Here’s a wrap-up of what’s being said in the media in the wake of Carlton’s Monday night win over St Kilda:
Blues second term blows Saints away
The Age – Michael Gleeson
There is a theory in football that you begin the next game as you finished the last. So junk time goals are not so worthless after all.
That theory held some truth on Monday night. Carlton, awful for three quarters in its last game, booted eight goals in the last quarter and finished not feeling quite so bad about itself.
St Kilda, adequate early in its last match, fell to pieces as the game dribbled on to lose by 24 goals and had a week of scuffing the ground and looking at its shoes.
Mick Malthouse tells of special bond with ‘amazing’ Tommy Hafey
AFL.com.au
CARLTON Coach Mick Malthouse has spoken of his great bond with legendary coach Tom Hafey, who died on Monday from cancer.
Hafey coached Malthouse after his mid-season arrival at Richmond in 1976, but the pair formed a friendship that would last the rest of Hafey's life.
"He was an amazing man," Malthouse said.
"Tommy coached me for half a season but that half a season established a bond that was alive and well up until this afternoon."
Small crowd turns up to Etihad Stadium to watch Carlton beat St Kilda by 32 points
Herald Sun – Matt Windley
Monday night footy — yay or nay? On the evidence of last night the answer is a resounding “Nay”.
In the AFL’s only foray in to the timeslot this season just 26,708 turned up to Etihad Stadium to watch Carlton defeat St Kilda by 32 points.
This is the fifth year in a row these two teams have met on the Monday after Mother’s Day and the crowd has decreased every time.
Some 34,054 attended last year, which was down from 38,823 in 2012, 41,576 in 2011 and 42,866 in 2010.
Carlton wins Monday night scrap against St Kilda
Sportal – Robert Somers
Carlton has leapfrogged St Kilda on the AFL ladder after recording a 32-point win on Monday night in front of 26,708 fans.
The Blues led at every change in a match that featured plenty of fracas, but limited highlights.
Chris Yarran kicked four goals and Troy Menzel kicked three for Carlton.
Blues confident on keeping A-grade Gibbs
AFL.com.au – Nick Bowen
BRYCE Gibbs is an "A-grade" player that Carlton would love to keep, Blues defender Michael Jamison says.
AFL.com.au understands Carlton is close to re-signing Gibbs despite strong industry speculation earlier this year that the restricted free agent was headed home to South Australia.
Jamison told AFL.com.au after watching Gibbs rack up a game-high 38 possessions in Carlton's 32-point win over St Kilda on Monday night that the Blues were confident he would re-sign.
"You'd love to keep all your A-grade players and Bryce is certainly that," Jamison said.
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson admits star midfielder Jack Steven might need a rest following Saints’ loss to Carlton
Herald Sun – Sam Edmund
ST KILDA coach Alan Richardson has revealed the Saints face a critical decision on Jack Steven, admitting the reigning best and fairest may need a rest.
Steven, whose pre-season was severely interrupted by a foot fracture over summer, again struggled in last night’s loss to the Blues where he was kept to four kicks by Dennis Armfield.
Murphy confident Gibbs will stay at Carlton
Yahoo!7
Carlton captain Marc Murphy says he expects Bryce Gibbs to stay at the Blues for at least another four or five years.
Gibbs is out of contract at the end of the season and speculation has been rife that he would seek a move back to South Australia as a free agent.
Gibbs has insisted he wants to stay at the Blues, but rumours have continued to swirl with the 25-year-old yet to sign on the dotted line.
Speaking after Carlton's win over St Kilda on Monday night, Murphy expressed his confidence that Gibbs would stay at the club.
"I've spoken to Bryce a fair bit over the past few weeks," Murphy told 7mate's Talking Footy.
"The heat's always going to keep coming on Bryce until he signs.
"But I think we'll see him in a navy blue jumper for four or five years, hopefully, at least to come."
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse pleads for consistency from his Blues despite 32-point win over St Kilda
Herald Sun – Matt Windley
CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse still wants to see a greater level of consistency from his side despite it notching a 32-point win at Etihad Stadium on Monday night.
The Blues now head to the bye on the back of three wins from four games, but the major talking point from the game may yet come today as Blues captain Marc Murphy awaits the Match Review Panel’s assessment of his inadvertent bump on Saints counterpart Nick Riewoldt in the opening stages of the third quarter.
Blues do enough to fend off fiery Saints
AFL.com.au – Callum Twomey
BRYCE Gibbs has led Carlton to its third win of the season, a gritty 32-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Monday night.
The midfielder, who has been the subject of much speculation over his future with the club, was central to the Blues' 15.11 (101) to 9.15 (69) win.
The 25-year-old gathered 38 disposals – the second most prolific outing of his 163-game career – to sink the Saints, whose midfield brigade was outclassed and outworked by Carlton's line-up.
Carlton’s eight-goal second term helps the Blues to 32-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
Herald Sun – Sam Edmund
SOME shocking quarters have dragged Carlton into a season of mediocrity. Last night, one excellent one kept its campaign alive.
The Blues wasted a first quarter they controlled and then looked like millionaires in a scintillating second before clinging on for much of the second half as St Kilda pressed.
In a bizarre contest at a half-full Etihad Stadium, Carlton dominated, were dominated, rode their luck and then cashed-in late to emerge with a third win, 15.11 (101) to 9.15 (69).
Malthouse backs Murphy over Riewoldt hit
AFL.com.au – Nick Bowen
CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse says Marc Murphy is the last player who would deliberately "infringe" against an opponent as his skipper faces a nervous wait over a collision with St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt on Monday night.
Murphy is likely to come under scrutiny from the Match Review Panel for a collision with Riewoldt early in the third quarter of the Blues' 32-point win at Etihad Stadium.
The incident occurred as Murphy ran towards Riewoldt to contest the ball and the Saint bent down to try and pick it up at the last minute.
With the Saint's head over the ball, Murphy appeared to try to avoid bumping Riewoldt, but caught him high with his arm and hip.
