DISCERNING Carlton supporters (of which there are many) have often argued that Collingwood have given them their gladdest memories.
This was effectively borne out in the messages featured either side of the dark Navy Blue banner raised at the MCG before the 7th Round match of 2017 with Collingwood.
On what was the 125th anniversary of Collingwood’s first ever contest with its long-time foe – won by Carlton at Victoria Park on Saturday, May 7, 1892 – one side of the banner read thus:
CELEBRATING 125 YEARS SINCE WE BEAT YOU IS A BIT WEIRD . . . BUT . . . WHATEVER.
And the other?
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
1915, 1938, 1970, 1979 & 1981
In keeping with historic trends, Carlton yet again rained on Collingwood’s parade, on an afternoon in which Magpie legends were forced to wear ponchos as protection against the drizzle in a pre-match ceremony to mark the anniversary.
Before an audience of more than 70,000 patrons, Carlton, under Coach Brendon Bolton’s watch, opened with a three-goal to one opening term, with Sam Petrevski-Seton, Matthew Wright and Kade Simpson all hitting the scoreboard – and the Blues effectively held sway for the game’s duration.
Forever etched in the memory is the final quarter goal to Dale Thomas – the only man to represent both Collingwood and Carlton in 100 senior contests. Accepting a short pass in the Sir Wayne Harmes pocket from Charlie Curnow (welcome back), ‘”Daisy” sold a marauding Tyson Goldsack the candy, took a couple of bounces and slotted a banana goal on the run - to the chagrin of Collingwood cheersquad members behind the posts at the Ponsford Stand end.
For the record, “SPS” earned a Nab Rising Star nomination for this one – and three Brownlow votes from the officiating field umpires.
Collingwood v Carlton – Round 7, Saturday, May 6, 2017 at the MCG
Carlton 3.4 (22) 6.5 (41) 11.5 (71) 12.7 (79)
Collingwood 1.3 (9) 3.5 (23) 7.6 (48) 8.8 (56)
Crowd: 70,279
Goalkickers: S. Petresvki-Seton 2, M. Wright 2, L. Casboult 2, K. Simpson, J. Weitering, N. Graham, C. Curnow, B. Gibbs, D. Thomas 1.
The Carlton team
B: 15 Sam Docherty 44 Alex Silvagni 43 Simon White
HB: 20 Lachie Plowman 17 Sam Rowe 22 Caleb Marchbank
C: 6 Kade Simpson (vc) 4 Bryce Gibbs 35 Ed Curnow
HF: 39 Dale Thomas 30 Charlie Curnow 5 Sam Petrevski-Seton
F: 23 Jacob Weitering 41 Levi Casboult 46 Matthew Wright
Foll: 8 Matthew Kreuzer 9 Patrick Cripps 3 Marc Murphy (c)
I/C: 11 Sam Kerridge 16 Billie Smedts 31 Tom Williamson
32 Nick Graham
Coach: Brendon Bolton
