AFL round two, Western Bulldogs v Carlton: All the latest news, action and fallout
While Bulldogs players performed a quick warm-up drill before the third term, Hayden Crozier hit the floor having fainted. Here’s what happened.
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Hayden Crozier is still a chance to make a surprise return against Sydney next Thursday despite a bizarre fainting episode during the Western Bulldogs’ loss to Carlton.
Defender Crozier fainted while during a warm-up handball drill in the Bulldogs rooms at half time on Thursday night.
It is understood that he was feeling sick in the stomach and light-headed while coach Luke Beveridge was giving his half-time instructional speech.
Then while the players were performing a quick warm-up drill before the third term he hit the floor after fainting.
While Bulldogs doctors ran a series of tests including an ECG to test his heart function and rhythm he had no ongoing symptoms or underlying conditions.
The Dogs did not require him to go to hospital for further monitoring.
And while they will assess his condition over coming days there is every chance it was just a one-off episode from a tired player.
Coach Luke Beveridge said of the episode: “He just fainted”.
“We were all concerned about him. Our medical staff think he’s OK. Not sure about the reasons why, but he just got light-headed and fainted.
“Obviously, straightaway, you make sure that he’s looked after and I think he’s in good hands. But that’s all I’ve got for you at the moment.”
Scary images of Crozier appearing to be given oxygen by paramedics inside the rooms at Marvel Stadium were shown on the TV broadcast.
Crozier was substituted out of the match, replaced by Bailey Williams.
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The incident brought back scary memories of former Port Adelaide player Nathan Eagleton and ex-St Kilda defender Dylan Roberton, who both collapsed while out on the field in 1999 and 2018 respectively.
Crozier appeared to be given oxygen by paramedics but, in a positive, the Bulldogs’ medical staff think he is OK and he will be monitored overnight.
The Dogs will monitor Aaron Naughton’s corked calf to ensure it does not bleed further after he returned from the field after a collision with Sam Docherty.
“I thought he might’ve been out for the game but it was one of those corks that you get when you haven’t got the muscle flexed so it gets in really deep,” Beveridge said.
“He was able to run and we’ve just got to make sure it doesn’t bleed too much and hopefully he’ll be right next week.”
Beveridge is also hopeful star midfielder Bailey Smith will be available to face the Swans after he sat out Thursday night’s game with a hip flexor issue sustained at training.
“He just pulled up a little bit marginal after our main session late,” Beveridge said.
“He was just tight in the hip flexor and our staff thought it was best that he miss (the Carlton game), including him so hopefully he comes up.”
Smith’s absence was felt in the middle of the ground as the Bulldogs got obliterated in the contested possessions for the second week in a row by the Blues. Eight days after finishing 20 down in that category against Melbourne, the Dogs plummeted to new depths against Carlton, losing the stat by a whopping 36.
“It’s always a concern when you get beaten in that area,” Beveridge said.
“We’ve got to get better at that, inside and out. It’s two weeks in a row where we’ve been done. We’ve played two really good sides who we’ve lowered our colors to, but we’re going to come.”.
The Bulldogs’ spirited fightback fell short against Carlton.
The Navy Blues led at every change, leaping out to a five-goal lead at halftime, then held on as the Dogs kicked 2.7 in the final term, getting home by 12 points, 16.6 (102) to 13.12 (90).
Baggers make it two-from-two as Cripps, Curnow dominate
—Ronny Lerner
No Voss. No worries.
Carlton have continued their promising start to the season with a 12-point win over grand finalist the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
New coach Michael Voss was unable to lead his side into battle after entering Covid protocols, along with new recruit Adam Cerra and forward Jack Martin, but assistant Ash Hansen did the job in Voss’ stead, guiding the Blues to the 16.6 (102) to 13.12 (90) victory.
But with Patrick Cripps in the form he’s currently in, the coach of the Washington Generals would probably be able to oversee a Carlton win at the moment.
The Blues captain has burst of the blocks in the race for the Brownlow, producing another performance that will almost certainly net him three votes, finishing with 35 disposals, 23 contested possessions, 11 clearances (six centre), 12 score involvements and two goals to be the architect of the upset win.
Sam Walsh (34 touches) made a stunning return from a syndesmosis injury while Charlie Curnow (five) and Harry McKay (four) manifested the Carlton faithful’s dreams from the last three years into reality, combining for nine goals.
