CARLTON enjoyed a clutch two-point win against the Western Bulldogs in Round 3, 1999.

Coming up against a side which had made the last two preliminary finals, the Blues came away with the win in front of a packed house on Royal Parade.

The breakdown

Q1 breakdown:

After one of the most memorable high-scoring games the last time these two sides met, it was an arm wrestle early at Ikon Park. It took the skipper to step up 10 minutes into the game, with Bradley registering the first goal of the game. It was goal-for-goal after that, with youngster Brett Backwell hitting the scoreboard in his third game. However, two quick goals from centre clearances saw the Dogs enter the opening change with a slender four-point lead.

Q2 breakdown:

It was a valiant defensive effort which got the job done for the Blues, with Anthony Koutoufides starring in a head-to-head battle with star forward Chris Grant. Koutoufides had plenty of support alongside him, with Andrew McKay and Glenn Manton - in his 100th AFL game - resembling a wall down back. Matthew Allan kicked truly from 50 metres to give the Blues the lead, before another late goal saw Carlton enter the main break with a two-goal lead.

Q3 breakdown:

It was a classic third quarter from the Blues at the old home: even though they were officially the ‘away’ team for this game. It started with Aaron Hamill and Scott Camporeale, who both kicked two goals each in as many minutes. Youngster Backwell - who would prove to be nominated for the Rising Star award - registered his third classy goal of the game on the run from 50. Not to be outdone, Dean Rice kicked Carlton’s seventh goal of the quarter just before the three-quarter time siren to open up a 16-point lead.

Q4 breakdown:

A tough opposition, the Dogs were always going to come hard at the Blues, and they did exactly that in the final term. However, pleasingly for the majority of the 27,649 fans at the ground, Carlton managed to hold on for a crucial win. Another of the Blues’ young brigade stood up, with Darren Hulme kicking an important goal. Despite two late Bulldogs majors, the Blues emerged with a two-point win, celebrating Fraser Brown’s 150th and Manton’s 100th in style.

Moment of the match:

It was the goal which surely clinched the Rising Star nomination for the impressive Brett Backwell. The Queenslander had already kicked a goal in each of the opening terms, but his one-handed mark, landing and subsequent goal on the run came at a crucial time in the third term. It was an exciting moment from the youngest player on the ground in his third game.

Three things from the game:

1. Fraser Brown, unsurprisingly, loves the contest. His 150th game was no different, getting involved in every physical tussle imaginable. You get the feeling there are bigger and better things to come for Brown in 1999.
2. Speaking of big things to come in 1999, look no further than Anthony Koutoufides. The 1995 premiership hero was given the big role against Chris Grant and he performed brilliantly, with good mate Ang Christou alongside him for the first time in 12 months. Could a midfield move be in the offing later in the year for the ‘Adonis’?
3. This Carlton side could be ready for a deep run into finals. Coming up against a team which has made two consecutive preliminary finals, the Blues showed the mental toughness to outlast a difficult opposition. Even at this early stage, Carlton fans can get excited by what lies in store for 1999.

CARLTON                         3.4      5.11      12.11        15.15 (105)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     4.3      4.5       10.7         15.13 (103)

GOALS: Backwell 3, Beaumont 2, Camporeale 2, Hamill 2, Allan, Bradley, Hulme, Murphy, Ratten, Rice

BESTS: Manton, Koutoufides, Beaumont, McKay, Ratten, Hamill, Backwell