It’s heaps good to be back, South Australia!
Carlton will travel across the border to the home of pie floaters and frog cakes in 2017, taking on Port Adelaide in a Friday night clash in Round 5.
After missing out on the trip to Adelaide Oval for the past two years, the Blues made it clear that heading back to South Australia was high on their list of fixture priorities.
Carlton’s CEO Steven Trigg echoed that sentiment on Thursday morning, saying the Club is delighted to be heading to Adelaide Oval next season.
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“It is a chance to visit our South Australian supporters for the first time in nearly three years,” Trigg said.
“We have a large supporter base there, so it will be a great opportunity to reconnect with our members across the border.”
It was nearly three years ago when Carlton last ventured to South Australia, and there’s no doubt it’s a game Blues fans would like to forget – going down to Port Adelaide by 103 points.
While that match is best forgotten, let’s reminisce about some more memorable games in SA:
Round 23, 2013 v Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium: With arch-rival Essendon officially banned from playing finals, Carlton took its opportunity to sneak into the top eight. While the Blues had a slow start at AAMI Stadium, they rallied after half-time, coming from 29 points down at three-quarter time to prevail by one point – earning them a finals berth against Richmond a week later.
Round 11, 2011 v Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium: After a tight three-quarter contest, Carlton ran riot over Port in the final term to claim victory by just over 10 goals. The Blues held the Power scoreless in the last quarter, while Carlton piled on seven goals. The recently retired Andrew Walker booted six goals, while Andrew Carrazzo and Heath Scotland gathered 30 and 28 touches respectively.
Chris Judd in action against Port Adelaide in Round 11, 2011. (Photo: AFL Media)
Round 11, 2008 v Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium: Another classic come-from-behind victory for the Blues at AAMI Stadium. Carlton was on the back foot for most of the game, trailing by 13 points at quarter-time, 23 points at half-time and 30 points at three-quarter time. However Matthew Kreuzer, playing only his ninth game, wasn’t going to give up. The big man kicked three goals to help Carlton steal victory by 12 points.
Dennis Armfield, Brendan Fevola and Kade Simpson celebrate the Blues' famous come-from-behind victory over Port Adelaide in 2008. (Photo: AFL Media)
Round 11, 2004 v Adelaide, AAMI Stadium: There’s no doubt Crows fans would still be haunted by this match. With only two and a half minutes left on the clock, Brendan Fevola took a mark 50 metres from Carlton’s goal just inside the boundary line. On an almost-impossible angle, ‘Fev’ kicked truly right in front of the unruly local crowd. The Blues walked away four-point winners.
