AFL news 2024: Carlton’s Marc Pittonet on how the midfield battle was won against West Coast

Marc Pittonet lifts the lid on how Carlton took its most depleted squad of the season across to the cauldron of Optus Stadium and came away with a season-defining win.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUG 18: Jaxon Binns of the Blues celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 23 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Carlton Blues at Optus Stadium on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

For all the talk about the massive holes in Carlton’s structure for their critical clash against West Coast – one key area remained mostly intact – the most important area – the midfield.

It remained their area of potential competitive advantage over the Eagles. It also remained the most experienced and battle-hardened area for West Coast with Elliot Yeo and Tim Kelly in there.

Win there and the Blues could win the game. They not only won the midfield, they won big. It created momentum like a locomotive and they drove it all the way to a 65 point win that has placed finals destiny firmly in their own hands.

Even with the brilliant fill-in forward job Brodie Kemp did with his four goals – the midfield held the key to Carlton’s stunning win.

They won clearances 43-33. They won centre clearances 11-6. They won contested possession by 27.

Marc Pittonet of the Blues battles with Bailey J. Williams in the ruck. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

And if captain Patrick Cripps led it with 35 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 12 score involvements and 10 clearances, ruckman Marc Pittonet was not far behind.

Pittonet had 20 disposals, eight clearances and 32 hit outs. Afterwards he said the Blues knew the midfield was likely to hold the key to the game.

“Obviously we have had some injuries but we are reasonably settled in there (the midfield). The connection is good and we knew we wanted to get after that pressure, get after the dirty stuff to get on top. A lot of the good stuff came from the stoppage work. Early it was a real grind but we built from that.”

“We knew it was their strength as well. They have got a lot of experience in that midfield – blokes like Yeo and Kelly. We knew it was going to be a really good match up and it was going to be what dictated the game a little bit.”

“It was going to be a really intense battle in there. We were really ready for that.”

Jaxon Binns celebrates his first goal in AFL football. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Pittonet said the other weapon the Blues had up their sleeve was a plan to make themselves more unpredictable going into attack to make up for the loss of spearheads Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.

“It was a bit different when we are used to having Charlie and Harry there to kick to and Tom De Koning down there as well.”

‘Without those three down forward you can’t play the same style as when you have them so to be a bit smarter and know when to go deep and when to bring it in short it made us a bit more unpredictable. It was able to produce one v one looks and you saw what we can do with one-on-one looks and when we were able to get it to ground those small forwards today were just there for us.”

Binns wheels around and kicks a beautiful first goal in AFL footy 😍#AFLEaglesBluespic.twitter.com/JZmDwtiaxt

— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) August 18, 2024

“We came in with that plan – get it in there, be smart, get it to ground and pressure the hell out of them.”

Pittonet said the Blues had made the trip to Perth an adventure, rather than an ordeal with a depleted team.

“It is a funny one. I can’t say I have seen anything like that in my time in footy but Vossy and Crippa are always big on the squad mentality. It is a long season and we had a lot of confidence in blokes like Lordy and Jaxon Binns and Ashton Moir. We knew these blokes were in good form and have been playing some good footy. It had a bit of excitement and X-factor about it.”

“It was fun. We brought in two debutants. We brought a big squad across as well, we flew three emergencies. All young boys. It was a real team bonding, get away, stick together, have some fun.”

ASHTON MOIR, WHAT A GOAL ON DEBUT!!!#AFLEaglesBluespic.twitter.com/maO9JotN6b

— AFL (@AFL) August 18, 2024

With De Koning racing to get back from injury before the end of the season Pittonet has been handed the number one ruck mantle and he is relishing the role, but his aim is for Carlton to be alive for long enough for De Koning’s return.

“You always love just playing as much as you can so when you are the main guy you get more game time but I am hoping that we can keep building on this so he can come back and we can play with two because he is such a good player. For now I am happy building my game and this is just another step,” he said.

And having the club’s finals destiny in their own hands is “what you want” he said.

“You never want to be hoping that something else happens in another game. You want to go out and focus on your own game. It is nice knowing that,” he said.

Originally published as AFL news 2024: Carlton’s Marc Pittonet on how the midfield battle was won against West Coast