OldDarkNavys.net - Blues Let The Dogs Out .... And Keep Them Out!!

Blues Let The Dogs Out .... And Keep Them Out!!

Blues v Bulldogs

By Rick Latimer August 24 2002
One thing is clear in 2002 .... Carlton fans are not meant to enjoy a relaxing moment! The Blues finally recorded their 3rd win of the season and 1300th in their history by recording a heart stopping two point victory over the Western Bulldogs.

A bonus for the beleaguered Blues was the late withdrawal of Scott West from the Bulldogs lineup but it didn't seem as if any assistance was necessary as the Blues put on a withering burst of irrepressible football on their way to a nine goal first quarter and a 50 point quarter time lead. Wayne Brittain once again had Corey McKernan starting at the centre bounce contests and running forward to be the key focal point and it worked a treat in the first stanza with the big man booting four goals. In an effort to catch the Dogs out, Simon Beaumont was also started deep in attack while Sporn and Prendergast patrolled the half forward line. It's fair to say that all were impressive in the opening quarter along with most of the Blues side, most notably Andrew Eccles and Ang Christou who again provided important run outside of the defensive 50 in his long awaited 150th appearance in the Navy Blue. In what was a rare occurrence for this season, the Carlton midfield were winning hands down and the rest of the team had more time to do their jobs as a result.

When Justin Murphy was set up by Lappin for the opening goal of the second quarter and the high fives were coming thick and fast the cynic in me wondered if we might drop our bundle. A poor umpiring decision penalised Thornton for a throw and Alvey kicked the Dogs second goal, a fairly innocent event at 50 points down but we have all seen how easy it is for Carlton to lose momentum this year. Two further Bulldog goals, one after Camporeale was caught with the ball in attack, and the Blues were wobbly. Hotton shielded Hickmott for a mark and goal to steady the ship and then Darcy rounded out the quarter with a major but not before executing a triple twisting half pike dive with a twist after a slight push in the back from Thornton. Two umpires awarded maximum points for the dive while the French judge voted for the Russians!!! Ryan Houlihan was on fire for the Blues and chipped in to save some hairy situations a couple of times.

The Blues carried a 37 point lead into the second half but that was a distant memory as the Dogs piled on five quick and dare I say easy goals to start the third stanza. The Blues tried to steady through goals to Hotton and Mansfield but four goals and three opponents for Nathan Brown exposed the worst of the Blues after seeing their best in the first quarter. Corey McKernan again went down with his troublesome knee and our main avenue to goal was lost. Missed marking opportunities by Mansfield and Prendergast meant that the Blues has a slender seven point lead at the final break and it looked a formality for the Bulldogs to finish all over them and further break our hearts.

But this team had found a new resolve and although the Bulldogs peppered the goals, they could never get in front. Houlihan and Sporn were covering up the holes brilliantly while old heads Camporeale and Beaumont provided much needed poise in a pressure cooker atmosphere. Wiggins went forward and had a couple of shots for goal, managing to snare one of them while Penny did the same for the Dogs. Inside the last five minutes the spilled ball over the back of a pack inside 50 for the Blues was greeted by a Houlihan burst and when it seemed almost certain that Ryan would take the low percentage shot on the run, he instead dragged the ball back across his body to find Jordan Doering who had run hard to get himself into space. The goal gave the Blues breathing space and when Ang Christou dropped back to take a saving mark in defence, the game seemed safe. Gianciracusa marked to bring the margin back to 2 points but the Blues had done a good job in tying the ball up and winding down the clock, particularly Justin Murphy who twice milked every single second out of his possessions, reminiscent of a similar time wasting exercise Preliminary final day in 1999. With the Bulldogs on the attack, the siren went as Bandy launched the ball inside the Bulldogs attacking 50 and the Blues had avoided another morale crushing loss. It may not have been ideal, it may not be lasting but with only two wins coming before it in this most draining of seasons, Blues fans will take anything they can get.