Carrying on from the reasonable form of the previous week, the Blues jumped out of the blocks early to kick the first three goals of the match.  Once again it was Houlihan and Fevola that set the team on fire and restated the change that has come over this team.  Fevola again provided one of those uncanny Daicos-like bouncing goals that seem to be a part of his natural armoury. Brad Fisher goaled again making his first two games fruitful and the came seemed onesided. Some things do not change however and with a game based on passion, the attention does wane on occasion and the Bombers added three goals of their own before Fevola again steadied the side to give the Blues an 11 point quarter time lead.  The Blues lead could have been substantial were it not for Lance Whitnall gaining a case of the goalkicking 'yips'. On the Bomber forward line, Matthew Lloyd continued his annual foolishness against the Blues by throwing a powderpuff into the midriff of Bret Thornton.

Bring on the second quarter and let's face it, if the Blues have to have a one quarter fade out, better early than in the last quarter.  This one was it.  Essendon suddenly found a lot of space through the midfield and their Blues counterparts who were peeling off in pursuit of attacking glory, took some time to adjust.  Fortunately the Bomber run of six goals was interrupted by a late goal to Fevola and that psychological 20 point half time deficit was avoided.  Lowlights for the quarter were Prendergast's crude clothesline on Fletcher and Thornton being sucked in by Lloyd to raise the elbow costing the team 50 metres and a certain Bomber goal.

Cue quarter three and the big guns were firing. Goals to Whitnall, Koutoufides and a second to Fisher which gave the Blues the lead and inspired the team restored confidence in  long suffering fans. Another strong mark and goal to Fevola stretched the lead before two Bomber goals wrested control away again.  Impressive youngster Jarrad Waite finished the scoring for the quarter and Carlton clung to a two point lead with Essendon having the use of the main scoring end in the final stanza.

The two teams traded goals in the final quarter and wrestled with the scores tied for a spell.  Kouta took the ball with skill from a ruck contest, quick hands to Hulme and Camporeale and lovely delivery to Big Red on the lead and the Blues were up by a goal midway through the final quarter with rain pouring down.  The realisation that we were in a winning position certainly had the heart pounding I can tell you!

When Fevola came waaay downfield in search of the ball, baulked and found himself in space while Dustin Fletcher overshot the runway, there didn't seem to be anything special about to unwind.  Indeed Brendan attempted a couple of wet weather bounces, the last of which went horribly wrong and went within inches of a Bomber player eager to capitalise on the error.  Instead Fevola calmly toed the bouncing ball to a now free Ryan Houlihan lurking inside 50 on a bit of an angle.  Ryan steadied with the soggy ball and coolly slammed home the ball with a stamp of class.  The Brett Lee chainsaw celebration that followed was less of an act of a show pony and more of a release of emotion for a player much maligned playing in a team much maligned.

A Hickmott goal followed by a Rioli goal the other way kept the game close but the Blues were not about to be headed and held on tenaciously to record an 11 point victory. 

The moment that siren went and the Blues faithful screamed the club song to the heavens over and over again was truly a moment of historical relevance in the clubs efforts to climb back to respectability. The passion in the change rooms as the player took their turn at belting out 'Lily of Laguna' told us a bit more about what we can expect from this team and Denis Pagan as a coach.

The Blues collectively were fantastic but the efforts of Fevola, Koutoufides, French, Fisher, Waite, Sporn, Thornton, Camporeale, McKay and Beaumont were deserving of individual recognition.  The best on the night however was Ryan Houlihan who like Fevola holds one of the major keys to overcoming the nightmare of 2002.

Is anyone else excited?

«
REVIEW

CARLTON
v
Essendon

Round 3

11 April 2003

SEASON 2002