Carlton or Fremantle – which side will walk away with the four points for the first time this season?
The Blues and the Dockers will fight it out at Domain Stadium this Sunday afternoon, with both teams striving to record their first win for 2016.
After going down to a defiant Bulldogs outfit in Round 4, Carlton will be hoping to replicate the pressure, effort and spirit shown in the second half against the Doggies.
Speaking on Wednesday in the lead-up to the match, Blues coach Brendon Bolton reiterated the need for a four-quarter performance.
“We go into every game thinking we’re a chance to win if we can execute for four quarters, and this is no different,” Bolton said.
Although the Dockers are yet to win a game this season, Bolton says his team is under “no illusions”, with Fremantle boasting quality players around the ground including Nat Fyfe, Stephen Hill, Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters.
One of Carlton’s quality players, skipper Marc Murphy, “pulled up fine” after copping a knock to the head against the Bulldogs last week, but will need to don a helmet when he runs out against the Dockers.
“We know Murph is a tough in and under and he’s a real hard gut runner, so he’s really important to us, he’ll be fine,” Bolton said.
This weekend also marks ANZAC Round in the AFL, with every team paying respect to those who gave their lives for our country – an emotional and extremely important weekend on the football calendar.
History shows Carlton always performs well in ANZAC Round matches, with the Blues winning their past seven games in this round. The Blues’ most recent win was against St Kilda in New Zealand last year, while their last loss was to Adelaide in 2008 at the MCG.
Fremantle defender Lee Spur told media on Thursday he expects a “fierce” Carlton side to show up on Sunday.
“They’ve come out and been really competitive and a hardworking team,” Spurr said.
“We know what they’re going to bring.
“They’re going to bring effort, and they’ve instilled some values in their group and that’s going to bring some really strong competition.”
The last time these sides met was Round 16 last year, which was also played on Fremantle’s home turf.
In that game Blues defender Simon White turned tagger, and in a gutsy effort kept Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe to 23 disposals and one behind.
Carlton has made three changes to its squad for Sunday’s clash, with Liam Jones, Michael Jamison and Simon White making their way back into the side.
Jones kicked five goals and took nine marks in the victory over Geelong last Friday night, in a dominant performance for the Northern Blues. His impressive effort, for the second week in a row, has earned him a call-up for the senior team.
Meanwhile Fremantle will once again be without skipper David Mundy who is recovering from a calf injury, and ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who is still sidelined for 5-6 weeks with a rib injury.
Carlton takes on Fremantle this Sunday afternoon at Domain Stadium. To secure your seat visit: www.ticketmaster.com.au
