AFL 2022: Gold Coast v Carlton result and latest news

After battling a serious back injury last season, Carlton champion Patrick Cripps could again be sidelined for an extended period as the Blues suffered their first loss of the season.

Greg Davis and Chris Cavanagh

6 min read

April 10, 2022 - 9:51PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Patrick Cripps celebrates an early goal against Gold Coast. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

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Carlton coach Michael Voss said the Blues have no choice but to soldier on if inspirational captain Patrick Cripps is sidelined with a hamstring injury from the 30-point loss to the Gold Coast on Sunday night.

Cripps clutched at his left hamstring after a centre bounce late in the first quarter and played no further part in the match where Carlton’s three-game winning streak was emphatically ended by the Gold Coast’s midfield dominance.

The Suns had 18 more clearances, 13 more contested possessions and 16 more inside 50 entries as they led at every change with a frustrated Cripps watching on from the interchange bench.

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Jarrod Witts chats with Patrick Cripps after their round 4 match where the Carlton superstar suffered a hamstring injury. Picture: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Voss said the Blues will assess the extent of the damage to Cripps’ hamstring in the coming days and put the heat on the Carlton midfield to fill the considerable void starting with the clash against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday.

“These sorts of ones…we wait and see. I think it’s only minor but I’ve had scenarios before where you say that and it turns out to be something else. We’ll just wait and find out and do the assessment as needed and make some calls on what happens from there,’’ Voss said.

“Nothing really changes for us. Another man comes in and we’ve had the capability in that group to be able to get it done. (Sam) Walsh was missing there for a game or two and the guys were able to do a great job there as well.

“While the captain has been in great form and he’s a fantastic leader and he’s obviously a contested beast, we can’t dismiss that, but at the same time, that’d be letting others off the hook I think.”

Wil Powell acknowledges the crowd after the Suns’ victory at Metricon Stadium. Picture: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Suns co-captain Jarrod Witts (42 hit outs and seven clearances), Noah Anderson (35 disposals and 10 clearances), Lachie Weller (31 disposals and seven inside 50s) and Touk Miller (32 touches and eight clearances) smashed the vaunted Blues midfield without Cripps

“They were tougher than us, cleaner than us,’’ Voss said.

“We were still able to put some tackle heat on them but the ability to be able to then get it to the outside was pretty impressive across the night. It was forcing us to make some tactical adjustments that we wouldn’t want to normally do.

“The reality is that across the night they were able to sustain it a hell of a lot better than what we were able to.’’

Voss said ruckman Marc Pittonet (back) was a chance to play against Port Adelaide after missing Sunday’s match.

He said the emotional and physical toll of the first three matches was not to blame for the loss but he said some aspects of the performance were “different to what we’ve seen in the last three weeks”.

Sam Docherty is pressured by Matt Rowell. Picture: Getty Images

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew said it was a good bounce back from the disappointing loss to GWS that was built on a “thirst for the contest”. He said when the Blues kicked the first two goals of the match in the first three minutes, he thought, “here’s our test”.

“Last week was disappointing and we got back to work this week. It was a good process, good acknowledgement of where we were poor last week and went about our business today and across the board, not relying on too few,’’ Dew said.

“They were pretty impressive at the start and it took us a while to wrestle it back.

We saw some improvement in things we’ve been working on.’’

He said the Suns needed to deliver again against St Kilda this Saturday.

“The good teams continually back it up week in and week out and we’re clearly striving to be that, so it’s a good challenge for us next week,’’ Dew said.

Captain courageous leaves big hole

Carlton lost superstar captain Patrick Cripps and their first match of 2022 as the Gold Coast sprung a 30-point ambush victory at Metricon Stadium on Sunday night.

Cripps injured his left hamstring at a centre bounce with six minutes left in the first quarter when he had a goal and seven touches to his name and did not re-emerge for the second term.

He was replaced by medical substitute Jordan Boyd and eventually took his place on the Carlton interchange where he cut a dejected figure.

After battling a serious back injury last season, a fit and firing Cripps could be on nine Brownlow Medal votes after three rounds such was his dominance in Carlton’s three victories.

And he was sorely missed on the tourist strip.

A dejected Patrick Cripps leads his team off after the Blues suffered their first loss of the season. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

The Suns dominated clearances (45-27) and contested possessions (142-129) with co-captain Jarrod Witts (42 hitouts and seven clearances) to the fore to snap a two-game losing streak and bring Carlton’s three-game winning streak to an abrupt halt.

Gold Coast led by 37 points at the last change after booting five goals to one in the third term to set-up their victory that looked anything but assured after the Blues got off to a flyer with two goals in the first three minutes of the match.

Marbior Chol kicked the first two goals of the third quarter as the Suns raced to a 26-point lead and two 50m penalties against Carlton gifted the Gold Coast another two majors.

Carlton peppered the goals for a period in the third term but could only convert one chance through Matthew Owies after a series of hastily taken snaps sailed wide.

The Gold Coast held a 14-point buffer at halftime after a seesawing second term. Levi Casboult kicked the home side to a 22-point cushion early before Carlton’s Harry McKay booted two goals after suffering a nose injury to close the margin to eight points.

The Suns led by 15 points at quarter-time but should have been further in front given the way they controlled a majority of the opening term after Carlton’s fast start.

Cripps spends time on the interchange bench after being subbed out of the game. Picture: AFL Photos via Getty Images

SERIOUS BROWNLOW IMPLICATIONS

The injury to Carlton captain Patrick Cripps must have Brownlow Medal ramifications. The inspirational midfielder would have been leading the count after three rounds after spearheading the Blues to three wins when he averaged 32 touches and two goals a game.

His influence was considerable in the first term against the Suns when he kicked a goal and accumulated seven disposals. An extended time on the sidelines will cost him votes and Carlton invaluable leadership.

McKAY CALLS IT AS IT IS

Carlton forward Harry McKay has the ability to do what few other forwards in the competition can do.

And he set another precedent at Metricon Stadium when he admitted that a kick for goal was touched by Suns defender Sam Collins.

Gold Coast players remonstrated with officials that McKay’s kick was touched and McKay joined in, giving the hand signal that a Sun had got a finger on the Sherrin.

It was like football’s version of Adam Gilchrist walking in a World Cup cricket match.

Wil Powell competes for the ball at Metricon Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

ROSAS’ GLOBETROTTERS AUDITION

Members of the Harlem Globetrotters were at Metricon Stadium promoting their upcoming tour of Australia and they may recruit Suns small forward Malcolm Rosas after he displayed some fancy footwork and deft sleight of hand to kick three goals with his first four touches.

Rosas — in his fifth senior AFL match — was able to find precious time and space in heavy traffic and kick truly from tight angles.

EXPENSIVE MELEE FOR VISITORS

A spirited and prolonged melee between the Gold Coast’s Ben Ainsworth and Carlton’s Nic Newman at the start of the third quarter proved costly for the Blues.

The Suns received a 50m penalty after Newman went on with the push-and-shove behind play and Marbior Chol kicked the easiest of goals down field. With all the momentum, Chol kicked another major a minute later.

The Blues gave away another 50-metre penalty soon after.