A Murder Of Crows Murder Lacklustre Blues


Blue Shame

By Shane Thiele
May 26 2002

After five minutes there was nothing left to do but take notes. The Crows promised us a flying start and true to their word delivered as such. 

Burton, Ricciuto & Stevens were targeted all week - their twelve goals between them would have beaten us alone. We also talked a good game during the week. The Acting-Captain revelled in the fact that the football world had written us off. Unfortunately - unlike Adelaide - we can no longer match actions with words. Injuries have hurt but can no longer be an excuse to continually fall back on. The fact that Koutoufides is injured doesn't mean that Houlihan can't chase. Brett Ratten's elbow isn't to blame for Justin Murphy's poor disposal and the fact that Matthew Allan is on crutches doesn't excuse experienced players from making basic mistakes.
 
Unlike previous weeks we cannot single out one or two individuals to carry the blame. McKernan was close to our best, Fletcher kept Goodwin in reasonable check and Mansfield can sleep soundly knowing that he at least won his position. His direct opponent Scott Welsh hardly had a sniff, not that anyone will probably notice, it made absolutely no difference to the final result.
 
In the preview this week we held fears that the Blues would struggle to find enough multiple goal kickers. If you'd have told me before the game that McKernan & Whitnall would kick nine between them but we would still lose by 10 goals I would have called the nut-house. Jimmy chimed in for two and here ends the story of Carlton's goals. In last years final Matthew Lappin kicked five, today he would have been lucky to have had that many possessions. Ryan Houlihan also picked up where he left of last week. After failing to gain a possession in the last quarter against Hawthorn, Ryan waited until late in the 3rd quarter to get his first touch of the leather. For once my notepad came in handy as I picked up early that Ben Hart was his immediate opponent. As Hart ran the ball time and time out of defence it was anyone's guess who was supposed to be standing him.
 
For those that didn't see the game, I suppose I should enlighten you on the basic ebb and flow of the contest instead of merely wallowing in self pity. As we feared Adelaide's onballers proved to be far too strong for Carlton's depleted midfield and their forward line were jumping over each other to capatalise.
 
Mcleod was quiet by his standards getting the bulk of his possessions in the 3rd quarter. Riccuito not only took Andrew McKay out of the play at Centre Half Forward but managed to bag six straight in a dominant display. Johnson, Bode and Bickley provided the extra options that Carlton seem to lack at the moment meaning once we shut one down someone else would run rampant. As expected Camporeale struggled with a calf injury and despite a strong first quarter faded out of the game. Craig Bradley will once again face the wrath of supporters for his lack of defensive game but lets face it he at least won plenty of the ball himself and tried his heart out. After staring on the bench Jim Plunkett entered the fray and was the Blues only other shining light. Most of the Blues centre-breaks were a result of Jim's ability to win the ball in the clinches and despite his lack of leg-speed deserves a start next week.
 
The Blues were OK in parts but insipid for the majority of the 'contest'. At quarter time you could have made a case for umpire Ray Kelsey to be named as Carlton's best with our only goal a result of a soft free-kick to Whitnall off the ball. The margin was five goals at quarter-time and slowly crept out as the game continued. The back-line was badly beaten not by height but class. I lost count of the amount of times a defender failed to spoil, rush a behind or get into the right position. One percenters around the ground were almost non-existent. At times the youngest player on the field Justin Davies showed the big-boys what putting your body on the line is all-about. The kid failed to win much of the ball but at least showed some heart.
 
As for the rest of them I'll save most of my thoughts for the player reviews. Adam Pickering did enough to earn a recall but as for  who else will survive next week is anyone's guess. Full-credit must go to Adelaide who gave us a football lesson of the highest degree. To rub salt into what is a gaping wound Kris Massie & Ben Nelson even combined once or twice in the last quarter as if they'd made some sort of pact to look out for each other.
 
The final quarter seemed to go on for an eternity as Channel Nine panned their cameras across the stands desperately hoping to catch a shot of a mass exodus. Thankfully only three people were caught leaving the brutal crime-scene. Mum, Dad and little girl who probably wished she was at the playground had decided to call it a day and who could blame them. A big thank you goes out to everyone that went today and stayed to the bitter end. The media frenzy will be bad enough this week and not having to see ugly scenes such as memberships being waved in faces or the coach jostled or abused will be a blessing.
 
Facing the fact that we are simply not good enough will be enough to deal with this week.

 

 

«
REVIEW

CARLTON
v
Adelaide

Round 9

26 May 2002

SEASON 2002

 
Carlton 1.4 4.6 6.7 11.9.75
Adelaide 6.3 10.5 15.10 20.11.131

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