Bottom Blues Hold Slim Hopes Against Hot Hawks


Blues v Hawks

By Shane Thiele
May 16 2002

Another week, another loss, another Presidential faux pas, another upset rival. Business as usual this week at Optus Oval in what is fast becoming our most predictable season since 1995...in the worst possible way of course.

But the familiarity didn't stop there. Pressure on the coach, more scrutiny on recruiting and the usual daily dose of "Let's back Corey" has made everyday Groundhog Day. For a supporter who used to crave any information on the Blues, I'm fast becoming tired of all the focus.

Which brings us to another Friday night at the 'G'. The problem with losing on Friday is that the best laid plans you have for the rest of the weekend are thrown into turmoil. Instead of relaxing and catching a few opposition games I spend the following 48 hours on the Internet analysing and dissecting whether or not the 36th best player on our list is capable of kicking left foot at least 40 metres on a cloudy day whilst whistling the tune of Smoke On the Water in D-Minor.

Meanwhile the rest of the round passes me by and I'm none the wiser as to the quality of our opposition for the upcoming week. I breathe a sigh of relief as our main 'spoon' rivals go done in nail-biters and count down the days until our next battle.

The last two weeks I've had my "glass half full" hat on as I've desperately tried to make a case for the Blues. Sure we've had our injuries but the
Bulldogs were bottom and the Bombers were as equally depleted. Normally a four goal loss means a close encounter but the margins have been deceiving.

Realistically the Blues have never really been in either contest and it's hard to see any change this week.

The Hawks too had their problems early but have hit back strongly with punishing wins over Richmond, The Kangaroos & Geelong. Sure they have one or two players missing but with our current form I need more than just Rehn,
Thompson, Smith and Piccione to be absent to give the Blues any realistic chance of winning. Crawford is back to his Brownlow best, Harford has hit form and Cox has been a revelation. What's the bet that if Carlton had picked him
up as a back-up defender he would be a dud?!

It's not all doom and gloom as there are two things that will work in our favour -  the return of key play maker Scott Camporeale and a stinking black cloud I've sent east.  At the time of writing it should be stopping for a dodgy over priced roadhouse burger at Bordertown. By 7.00pm Friday night it should be planted squarely over the centre square of the MCG.

If you thought I was clutching at straws last week when I used the fact that we had an unbeaten record at the MCG so far in 2002 then you are going to be even less impressed when I bring up our 100% record so far this season in the wet!! Seriously it's about the only factor that could save the margin blowing out to embarrassing proportions. They say better players excel in
such conditions but seriously it doesn't matter how much it precipitates - is it really possible for our skills to get any worse?? We can at least take solace that it may bring the Hawks down to our level.

Though the opening up of the heavens may put to rest any chance of a great Corey revival, a wet night game is hardly the sort of atmosphere for the much maligned one to turn around what must be the toughest period of his career thus far. Having said that, his best game was against Collingwood in identical conditions yet he struggled the week after in the sunshine of
Football Park - go figure!! Stop feeling sorry for Corey and start feeling sorry for those that have to try and predict such lunacy week in week out.

As for the rest of them, well I need not repeat the names of who needs to lift. Judging by the message board this week most eyes will be on number's 18 & 20 as they try and fulfil the reputations that came with their recruiting off-season. So many others need to get more of it but more importantly start using it effectively.

What more can I say? I just hope that if we are to go down there is something to cheer about and get the adrenalins pumping along the way. Even
St Kilda have given their supporters heart-failure in their games against Sydney & Melbourne where as I can't remember where I have ever felt as calm during a game as I have over the past fortnight. At no stage have I felt
we've really been in a contest since about the ten minute mark of Round 5.

Of course I hope the Blues will get up and although they will turn it around soon I'll give up trying to predict when.

Whatever the scenario, you're all invited back to the message boards to waste another weekend with us.
 
Carlton's history against Hawthorn
 
Played 145, Won 100, Lost 45
 
Longest wining sequence -  25 wins (1925-1938)
 
Highest Score for - 30.30 - 210 (1969)
 
Lowest Score for - 4.12 - 36 (1971)
 
Greatest winning margin - 128 points
 
Greatest losing margin - 98 points
 
Last time they met
 
Round 17 - MCG - 2001, Attendence 52,472
 
Hawthorn 15.6 - 96 d Carlton 13.15 - 93
 
Key ball winners (All numbers possessions unless indicated)
 
Ratten - 28
Hickmott - 25
Camporeale - 25
 
Greene - 26
Crawford - 26
Lekkas - 26

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PREVIEW

CARLTON
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Essendon

Round 7

10 May 2002

SEASON 2002

On Fire / Under The Pump

 

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