Eddie Betts, Sam Docherty and Jack Newnes among Blues to impress in practice match
There were plenty of negative headlines throughout the summer for Carlton. But all that was forgotten when Eddie Betts pulled on the navy blue jumper and showed he is more than ready to make an impact in 2020.
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Eddie Betts has banished a summer of negative headlines at Carlton with a display that showed he isn’t ready to go quietly into the night just yet.
The 33-year-old basked in Carlton’s midfield dominance early in a practice match that was one for the Blues traditionalists.
Their favourite son returning to put the club’s arch rival to the sword at the same venue Anthony Koutoutides and Craig Bradley once performed heroics on a daily basis.
The margin of the contest was irrelevant given both sides were missing an array of stars and a six-period game eventually petered out into a clash of virtual VFL sides.
And yet for a late February tune-up there were so many positives for Carlton coach David Teague.
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Co-captain Sam Docherty sparkled off half back, new recruit Marc Pittonet rucked stoutly, Jack Newnes was polished on a wing and Tom Williamson showed why Carlton’s hierarchy believes he is a player of the future.
Betts’ final tally in three terms was only two goals but there were the usual bag of tricks that delighted and entertained the few thousand fans at Ikon Park.
Within the space of 10 minutes in the first term he had five involvements – a narrow left-foot snap, a poster, a shot across the face and then a slick assist to Darcy Lang that his teammate somehow missed from point-blank range.
Then came the goal from a high free kick accompanied by the hooting and hollering of the fans in the Gardiner Stand.
Minutes into the second term he had pinned Isaac Quaynor deep in the Legends Stand pocket and converted a left-foot goal and the Eddie Betts hype was officially off the charts.
Carlton won the day by 32 points in a clash where they kicked 12 goals to four to half time before the sting quickly went out of the contest.
Docherty’s day started with him mopping up effortlessly at half back and culminated in a perfect spin-move, then hitting-up Levi Casboult for one of his four goals.
The Blues have had to endure criticism of their sacking of Steve Silvagni and a long-term injury to star forward Charlie Curnow.
But Casboult picked up where he left off last year with a strong-marking display, while Jack Silvagni found enough space with his usual clever leads.
Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps waxed the Sherrin with their usual style, while draftee Sam Philp showed his customary dash and kicked a goal from a strong tackle.
Key defender Jacob Weitering left the field with a sore hip in the second period after overstretching in a contest and was taken off as a precaution.
But the Blues weren’t overly worried by his injury, with assistant coach Dale Amos confident injured talls Harry McKay and Mitch McGovern would see Marsh Series action.
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“The fact (Docherty and Tom Williamson) played means they are a chance to play next week pending how they pull up if there are no setbacks they would be a good chance to play next week
“Jack (Martin) is building back up. We have a big trip to Mandurah next week so we have some long term decisions about when guys play. Mitch (McGovern) in particular is progressing really nicely. He and (Harry McKay) will be around the mark for the Brisbane (pre-season) game in preparation for Round 1.”
Carlton’s absentees included Jack Martin, Harry McKay, Mitch McGovern, Zac Fisher, Matthew Kreuzer and Sam Petrevski-Seton.
McKay and McGovern are likely to play in the second Marsh Series clash, while Kreuzer could take on Fremantle next week after minor heart surgery.
Originally published as Eddie Betts, Sam Docherty and Jack Newnes among Blues to impress in practice match