CARLTON has recorded its biggest win over Richmond in 13 years, prevailing by 61 points at the MCG.
After an even first half, the Blues blew their opposition away on a cold winter’s day at the home of football, piling on 20 goals for the second consecutive week in the 20.11 (131) to 10.10 (70) win.
Marking Zac Williams’ 150th game with a win, Patrick Cripps was instrumental again with 40 disposals while Orazio Fantasia (four goals) and Lachie Fogarty (three) bobbed up in attack on another good day for the Blues.
Adam Cerra also emerged unscathed in his first game back from a hamstring injury, collecting 23 disposals and eight score involvements in limited game time after being subbed off in last quarter with the game won.
Quarter one
It was an old-fashioned scrap between the Tigers and Blues, with downpours earlier in the day making for a slippery affair at the MCG. Carlton had the early ascendancy in terms of the possession count, with Nic Newman prolific behind the ball in the early going as Richmond peppered. Patrick Cripps was the provider for his great mate Sam Walsh for the opening goal of the day, as the Blues’ skipper willed himself to 14 first-quarter disposals. As is always the case when these two sides meet, the Blues had to fight for every opportunity against a resilient Tigers, who recorded back-to-back goals for an early lead. Zac Williams had a milestone goal chalked off via a review, but there was nothing in doubt about Charlie Curnow launching from 55 metres out to give the Blues a late lead. Blake Acres worked tirelessly for his 12 disposals on the wing, but while the Blues led in disposals, inside 50s, contested possessions and in the tackle count, they had only a three-point lead to show for it at the first change.
Quarter two
The Blues came out of the quarter-time break with an edge, attacking the ball and man with ferocity to create a gap over their opponents. Within the opening 12 minutes, the Blues had piled on four more goals to open up a handy 29-point lead. The Blues’ small forwards got to work, hunting the Tigers in numbers and capitalising in front of goal, with Orazio Fantasia, Lachie Fogarty, Elijah Hollands and Matthew Owies converting in quick succession. Just when the Blues looked to be well in control, the Tigers came again, kicking goals from centre clearances in a rush to bring the margin back within two goals. Williams wasn’t to be denied a milestone goal on the second time of asking, thanks to an assist from Curnow, but the Blues found themselves unable to keep the Tigers down. In his first game for seven weeks, Adam Cerra lifted brilliantly in the second quarter, recording 11 disposals (six contested) as well as a crucial holding-the-ball tackle late in the piece. A bugbear for Michael Voss and Carlton was that Richmond got back into the game off its contested ball-winning, with the margin reduced to an even two goals at the main break.
Quarter three
In recent weeks, it’s all been about the way Carlton has blown teams away in final quarters. In Round 16, however, the Blues were at the brutal best in the third term, harkening back to Carlton teams of old. After Noah Balta opened the scoring to bring Richmond back within a kick, Carlton – on the back of captain Cripps – put together an incredible patch of football. With seven consecutive goals, including six in 12 minutes, the Blues blew the game wide open. Cripps had 16 in the third quarter alone as the Blues had options bobbing up in attack everywhere you looked, with Lachie Fogarty producing a career-high three goals. The skipper wasn’t alone of course, with Walsh and Acres again stepping up on busy afternoons, while Jordan Boyd and Adam Saad helped set the game up with their ball use coming off half-back. Carlton was utterly dominant in the last 20 minutes of the third quarter, recording +36 disposals, +20 marks and +10 inside 50s. Come the end of the quarter, the Blues had a 45-point lead to show for their work.
Quarter four
All the Blues needed to do in the final term was consolidate what they already had, and that’s exactly what they did. Making a successful return from injury, Adam Cerra was subbed out of the game for George Hewett purely as a precaution, ensuring the Blues didn’t lose any of their grunt around the ball. After the Tigers broke through for an early goal, the Blues rallied, with key forwards Curnow and McKay – who had been well-held over the course of the day – both taking strong marks to kick multiple goals for the day. In his best game as a Blue so far, Fantasia cashed in throughout the final term, kicking his third and fourth goals to round the game out in some style. The only concern for Carlton was Matthew Kennedy coming off the ground late with a knee injury in what was another decisive quarter for the Blues, kicking another six goals to reach the 20-goal mark for the second consecutive week in a 61-point win.
RICHMOND 2.1 6.2 7.6 10.10 (70)
CARLTON 2.4 7.8 14.9 20.11 (131)
GOALS
Carlton: Fantasia 4, Fogarty 3, Cincotta 2, Curnow 2, McKay 2, Walsh 2, Cripps, E.Hollands, Kennedy, Owies, Williams
BEST
Carlton: Cripps, Newman, Acres, Walsh, Fogarty, Saad, Fantasia