Then Ang took this photo of the three of us:
When we got to Etihad Stadium on Saturday to see Carlton take on the Swans, who should be up on the big screen being interviewed, but Kouta! It gave us quite a thrill to see him there when we'd only just seen him the day before. This was going to be a tough game for Carlton even though we were favourites, because not only had we not won three games in a row all this year, but we'd also not beaten Sydney since way back in 2000, before I was born, when Kouta starred with 39 possessions. Could we do it this time? Kouta thought we could.
Daddy bought me a big blow-up Carlton finger to put my hand into when we got there, much to Mum's horror. She said I was probably going to annoy people with it. I promised her I'd only hold it up when we kicked goals. Of course I also held it up when we went down to the boundary to see the players warm up before the game began. This time they didn't just have shots at goal like they usually do, but our forwards and defenders also practiced jumping up for the ball in contested pack marks and spoils like I do with my Dad.
Juddy lost the toss, so that meant the Swans chose to kick to their cheersquad end first, which was not far around from us. Mum told me that would mean our team would kick towards us in the last quarter, which would be a good thing as we'd hopefully be able to see lots of winning goals booted. Kreuzer won the first tap out, and while Fisher turned it over, it wasn't long before I called out "Hoops!" at the top of my voice as Houlihan took a good mark on the boundary. He didn't take a shot at goal, but instead kicked back to Russell, then Simo, but his shot was punched through for a point, the first score of the match. "Sound the siren now!" I said to Mum, because that would mean we'd win!! But we decided we wanted to enjoy this game, our last in Melbourne for a while, for a long time yet. The Swans got the first goal, but then Houlihan got the ball out of a pack with ease and kicked a beautiful pass to Fev for a goal. Brilliant play by the Blues. Not long after, Fev gicked around his body deep into our forward area where Kreuzer was waiting - the crowd called out in a deep voice "Kreeeeuuuuz" and he kicked a goal! Judd then tapped the ball up high in a pack to his own advantage, and ran on for a great goal! The crowd - including me, of course - cheered ever so loudly at that one. There was lots of pressure football after that, with Sydney not letting our players cut free - Hampson was good, and Grigg. Quarter time had us only just up, 3-4 (22) to 3-1 (19).
In the second quarter Thornton took a good mark, to Grigg, to Kreuzer who took a very strong mark against two opponents and then kicked a goal. My namesake Jesse White for them was way too strong for us, and so was Adam Goodes. Houlihan was doing really well with great pressuring, and Carrots was unlucky to hit the post with a big kick for goal. Fisher took a great mark in Sydney's goal square but Sydney was really bottling things up and eventually got a couple of goals. We'd had more scoring shots and yet - again - were losing. 4-6 (30) to 6-3 (39). This was the half time score.
After half time the Swans goaled almost straight away. This is a worry! But then, Gibbs got it to Murphy who marked, was pushed over twice and got a 50m penalty and goal. Phew! Russell marked, then Houla took a great mark near our goals and ran to play on but was caught. We'd got excited for nothing. Then enter Juddy, who broke out of a pack and also ran towards goals and again we get very excited (the crowd ROARED), but it's no go. We can't seem to do anything and all of a sudden I'm not liking this game very much. I think it's what they call "ugly football". Kreuzer is fantastic, rucking, bending over, staying on his feet, getting the ball out to a team mate, but Hartlett kicks to a Swan in our goalsquare. Then Kreuzer again! BIG mark! But I don't know how, but he kicked a point. Eddie then did a great smother, mopped up himself, spun around, kicked to Fev, who marked it! "Please" I thought - we needed this one badly. And yes, it was a goal!! Then the ball was in our goalsquare again, but the Swans had it - until Fisher laid a great tackle, got a free and then goal! We're back in front!! 7-7 (49) to 7-3 (45). Yarran kicked from wide on the boundary, Fisher marked - goal! AND THEN Judd gets the ball out, Fisher goes for a mark in the goalsquare and gets a free for being pushed - goal! That's three in a row to Fish, and five in a row to Carlton! Go Blues!! Hartlett had a shot for goal but it went across the face, then Fev somehow got his boot up in time for a ripper goal! It's getting close to three quarter time, Swans get a point and we hope they don't get a goal to undo all our good work. Fisher runs in for what looks like a sure goal but his foot digs into the grass and it's a point. At the 31 minute mark the Swans get a goal. Oh no! And at the 32 minute mark they get another one! Not a good end to the quarter, which goes for a very long 34 minutes. We're only nine points up at three quarter time, 10-8 (68) to 9-5 (59). Mummy tells me she's feeling very nervous - she and Dad have seen us lose to the Swans many times before.
We make a good start to the last quarter with Fisher getting the ball to Gibbs for a super quick goal in less than a minute. Then Judd to Fev to Carrots for another goal! And it's only two minutes in. Good tackles are made by our boys in their goalsquare, Houla got the ball out with skill - to Fev out on a wing - handball - no go. The Swans get some points and we're exactly three goals up. Come on Blues, we need a goal to give us some more breathing space. Kreuzer takes a strong mark on the wing, Judd shows strength but kicks to a Swan. Russell gives a great chase and catches him - "Holding the ball, umpire!" But not paid. The ball stays in our forward line - Bentley has it, Murphy - goal! Then Yarran runs out like a speed machine - no one can stop him - goal! Houlihan makes a great intercept and plays on to Fev - goal! Simpson takes a good mark, to Judd, Grigg, big kick for goal - drats, hit the post. The Swans have the ball but Hoops intercepts AGAIN! Well done, Houlihan! Simpson has it, runs into goals - goal!! Johnson takes a good mark in the back pocket - to Grigg - Simo - Fev takes a one-handed mark with great strength - goal! The crowd to our right start to sing the Carlton theme song ever so loudly and Mum and I join in. I nearly have no voice left. The Swans have kicked no goals in this quarter! Many of their supporters start to leave as I get very excited at seeing another Carlton win.
We burst away again, Fev does a whopper kick, Eddie misses the mark but snaps over his head for a goal! We're ahead by nine goals! The siren must be getting close now as the Swans have the ball in our forward line, but Gibbsy takes an overhead mark! The siren sounds and we all cheer as Gibbs lines up for a shot at goal. He gets it! We win by TEN GOALS!!! That's three in a row, and the first time we've beaten Sydney in nine years, and I was there to see it! 19-10 (124) to 9-9 (63). Not only that, but we saw Fev boot 14 goals in just two matches. Good on you, Fev!
I wish we lived closer to Melbourne so we could see our team play more often. But for now, I'll be happy to see Carlton play on TV for the next three Friday nights, and look forward to going to the game over here against Port next month. Until then, keep on cheering like I do!
From Jesse.
