THE Carlton Reserves were on the receiving end of a one-point defeat to Collingwood.
In a game similar to Carlton’s AFL clash with Adelaide, neither side had breathing room in a tightly contested game which saw the Pies prevail 12.11 (83) to 12.10 (82).
Second-year Blues Lachie Cowan (22 disposals) and Hudson O'Keeffe (33 hitouts, 10 clearances) were both influential, while VFL-listed debutants Bailey Lambert (three goals) and Kristian Ferronato (16 disposals) impressed in their first games for the Blues.
Quarter one
As Carlton embarked on its second game back for the season after two byes inside three weeks, the Blues came through with a good start to the quarter. Back-and-forth football at Ikon Park saw Collingwood take early possession of the ball for most of the first quarter, as Lachlan Cowan and Lewis Young showed great defensive prowess throughout the quarter to draw the ball and stop the Pies in their forward half. In his first game for the season, Liam McMahon registered the first goal for the Blues in the first 10 minutes of the quarter. Collingwood continued to bring the pressure throughout, before in the second half of the quarter, second-gamer Will White drew not only a free kick but also a 50-metre penalty to close the gap back to a point. However, the Pies quickly scurried back with a goal, seeing the Blues down by five points at quarter time.
Quarter two
The up-and-down nature of the game continued in the second term, with both teams trading goals and lead changes in an arm wrestle at IKON Park. Only one goal was kicked in the last 20 minutes of the quarter, as White kicked Carlton’s second consecutive goal to see the Blues lead by five as the first half drew to a close. Hudson O’Keeffe provided plenty of grunt work as the main ruckman while Jaxon Binns was busy on the wing, leading disposals with 14 for the first half while also converting a second-quarter goal. Carlton were down a man when Billy Wilson came from the ground and didn’t return following a head knock.
Quarter three
Although the Blues got their hands on the ball from the centre bounce, a slow start to the third quarte saw the Pies gain possession and level up the scores. An intercept mark from Lewis Young saw the Blues win the ball back and set up a chain through the middle of the field, leading to the first goal of the quarter through Carlton Reserves debutant Bailey Lambert. The Blues’ backline took another hit when Dom Akuei (concussion) played no further part. Cowan continued his busy performance in defence, while Heath Ramshaw and Lachie Young produced intercept marks to halt the Pies. Young’s mark allowed Liam McMahon a chance for his third of the game, before Ned Cahill came out strong, scoring the next two goals for the Blues to see his side lead by one point at the final change.
Quarter four
The final quarter of the game saw continuous back-to-back contests between the Pies and the Blues. However, strong passages of play for the Pies ended in the first three goals of the quarter, with the Blues all of a sudden trailing by 16 points after 12 minutes. In need of a spark, the next few minutes saw Lambert shine, recording back-to-back goals to bring the Blues back in it. Not long after, a goal from Luke Nelson saw the Blues back in front by the narrowest of margins. The Pies dominated territory (59-44 inside 50s), locking the ball in their forward half as they looked to snatch back the lead, doing so with consecutive behinds. Heath Ramshaw and Archie Stevens continued to fight to try and win the ball back from repeat stoppages in the final minutes, but as the siren sounded at the end of the game, the Pies came away winning by one point.
CARLTON 2.4 5.6 9.9 12.10 (82)
COLLINGWOOD 3.3 4.7 9.8 12.11 (83)
GOALS
Carlton: Lambert 3, McMahon 3, Cahill 2, White 2, Binns, Nelson
BESTS
Carlton: Cowan, O’Keeffe, Le.Young, Lewis, Lambert, La.Young
Hannah Tomasoni is a student at La Trobe University, undergoing his Bachelor of Media and Communications (Journalism and Marketing). She is currently undertaking an internship at the Carlton Football Club as part of its partnership with La Trobe University.
