AFL Carlton v Adelaide: Blues blow chance to remain in finals contention as Crows’ hot streak continues
Coach David Teague was frank and honest in his review of his side’s missed opportunity against Adelaide. Meanwhile, Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has outlined the Crows’ turning point.
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Carlton coach David Teague says the Blues let themselves and their fans down against Adelaide by not being ruthless in the contest but believes they are “not far off” becoming a finals side.
A win over the last-placed Crows would have kept the Blues in the hunt to end a seven-year top-eight drought, only for a poor opening half to end their hopes of making the major round.
Not for the first time in recent weeks, Teague said the missed opportunity was not as disappointing as failing to again play for four quarters.
He said his side had been in every game this year and could take the next step if it was stronger for longer.
“I think we’re not far off,” Teague said.
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“Our fans may be a bit disappointed because we haven’t been able to execute but for periods of games we have, so I think our players have belief in it.
“Today we let our fans down and we’ve got to keep working hard.
“Clearly we’re where we are on the ladder for a reason and results have gone the way they have because our ability to execute for four quarters is not there.
“In the second half, when we were stronger in the contest … it was too little, too late.
“That ruthlessness, that ability to compete for four quarters, I dare say our group would want to fire up in that area because we let ourselves down today.”
The sides finished with 31 clearances apiece and Adelaide only won the contested possession count by seven, but Teague said the Crows were tougher on the ball and better on the outside.
He also rued his team’s poor kicking, which continued to be a bugbear.
“I thought there was some average kicks that hardly hit their foot, they were floating and balls that didn’t even look like drop punts,” he said.
“I felt we turned the ball over in really hard spots to defend.”
Marc Murphy and Kade Simpson chaired former Blues teammate Bryce Gibbs off after his final game in a moment Teague called weird but nice.
“There was a little part of me that thought ‘I’m not sure about this’,” he said.
“It’s a hard moment because you’ve just lost a game of footy but you want to respect someone that’s been a great player of the game and for our club as well.
“I think it’s the right thing to do and Bryce deserved that.
“Next time I’d like to do it after a win.”
Fairy tale finish for Gibbs as Blues kiss finals goodbye
Adelaide will not want its season to end, while Carlton’s finals chances are over in disappointing fashion after the Crows’ 16-point triumph at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
The Blues were the team with everything to play for, but they lacked energy and looked like they could not wait for the campaign to end during a disastrous opening half.
Contrastingly, Adelaide showed desperation and zip from the outset to boot the first five goals.
At halftime, it was 44 points ahead, had the game on its terms and Carlton was on its lowest score to the main break since Round 18, 2018.
The Crows were controlling possession, having 66 more to that point, and always seemed to have more players at contests – a sign they were simply working harder.
Their pressure dropped away in the third term and the Blues took advantage, moving the ball quicker.
When Mitch McGovern kicked his first major in the last term, Adelaide’s lead was just 21 points.
But it was too late – the damage had been done.
What a stunning turnaround for the Crows, who from 0-13 and predictions of going winless are now on a three-win streak and proving there are plenty of reasons for optimism in 2021.
This time last year, it was Carlton that was displayed those green shoots under David Teague, who had a 6-5 record as caretaker coach, but the Blues have plenty of question marks going into next year.
Crippa that was special 🔥@MonsterEnergy | #AFLBluesCrows pic.twitter.com/cxOGqdAfNi
— AFL (@AFL) September 13, 2020
FOND FAREWELL
It was a nice swan song for Bryce Gibbs, who chalked up 27 touches, played well against his former side and missed the chance to kick the final goal of the game.
“The old legs couldn’t get that last one home there,” Gibbs said with a laugh post-game.
Gibbs left the ground being chaired off by two former Carlton teammates and swapped guernseys with Kade Simpson, who had also given him the match ball.
YOUNG TALENT TIME
Lachlan Sholl’s dad Brett played 35 games for Carlton, including the 1993 grand final, but on Saturday the 20-year-old Crow played a key role in the Blues’ demise.
Sholl, who was taken at pick 64 in the 2018 national draft, had 11 possessions in the first quarter and kicked the second goal of the day on his way to 24 touches for the game.
Even though Sholl is just seven matches into his career, his Crows teammates look for him to launch their attacking forays because of his dash and piercing kick.
First-year midfielder Harry Schoenberg (21 disposals, three clearances) and Andrew McPherson (17 touches) also had bright spots for Adelaide.
GOALLESS QUARTERS
Carlton had another goalless quarter on Sunday, this time in the first term when it kicked 0.2.
It was the Blues’ 10th for the year and sixth in the last 16 quarters.
Carlton’s disposal efficiency inside 50 was again a problem, at just 45.5 per cent.
It took until the six-minute mark of the second term for the Blues to kick their breakthrough major, via Will Setterfield.
EX-FILES
Retiring Crow Gibbs was one of four players who had featured for both sides during their careers.
Fan favourite Eddie Betts lined up against Adelaide for the first time since returning to Carlton in the off-season, but he struggled to have an influence, finishing with 0.2 and nine touches.
Mitch McGovern (one goal, eight disposals) – a member of the Crows’ 2017 grand final side – was just as quiet, while 2008 Adelaide rookie Ed Curnow (16 possessions) was typically industrious.
Blues coach David Teague was previously an assistant at Adelaide too.
SCOREBOARD
Adelaide 5.3 8.5 8.8 10.12 (72)
CARLTON 0.2 1.3 4.5 8.8 (56)
GOALS
Crows: Sholl, Himmelberg 2; Smith, Frampton, McAdam, Lynch, B. Crouch, Jones.
Blues: McKay 4; Setterfield, Cripps, O’Brien, McGovern.
BEST
Crows: Sholl, Laird, Lynch, M. Crouch, O’Brien, Gibbs, McAdam, Schoenberg.
Blues: Walsh, Simpson, Weitering, Cripps, Setterfield, Newnes.
MATT TURNER’S VOTES
3 – Lachlan Sholl (Adelaide)
2 – Rory Laird (Adelaide)
1 – Sam Walsh (Carlton)
INJURIES
Crows: Nil
Blues: Docherty (calf)
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Eddie McGuire left surprised by Essendon coach John Worsfold’s bizarre post-match comments
AFL run home 2020: Where will your team finish on the ladder?
SCOREBOARD
Originally published as AFL Carlton v Adelaide: Blues blow chance to remain in finals contention as Crows’ hot streak continues