Tigers' Celebrations Get Dose Of The Blues

Sun Herald

Sunday June 29, 2008

By Karen Lyon MCG

BLUE 17.16 118

TIGERS 12.16 88

CARLTON and Richmond had their seasons on the line at three-quarter time yesterday afternoon.

Just one point separated the two vast improvers and both were unexpectedly vying for a finals berth.

But in the last 30 minutes of yesterday's clash between two of the sport's greatest rivals, it was Carlton who stood tall and demanded to stay in contention for the finals race, spoiling Richmond's AFL/VFL centenary match.

In a stunning final quarter, led by stand-in skipper Nick Stevens, who assumed the role after injured Chris Judd's withdrawal on Friday, the Blues piled on seven goals to two in a final quarter rout to run out comfortable and impressive 30-point winners.

The win says a lot about the emerging character of the young Blues. It had been a lacklustre first half, with neither side really impressive but Richmond slightly in control.

The match did not threaten to rise to any great heights, but the Tigers were gritty and had Cleve Hughes and Mitch Morton as focal points in front of goal which looked like it might get them home.

Joel Bowden was rebounding out of defence, Brett Deledio was getting plenty of disposals and setting up attacks while Trent Crotchin's reputation grew as a calm and calculating thinker under pressure.

Every time Carlton would attack yesterday, Richmond would answer.

Both sides had led six times and the scores had been level six times before the three-quarter-time break.

The Blues started their charge early in third quarter with Carlton coach Brett Ratten making some crucial moves.

He took Setanta O'hAilpin off Hughes, who had kicked three goals in the second term, and replaced the Irishman with Michael Jamison, and Brad Fisher became the go-to man in the Carlton forward line, a bid to expose Joel Bowden's penchant for running off his opponent. Both worked a treat.

Hughes didn't kick another goal for the match and Fisher was inspirational in the opening 10 minutes of the third term, kicking his own goal and playing a role in two others.

The Blues have gained a reputation for fighting matches out to the end, with some great final quarter performances and yesterday was no exception.

The Blues were ferocious at the ball in the final term. In the last quarter, Carlton won all the stats that matter. They won the tackle count 8-6, the contested possessions 30-20 and the inside attacking 50s were a dominant 18 to 11 in the final quarter.

Stevens was outstanding for his side and his final quarter was nothing short of a match-winning effort. Along with ruckman Matthew Kruezer, they took control of the centre square and gave the Blues first use of the ball. Carlton started to win around the stoppages and the Richmond back line, which had been breaking even with the Blues, started to falter under the weight of ball.

Kelvin Moore had held Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola well for most of the first three quarters, keeping him to just two goals before three-quarter-time.

The Blues attacked from the start of the final term, and when Richmond's star player Matthew Richardson went off the ground with a hamstring injury at the five-minute mark of the term, the die had been cast.

Bryce Gibbs and Fevola scored in quick succession to give the Blues an 11-point lead. Simon Wiggins then marked strongly on the edge of the goal square and kicked the routine shot to give the Blues a 17-point lead and seal Richmond's fate.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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