlton’s leaking defence in 2021.
If it is true that defence ultimately wins premierships, the Blues are far from the prize.
That cannot be said about the other winners on Sunday in West Coast and Brisbane, with both teams gathering momentum after inconsistent starts to the season.
The Eagles have rebounded from a horror trip to Geelong, which occurred at an uncertain time a fortnight ago given a COVID-19 lockdown in Perth.
After defeating the Dockers in the Derby, they were far too strong for Hawthorn at the MCG when securing their first win for the year on the road by 38 points.
A dour opening term – it was only the second time in 50 years that a goal was not kicked in a quarter at the MCG – preceded their dominance, but once in front, the Eagles were far superior.
The concern is the amount of talent the sixth-placed Eagles have missing, with champion spearhead Josh Kennedy joining a lengthy injury list with a calf problem.
The casualty list reads like the finishing order for The John Worsfold Medal.
Captain Luke Shuey, versatile star Elliot Yeo, star forward Liam Ryan, former skipper Shannon Hurn, key defender Tom Barrass and classy defender Liam Duggan were among those missing against Hawthorn.
Yet the Eagles sit equal fourth with Geelong, the Swans and Brisbane with a clash at home against Adelaide to come next Sunday. The Eagles will be threatening if they can attain full strength.
Such is the form of Brisbane, and the injury woes at Fremantle, the Lions would have been favoured to win this clash had it been played in Perth as scheduled.
But with the Dockers forced on the road due to a COVID-19 outbreak at home, the Lions were dominant at the Gabba posting a 24-point win.
The Lions have now won four in succession to move to equal-fourth and face the Suns at Metricon Stadium next Saturday.
Sports Reporter
Melbourne
Courtney Walsh is a sports writer for The Australian specialising in AFL and tennis. He received the ATP Tour Ron Bookman Award for Media Excellence in 2019. He has also written for the Herald Sun, mX and vario… Read more
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