That’s all for tonight’s live coverage. Thanks for joining us.
Carlton young gun Sam Walsh impresses in JLT Series win against Essendon
He entered the AFL with plenty of hype and after only one JLT game it is clear Sam Walsh can live up to it. But after losing to last year’s bottom side, what did we learn about the Bombers? SAM EDMUND recaps the JLT opener.
Are these the green shoots?
Carlton fans have had to be patient, but the reality is no one is patient enough, anyway.
It would obviously be a complete fallacy to declare this a ‘turning the corner’ game for Brendon Bolton and co. That’s down the road, if at all.
And also because Carlton just about blew a 34-point lead at the 26-minute mark of the third quarter against a fast-finishing Essendon, hanging on for a 100-91 win in an entertaining JLT clash.
WATCH OUT: SUPERCOACH GUNS TO WATCH IN JLT SERIES
CRYSTAL BALL: WHAT THE EXPERTS THINK FOR 2019
FORMER COACH: WHY WALSH MAY BE 'DESTINED FOR GREATNESS'
Yes, the Blues kicked 100 points.
Which is why, almost regardless of the final score, Blues fans would have left Ikon Park with a feeling they haven’t had for a while - a sense of anticipation.
Both sides missed regulars, while Essendon was the more experimental of the two.
Ultimately, Carlton will be enthused and Essendon would have learned a bit.
BLUES’ NEXT GEN
Michael Gibbons started forward and kicked the Blues’ first two goals and had a third one minute into the third term. This is the fittest we’ve ever seen Sam Petrevski-Seton, who glided to all corners of Ikon Park and was clean and assured.
Paddy Cripps was Paddy Cripps, hunting his way to 33 touches, Paddy Dow did some nice things, Will Setterfield made a difference, Zac Fisher’s dash made a welcome return and David Cunningham kicked three majors.
Then there’s Sam Walsh, who was in the conversation for best on ground at the final siren with 28 touches and more than 500 metres gained.
He has the unteachable - the ability to find time and space, seemingly with minimal effort and a poise beyond his years.
“They knew internally what they had, but when you see him play at this level you just go ‘wow, we’ve got one here’,” Terry Wallace said on SEN.
“There’s very few first-year players and Joel Selwood comes to mind, who can do what Walsh is doing in this game.”
BABY BOMBERS
For all the fanfare about the Essendon midfield, Dyson Heppell started on a wing, so did Zach Merrett and prized recruit Dylan Shiel lined up at half forward.
It must be February.
Instead, the Bombers showed off their own youthful midfield. Andrew McGrath, Darcy Parish and Kyle Langford assumed engine room responsibilities.
McGrath was his side’s best player, but the Dons’ second-tier midfield were beaten around the ball more often than not.
Heppell, Merrett and Shiel came into the game in the second quarter before the former two were withdrawn at half-time and the latter in the second half with what appeared a corked knee.
JACOB WEITERING
Bigger, fitter, injury-free and perhaps most importantly, confident.
Carlton’s 2015 No.1 draft pick again looked composed in the air and flew to cut off opposition entries in the same way that turned heads in his debut season.
He looks that player again.
THE WOOSHA SLING
Consider this John Worsfold’s one wood.
If this game is any indication, the Bombers will be a devastating counter-attacking outfit this season.
JLT teething problems aside, the Dons were ballistic at times coming out of defence.
When they won it deep, the fireworks started. Adam Saad, Conor McKenna, Dylan Shiel and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti all took turns flicking the switch.
The over-the-back goal will be a regular sight at Essendon games this year.
HELLO NEWMAN
Sam Docherty’s shocking ACL tear repeat may have just been softened.
Docherty’s replacement Nic Newman was impressive. The former Swan was resolute in-close, offered rebound and used the ball with purpose.
OUT YOU GET
The new 6-6-6 rule is going to catch a few out.
Paddy Dow made history when he became the first player caught in a competitive game being somewhere he shouldn’t at a centre bounce.
