Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Carlton Thumped By Saint Kilda - AFL 2006

The thumping continues an unhappy trend for the Blues who have now lost their last seven matches against the Saints by an average margin of 64 points. St Kilda was dominant in every statistical category that matters, but none more so than inside 50s, which finished a lopsided 58-32.

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Carlton : 1.2 1.5 2.6 4.10 (34)
St Kilda : 7.7 9.13 14.15 18.18 (126)


GOALS

St Kilda
Nick Riewoldt(9)
Fraser Gehrig(3)
Stephen Milne(2)
Steven Baker(2)
Justin Peckett(1)
Brett Voss(1)

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Carlton FC let another Game slip - AFL Blog 2006


The Blues squandered a chance to turn their fortunes around in going down to Richmond by eight points in an error-riddled round five match at the MCG on Friday night.

After a bright start to the season, Carlton has now lost four-in-a-row and this was another tight contest, but the fans, the coaching staff and the players will be desperately hoping the team can rebound against Collingwood next week.

The Blues started well in a free-flowing opening quarter for a 19-point advantage at the first change, however the Tigers controlled the game from thereon, finding the lead in the third quarter despite some inaccuracy in front of goal before holding off a late Carlton challenge for a 12.20 (92) to 11.18 (84) victory.

For the Blues, Ryan Houlihan and skipper Anthony Koutoufides worked tirelessly to find the ball 29 times each, while Heath Scotland and Andrew Walker were creative from defence with 27 and 25 possessions respectively.

Matthew Richardson, despite being guilty of poor kicking with 3.5, was handy for the Tigers, plucking 12 marks. He complemented the work further up the field by Joel Bowden, who set up numerous attacks from defence with his 25 possessions, and Andrew Raines with 23.

Number one draft pick Marc Murphy then produced a superb running goal from just inside 50 before Koutoufides crumbed and goaled, giving the Blues an 11-point advantage.An errant disposal by Tivendale squandered a certain Tigers goal and the Blues made them pay deep in time on through Deluca for a 19-point break at quarter time.

Goals to Chris Hyde and Richardson narrowed the gap to three points in the second term, which the wasteful Tigers dominated, but a classy finish by Walker from just inside the boundary line steadied the Blues.

Andrew Krakouer and Kayne Pettifer stopped the Richmond rot with clever snaps either side of a pair of Waite goals before Troy Simmonds ended the quarter appropriately by kicking his team's ninth behind of the term.

Goals to Andrew Krakouer and Tivendale doubled the heartbreak for the Blues and the Tigers were out to a 14-point advantage at the final change.

Under no pressure in the final term, Richard Tambling failed to find his target and from the resultant turnover Walker was able to carry the ball up the other end, where Waite snapped truly, but Pettifer replied two minutes later.

A late goal by Eddie Betts gave the Blues hope of stealing an unlikely win but the Tigers managed to hold on for their second victory of the year.

RICHMOND: 2.3, 7.12, 11.15, 12.20 (92)
CARLTON: 5.4, 8.7, 9.13, 11.18 (84)

Carlton GOALS – Waite 3, Fevola 2, Whitnall, Koutoufides, Murphy, Walker, Deluca, Betts
Carlton BEST – Walker, Scotland, Koutoufides, Simpson, Whitnall, Murphy, Houlihan