It was Curnow’s best game since his career-best performance in 2019, which coincidentally was also against the Bulldogs. He kicked seven goals on that occasion and announced himself as a future star of the competition. Sadly, that would be his second-last game before a two-year injury-enforced lay-off. But almost three years later, Curnow is out of hibernation and looks set to take the competition by storm again.
George Hewett (32 touches) did a brilliant tagging job on Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (19) and Jacob Weitering kept Aaron Naughton to one goal.
On the back of a dominant first half, Carlton finished convincing winners of disposals (430-359), contested possessions (157-121), marks (103-87) and clearances (39-30).
Cripps, McKay, Walsh and Matthew Kennedy quickly stamped their authority on the contest as the Blues piled on seven of the first nine majors in the second quarter, including the first four in five minutes, to lead by 37 just before halftime.
Carlton’s exquisite ball use, far superior work rate and enormous pressure, which helped them kill the Dogs on turnover, all equated to a dominant first half.
Just as the game looked done and dusted heading into the second half, the Bulldogs turned the tables, sharply increasing their forward efficiency on the back of their running game to get within 12 points in time on of the third term.
The Dogs and Blues proceeded to go goal for goal from there but every time the Dogs got within a couple of goals, Curnow got in the way, kicking Carlton’s three last goals to keep the Bulldogs at bay.
The Bulldogs finished the game strongly, peppering the goal face in the final quarter on the back of repeat forward entries, but they kicked two goals and seven behinds, including five missed set shots from Aaron Naughton (two), Josh Dunkley (two) and Adam Treloar to kick themselves out of the game.
Treloar was the Bulldogs’ best with 31 touches and a goal while Jack Macrae (34) got plenty of the ball as well.
Blues like playing Bulldogs
The Blues now have a very good recent record against the Dogs, winning three of their last five encounters and in four of those meetings they’ve cracked 100 points – something they’ve only done eight times in five seasons. It’s the first time in 10 years that Carlton have started a year 2-0.
Daniel ominous portent for Dogs
An early sign that things weren’t quite right for the Bulldogs came in the form of Caleb Daniel, one of the best kicks in the AFL, twice kicking the ball out of bounds on the full under no pressure whatsoever inside the first 14 minutes.
Hannan flies high
Late in second quarter, Mitch Hannan took a huge, juggling ‘speccy’ over Mitch McGovern before converting the shot from 35m out in front to get his Dogs within 31 points in the shadows of halftime.
Curnow makes Hannan pay
After taking a courageous mark against Weitering at the 21-minute mark of the third quarter, Hannan had the chance to get his Bulldogs within seven points of the Blues. But his snap set shot from the pocket hit the post, and a minute later Curnow made him pay, gathering the loose ball 40m out from goal and snapping magnificently from traffic to put his side up by 18 points.
SCOREBOARD
BULLDOGS 4.1, 7.3, 11.5, 13.12 (90)
def by
CARLTON 5.2, 12.4, 14.5, 16.6 (102)
GOALS
Bulldogs: Liberatore 2, Scott 2, Hannan 2, English, Ugle-Hagan, Treloar, Naughton, Dale, Weightman, Bontempelli
Blues: C.Curnow 5, McKay 4, Cripps 2, Silvagni 2, Kennedy, Owies, Fisher.
LERNER’S BEST
Bulldogs: Treloar, Macrae, Liberatore, English, Dale
Blues: Cripps, C.Curnow, Walsh, McKay, Hewett, Weitering, Kennedy.
RONNY LERNER’S VOTES
3 — P.Cripps (Carl)
2 — C.Curnow (Carl)
1 — S.Walsh (Carl)
INJURIES
Bulldogs: Crozier (illness)
Blues: McDonald (back)
Umpires: Rosebury, Williamson, Gavine
Venue: Marvel Stadium
How Blue Baggers celebrated with Covid-isolated Voss
Carlton players FaceTimed Covid-stricken coach Michael Voss from the Marvel Stadium rooms on Thursday night after burying a decade of disappointment with a perfect start to 2022.
The Blues – who had slumped to 0-2 in each of the past nine seasons – rode comeback kids Charlie Curnow and Sam Walsh’s mesmerising performances to a shock win against Grand Finalist Western Bulldogs.
Voss gave two thumbs-up to his players from his living room couch after having an “ear” to stand-in coach Ash Hansen’s box and providing feedback after the breaks.
