A young and brave Carlton kicked off its 2017 season with a 43-point loss to Richmond at the MCG on Thurday night.
Despite not getting the four points, the Blues could take some positives out of their opening-round clash.
Here are the top-five player stats from a Carlton perspective:
Caleb Marchbank
Game–high 5 intercept marks
Caleb Marchbank picked up from where he left off in the JLT Community Series, collecting 19 disposals and eight marks in a commanding club debut. The most impressive feature of his game was his ability to read the play, indicated by his game-high five intercept marks. Despite making several costly turnovers, the former Giant’s positives far outweighed the negatives.
Sam Petrevski-Seton
Game–high 23 pressure acts
Prized recruit Sam Petrevski-Seton wasn’t overawed by the occasion, displaying calmness and poise. The No.6 draft pick started with a bang, gathering six disposals and earning a free for a fierce tackle in the first term. But he wasn’t done there, being a constant threat to the Tigers to finish with a game-high 23 pressure acts and team-high seven tackles.
Marc Murphy
Game–high 18 contested possessions
Blues skipper Marc Murphy was a man on a mission on Thursday night. After missing the Blues’ past 12 matches with injury, the 29-year-old exploded into season 2017 with a game-high 35 possessions and 18 contested possessions. With contested-possession specialist Patrick Cripps well held, Murphy and Bryce Gibbs stepped up in the middle to give the Blues plenty of drive out of the stoppages.
Jack Silvagni
Game-high 4 marks inside 50
Carlton played three teenagers in their forward line, with Jack Silvagni one of them. The Blues’ new No.1 was a constant danger to Richmond’s defence, finishing with two goals and an equal game-high four marks inside 50. He wasn’t awarded an impressive pack mark in the second half, with video replays later confirming that the umpires had made an incorrect decision.
Jack Silvagni takes one of his four marks inside 50 against Richmond. (Photo: AFL Media)
Sam Rowe
Game-high 15 one-percenters
Sam Rowe clearly won his battle with Jack Riewoldt, keeping the Tigers spearhead to just one goal despite Richmond booting 20 majors. Whether it was a spoil, knock-on or shepherd, which are all considered one-percenters, Rowe did what was required to keep the footy away from Riewoldt. After finishing first in the league last year for one-percenters, Rowe got himself off to the best possible start in this regard with a game-high 15 on Thursday night.
