How Brendon Bolton and the ‘Carlton sponge’ dismantled Greater Western Sydney

ON paper, this looked like it could be a thrashing. But under Brendon Bolton, Carlton has a system that can dismantle any team and it toppled the Giants in one of the upsets of the season.

Brendon Bolton produced a brilliant coaching performance against GWS. Picture: Michael Klein

LET’S call it the Carlton sponge.

It might not sound as sexy as the ‘West Coast web’ or Melbourne’s ‘blitz’.

But the tactical system that is at the heart the navy blue rebuild and one of the best Carlton wins in years against Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Sunday is looking like something of a masterstroke from Brendon Bolton.

On paper, you thought this could be a thrashing before the game.

But instead it was one of the coaching performances of the year from Bolton as Carlton absorbed the Giants’ repeated forward 50m entries and did not surrender in the thrilling final stages of this memorable one-point win.

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You had to give credit to ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, too. In his 150th game, the big man was enormous around the ground against Shane Mumford and orchestrated a crucial last term goal with a 30m soccer-style kick off the ground which hit reinvigorated veteran Dale Thomas inside 50m.

Brendon Bolton produced a brilliant coaching performance against GWS. Picture: Getty Images

And for all the talk about Carlton’s recruiting in preseason, the moves to reinforce the half back line with intercepting defenders Caleb Marchbank and Lachie Plowman has helped set the foundations to rise up the ladder.

GWS midfielder Toby Greene had a chance to pinch the victory when he missed from 20m out on the run with minutes remaining. When the siren sounded a shattered Greene screamed and thumped the turf. He finished with five behinds for the game.

But the big takeaway from this win was the success of the sponge, otherwise known as the defensive zone set up which held its shape and its nerve and soaked up the Giants’ run and possession under immense pressure.

This will be huge for their self-belief, the Blues. The method works. It was the third time this season Carlton has kept an opponent to 12 goals or less.

At one stage in the last term, GWS was winning the clearances 40-14. They dominated the centre square at ground level and maintained a constant supply to attack, but failed to get value on the scoreboard. With 15 extra inside 50s, they should have won.

You could tell they were frustrated, the Giants, and the performance is more proof the AFL franchise team is far from invincible despite all their brilliant talent and running power.

But with Liam Jones reincarnated as an all-conquering full back, Jacob Weitering back into a key defensive spot and Sam Docherty steaming towards his first All-Australian guernsey, once again the Blues were able to slow and control this game with extra numbers across half back.

It was an extremely disciplined effort in the back half of the ground.

Bryce Gibbs celebrates a goal for Carlton on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

The critics might say dropping extra players loose behind the ball is not particularly exciting football and maybe AFL chief executive Gil McLachlan will raise the issue when the coaches gather at his place for their customary midseason dinner and bottle of red wine.

But tell that to the Carlton fans who were on their feet up by four points at the last change and in sight of their best win under Bolton since the tumultuous end to the Michael Malthouse era two years ago. Carlton has clear plan, now and Bolton will say they can beat anyone now at Etihad, if they can topple the Giants.

Carlton could have sprinted away in the third term but Levi Casboult, Charlie Curnow and reborn ruckman Kreuzer all missed gettable set shots that could have almost put this one out of reach before the last change. Carlton must be so happy Kreuzer decided to stay at Carlton despite an opportunity to join Collingwood.

Adam Tomlinson goes toe to toe with Charlie Curnow on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

He provided a strong contest in the ruck but showed his huge heart and work ethic around the ground with eight tackles, six marks and 12 contested possessions. He’s all-in, Kreuzer.

Casboult had another crack on goal with a few minutes remaining but Bolton couldn’t watch the 40m set shot which drifted wide of the goal post and levelled scores. Zac Fisher also sprayed his attempt which would have sealed it with a close-in snap.

Originally published as How Brendon Bolton and the ‘Carlton sponge’ dismantled Greater Western Sydney