Blues Venture Into The Lions Den


Blues v Lions

By Shane Thiele
June 27 2002

Queensland - beautiful one day, perfect the next......unless of course you are drawn to play Brisbane at the Gabba.   Sure, the ladder says Port Adelaide are currently sitting on top of the perch but I hope they and all Port supporters enjoyed it while it lasted...

The Lions - King of the jungle - can taste the smell of blood, navy blue blood. Their prey is Carlton and four points is on the menu for main course. Not to mention a healthy smattering of percentage for dessert.
 
Usually in a preview I can at least find some unrealistic, clutching at straws reason why I think the Blues can get up. Unfortunately in all my years of barracking for Carlton I've never felt less confident about a game of football....and that includes last years Easter miracle against the Bombers.
 
Some people described Brisbane's game last week against the Kangaroos as one of the most enjoyable of the year. I'd be more than happy to concur if not for the fact that we had to face them this week.
 
The Kangaroos for what it's worth produced some of the best football this great game has to offer. They were brave, relentless and threw caution to the wind. They left the Gabba with zero points but pride well and truly in tact - they deserved better.
 
Any time the opposition look to be slipping away or challenging Brisbane have this amazing ability to pile on a string of goals in a blink of an eyelid. They like to run forward of the play and against Nth seemed to have little accountability or respect for their opponents.
 
They'll at least give you a sniff and that style of play presents a certain vulnerability if by any chance they happen to turn the ball over. Don't hold your breath though waiting for the rare occasions that this may happen.
 
Sure, we can live in hope that the recent comments of Jason Akermanis indicates a lack of focus however he is only represents 4.5% of the Lions side that will take the field on Saturday. Even if he and many of his team-mates decide to have a night off, the individual brilliance of one or two others will be enough to get them over the line.
 
Take Ratten and Camporeale out of Carlton's line-up and the place falls apart. Take Voss & Lappin out of Brisbane and other's simply step up. Their record of seventeen wins in a row at the Gabba is by no means under threat. If Essendon and Port could not get close than what hope does a team bottom of the ladder and void of any winning form have?
 
I hope this preview is taken to be more realistic than pessimistic. I'm as happy as anyone could be sitting 1-11 and feel more confident about the future than I did 4 weeks. My negativity is basically towards this one particular game and it's going to take more than a half against Fremantle, a quarter against Geelong and a half against West Coast before I start making any outlandish predictions of grandeur in a battle against the Premiers.
 
We could quite easily leave the Sunshine State with a ten goal loss and feel proud of our efforts. It is all about how we lose, how long we can stay competitive in the contest and how many positives we can take out of the game. Although highly critical of the pair I was glad to see this week's two inclusions. Attitude more than touch has been the most vital ingredient missing from the usually tasty Houlihan and Murphy recipes. Although they may fail again we all know they are capable of so much more. If we are any chance on Saturday we need players of this caliber at the peak of their form. No point seeing if they can get a kick against Bendigo, lets see what they are truly made of against the best in the land.
 
Tactics will be also be interesting to watch. Personally I couldn't less if we get thumped by 15 goals as long as we at least try and win the game by playing some attacking, exciting football. I mean it's not like percentage is going to play a big part in our 2002 destiny.
 
Leave Thornton and Livingston one out on Lynch and Brown. Let Fevola, Lappin and Houlihan try a little magic. Leave Whitnall in the forward '50' and lets the likes of McKay and Wiggins show some dash from half-back and tell Murphy to pump the ball deep, deep, deep into the Blues forward line. If it doesn't go through the big sticks than you know that Hickmott will be there to make sure that the ball is not leaving that forward line until he says so. Oh my God, suddenly I've gone all Garrie Hutchinson on you!! Ratts to have 40 touches, Red to kick 5 and the Blues to win by 48 points......sorry where was I......??!!!!   
 
Recent contests have provided some memorable moments for Blues supporters, including last years much publicised debacle and the two beltings we handed them in 2000.
 
The fact that we now find ourselves at opposite ends of the spectrum is actually reassuring considering the short period of time that it has taken for the wheel to take a '180' turn. Kind of makes a mockery of Patrick Smith's prediction that the Blues will find themselves searching for the next pub throughout the next five September's doesn't it?! How could anyone make such an outlandish statement with any confidence?
 
Despite my pessimism I'm actually quite looking forward to this contest. I'm hoping that the 'nothing to lose attitude' that myself and perhaps other supporters may feel will be reciprocated by the players. It could quite easily get ugly but in the aftermath remember to reflect on the quality of the opposition. Teams much higher than ourselves have already succumbed to the wrath of the Lion juggernaut and don't be too disheartened if we join the club.
 
Carlton's history against Brisbane
 
Played 25, Won 19, Lost 6
 
Longest wining sequence -  8 wins (1992-1996)
 
Highest Score for - 27.22 - 184 (1987)
 
Lowest Score for - 9.8 - 62 (1996)
 
Greatest winning margin - 103 points
 
Greatest losing margin - 96 points
 
Last time they met
 
Round 8 - Optus Oval - 2001, Attendence 22,997
 
Carlton 21.16 - 142 d Brisbane 9.14 - 68
 
Key ball winners (All numbers possessions unless indicated)
 
Koutoufides - 36
Camporeale - 33
Ratten - 32
 
Scott - 33
Black - 26
Ashcroft - 25
Akermanis - 12!!

«
PREVIEW

CARLTON
v
Brisbane

Round 13

29 June 2002

Gabba

 

 

SEASON 2002

Old Dark Navys.net
 Message Board

 

 

 

 

Bookmark or share this story with: