Metricon Stadium might be the backdrop for Saturday night’s Gold Coast-Carlton match, but it was six years ago under lights at the Gabba - Saturday, April 2, 2011 – that the two teams met in what was the Suns’ first match in AFL history.
Six years, it’s fair to say, is a football eternity – for only six members of the Blues’ 22 (18 plus four interchange and the sub) in that contest are still chasing the leather for them today – Ed Curnow, Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson, Simon White and the sub Dennis Armfield.
Matthew Watson, the club’s first-round selection (selection 18 overall) in the 2010 National Draft, completed his senior debut in what was effectively a no-contest – Carlton 26.15 (171) to Gold Coast 7.10 (52) – with Jeff Garlett and Andrew Walker each booting five goals, and Bret Thornton putting four over the goal umpire’s hat.
Heath Scotland, now going around as captain-coach of Darley in the Ballarat Football League, admitted that the match proved to be something of an anti-climax, on a night in which the Gabba surface didn’t attract its customary covering of dew.
Heath Scotland in action against the Suns during the history-making match. (Photo: AFL Media)
“I do remember in the lead-up to that game being unsure of what to expect – the Suns had a lot of talented kids, and there was a lot of hype leading into the club’s first game,” Scotland said.
“I also remember thinking that we needed to get on top early in this game, and it went according to plan.”
When reminded that Garlett and Walker each contributed five goals to Carlton’s 26-goal scoreline, Scotland rather dryly replied: “Yeah . . . and ‘Walks’ would be able to tell you goal for goal”.
Chris Judd is carried off after playing his 200th AFL match in the win over the Suns. (Photo: AFL Media)
A durable 215-gamer through 11 seasons at Carlton to 2014, Scotland lamented the fact that he is sidelined for a few weeks at best with a hamstring torn in the second quarter of the top-of-the-table clash with Lake Wendouree at the weekend.
To compound “Scotto’s” woes, Darley went down by 13 points to the Lakers, now the undisputed league leader.
CARLTON TEAM vs. GOLD COAST:
Gabba, Round 2, Saturday, April 2, 2011
B: Matthew Watson, Simon White, Jeremy Laidler
HB: Chris Yarran, Jordan Russell, Nick Duigan
C: Bryce Gibbs, Chris Judd (c) Heath Scotland
HF: Jeffery Garlett, Jarrad Waite, Kade Simpson
F: Eddie Betts, Shaun Hampson, Bret Thornton
Rucks: Robert Warnock, Mitch Robinson, Andrew Carrazzo
Interchange: Andrew Walker, Marc Murphy, Ed Curnow
Substitute: Dennis Armfield
Coach: Brett Ratten
BROWNLOW VOTES:
3 – Marc Murphy (Carlton)
2 – Bryce Gibbs (Carlton)
1 – Robert Warnock (Carlton)
