AND breathe.
There was plenty to take out of Thursday night’s return to the MCG from a Carlton perspective.
Of course, the number which really mattered to those with a Navy Blue preference all across the country was about the number 3,112: the amount of days since the Blues had beaten the Tigers before the clash.
However, how did it all happen?
We open at the close
It’s the final term which Carlton supporters have no doubt watched countless times in recent days.
After Shai Bolton put Richmond 20 points up in the opening minutes, the Blues took the game by the scruff of the neck. While sometimes the numbers don’t always reflect the dominance, that’s not the case here.
In the final term alone, the Blues had 42 more possessions than their opposition (95-53) yet finished the quarter with one more tackle. At the final change, contested possessions were level, yet the Blues ended the game with a +19 differential.
What was most impressive was the one-way traffic out of the middle. The Tigers had beaten the Blues out of the centre bounce throughout the first three quarters, yet Carlton won every single centre break possible in the final term.
It allowed Carlton to dominate well and truly dominate field position, recording 22 inside 50s to two in the final term. As Jacob Weitering said on radio post-match, “the backs didn’t have to do a whole lot in the last quarter”.
‘Yeah, but it’s only pre-season’
It’s easy to get carried away with what occurs in the AAMI Community Series: the final dress rehearsal before the real stuff. However, what will please midfield coach Tim Clarke is that what was on show during Carlton’s practice matches shone through on Thursday night.
It was at Marvel Stadium a fortnight before Round 1 when the quartet of Adam Cerra, Patrick Cripps, George Hewett and Matthew Kennedy combined for 130 disposals, 29 clearances and six goals.
On Thursday night, the collective stat line read: 121 disposals, 26 clearances and six goals.
Their impact was never more noticeable than that aforementioned last quarter. In particular, Cerra’s 12 disposals, four clearances and goal played a big role in the four points coming back to IKON Park.
Start as you mean to go on
It’s become a tradition in recent years that the respective VFL sides of Carlton and Richmond have a practice match hitout at Punt Road preceding the traditional Thursday night clash.
It was no exception in 2022, but what would eventuate was the perfect possible omen for Blues supporters.
A big win came the way of the Carlton Reserves that day, piling on 22 goals in a comprehensive win. What stood out was the Blues recording 11 individual goalkickers against the Tigers, yet no-one recording more than three.
Across the road later that night, captain Cripps would lead all comers with three goals among 11 individual Carlton goalkickers.
Something so strong
It was a crowded house at the MCG on Thursday night, and there was a distinctly Navy Blue feel to it all at the home of football.
Over 72,000 flocked to the Great Southern, Olympic and Ponsford stands for Round 1, and in doing so, saw half the team play in front of their biggest Carlton crowd.
After two Covid-affected seasons, George Hewett, Oscar McDonald, Marc Pittonet, Adam Saad and Zac Williams were running out in front of over 70,000 people in Navy Blue for the first time.
For Adam Cerra, Tom De Koning, Corey Durdin, Jack Martin, Lochie O’Brien and Matthew Owies, it was their biggest crowd of any kind.
Yellow and black and blue
One last stat to cap things off.
Nobody who featured for the Blues on Thursday night had featured in a Carlton win against Richmond.
With Ed Curnow not selected for the AFL game, the 23 who were selected were walking into the game without a Navy Blue triumph over the Tigers.
Thankfully, that’s all changed now.