Curnow endured two years of agony as he injured his knee playing basketball and slipping on tiles as fears grew the mercurial talent may never shake his curse.
Curnow missed the final seven weeks of 2019, did not play in 2020 and managed just four games last season.
But the key forward bagged 5.0 – including a goal in each quarter – to steer the Blues home, with his last-quarter set-shot from the fence a moment to saviour.
“I had really good family support, my partner stuck by me the whole time,” Curnow said.
“All that stuff helps and gets you in every day to your rehab.”
Curnow’s fifth goal immediately answered Mitch Hannan’s goal of the year contender while Walsh and captain Patrick Cripps combined for 69 disposals that set up a lead that ballooned to 37 points close to halftime.
Cripps said Walsh was “Superman” after the ultimate professional returned from surgery in less than 40 days.
“He had surgery a month ago, he’s a pro. We always joke he heals that quick, but it’s because he’s a pro,” Cripps said.
“He gives that real drive with the ball. We had players out with Covid tonight.
“It was next man up. Even the coaches, Ash (Hansen) stood in for Vossy, Dan O’Keefe stood in for Tim Clarke, our midfield coach.
“We got some guys that love putting their head over the ball. George Hewett, Matty Kennedy, to name a few. But it’s a good little mix in there and got to keep it going now.”
Champion Data’s expected scores had the Dogs winning and they would’ve gone home kicking themselves after Aaron Naughton, Adam Treloar and Josh Dunkley all missed set-shots in the final quarter to sabotage their comeback hopes.
Oscar McDonald (back spasm) was substituted out while scary images emerged of Bulldog Hayden Crozier appearing to receive oxygen from the rooms during the third quarter.
The Dogs said Crozier felt light-headed at halftime and ran precautionary tests before ruling him out, but that he was tracking OK after the match.
Hansen said it was a “mini-milestone” to win back-to-back matches.
The Blues expect Adam Cerra and Jack Martin (Covid) to return against Hawthorn next week and moved most of their meetings outside in recent days to help contain their virus outbreak.
Masks also became mandatory outside of exercising.
“There was a lot of relief when the text message came through that we were all clear (on Thursday),” Hansen said after sweating that he might lose more players ahead of last night’s match.
Dogs set to lock away star on monster deal
—Jon Ralph
Western Bulldogs defender Caleb Daniel is on the verge of a bumper free agency deal with the club confident it has cap space to retain its array of out-of-contract stars.
News Corp understands 25-year-old Daniel is extremely close to signing a new long-term deal likely to be at least five seasons, making him a Dog for life.
The Bulldogs this week signed All Australian midfielder Jackson Macrae on a new five-year deal but he is only the first of a long list of priority signings.
Wingman Bailey Smith, rebounding defender Bailey Dale, ruck-forward Tim English, prolific midfielder Josh Dunkley and defender Alex Keath are all out of contract.
Talks are ongoing with all of their management companies but English and Dale, in particular, are holding off talks for some time as they maximise their worth.
The brilliant, helmeted rebounding-defender stands at only 168cm but has built an impressive resume, including the 2016 premiership and All Australian honours and the Charles Sutton Medal in 2020.
The No. 46 selection in the 2014 national draft will join Macrae in passing up his free agency rights to gain security on a contract that takes him past 30 with the club.
Former Adelaide defender Alex Keath has a games-based trigger in his contract that will see him locked in until the end of 2023.
He has played 18 and 23 games in his first two seasons at the club and will be joined by ex-Hawks forward Tim O’Brien in coming weeks as the club adds an intercepting defender to replace former captain Easton Wood.
The Dogs’ feedback from player managers is that their clients are keen to remain with the club under Luke Beveridge.
Beveridge’s outburst last week saw calls for more support for the senior coach, given it was a pattern of behaviour, but the club is adamant its support structures are sufficient.
Both football boss Chris Grant and chief executive Ameet Bains had spoken to Beveridge in the lead-in to the press conference about the way in which he would deal with the story of Lachie Hunter’s demotion.
In consultation with that pair and communications boss Adrian Ceddia, Beveridge had agreed he would park his emotions and move on.
Instead, he went out a long rant and attempted to throw reporter Tom Morris out of the press conference.
The Dogs believe the outburst and subsequent discussions over his behaviour will be a circuit-breaker for Beveridge, who has owned his part in the episode.
He told his weekly press conference he had never felt more energised, with the club believing its support levels for the head coach do not need to be boosted.
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