In the second quarter, Dow had drifted inside 50m to give Carlton seven inside the attacking arc, when the whistle blew.
The Blues weren’t punished, with rules stating every team will get a warning before being penalised for a “delay of game” free kick.
Carlton 5.4 7.6 12.10 15.10 (100)
Essendon 4.1 4.5 8.6 14.7 (91)
BEST
Carlton: Cripps, Walsh, Fisher, Newman, Petrevski-Seton, Weitering, Thomas, Setterfield.
Essendon: McGrath, Saad, McKenna, Hurley, Brown
RECAP ALL THE ACTION IN OUR BLOG BELOW.
Updates
SAM EDMUND
Are these the green shoots?
Carlton fans have had to be patient, but the reality is no one is patient enough, anyway.
It would obviously be a complete fallacy to declare this a ‘turning the corner’ game for Brendon Bolton and co. That’s down the road, if at all.
And also because Carlton just about blew a 34-point lead at the 26-minute mark of the third quarter against a fast-finishing Essendon, hanging on for a 100-91 win in an entertaining JLT clash.
Yes, the Blues kicked 100 points.
Which is why, almost regardless of the final score, Blues fans would have left Ikon Park with a feeling they haven’t had for a while – a sense of anticipation.
Both sides missed regulars, while Essendon was the more experimental of the two.
Ultimately, Carlton will be enthused and Essendon would have learned a bit.
Blues to be enthused by JLT signs
SAM EDMUND
Are these the green shoots?
Carlton fans have had to be patient, but the reality is no one is patient enough, anyway.
It would obviously be a complete fallacy to declare this a ‘turning the corner’ game for Brendon Bolton and co. That’s down the road, if at all.
And also because Carlton just about blew a 34-point lead at the 26-minute mark of the third quarter against a fast-finishing Essendon, hanging on for a 100-91 win in an entertaining JLT clash.
Yes, the Blues kicked 100 points.
Which is why, almost regardless of the final score, Blues fans would have left Ikon Park with a feeling they haven’t had for a while – a sense of anticipation.
Both sides missed regulars, while Essendon was the more experimental of the two.
Ultimately, Carlton will be enthused and Essendon would have learned a bit.
FT: Carlton 100 def Essendon 91
CARLTON 100 v ESSENDON 85
The Blues have steadied with a couple of goals and have now reached the 100 point barrier.
In the home and away season, they haven’t done that since Brendon Bolton’s first year in charge.
This will be his fourth.
Breaking news: Carlton have kicked 100 points. #JLTSeries #JLTBluesDons
— Sam Edmund (@SammyHeraldSun) February 28, 2019
CARLTON 88 v ESSENDON 85
Where has this come from? After looking dead and buried, the Bombers are now just three points down.
This has been some fightback – even if it is the pre-season.
Mitch Brown has been the man up forward, booting two goals.
Meanwhile, Andrew McGrath is in the thick of the action up the ground.
The man sparking the surge ⚡️#JLTSeries pic.twitter.com/xP8btf7FTm
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) February 28, 2019
CARLTON 88 v ESSENDON 72
Big name Essendon recruit Dylan Shiel looks to be done for the night after copping a knock to his left knee.
Shiel limped from the ground and is now sitting on the bench with ice on his knee.
Bombers back in it with run of goals
CARLTON 88 v ESSENDON 85
Where has this come from? After looking dead and buried, the Bombers are now just three points down.
This has been some fightback – even if it is the pre-season.
Mitch Brown has been the man up forward, booting two goals.
Meanwhile, Andrew McGrath is in the thick of the action up the ground.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe man sparking the surge ⚡️#JLTSeries pic.twitter.com/xP8btf7FTm
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) February 28, 2019
Injury watch: Dylan Shiel
CARLTON 88 v ESSENDON 72
Big name Essendon recruit Dylan Shiel looks to be done for the night after copping a knock to his left knee.
Shiel limped from the ground and is now sitting on the bench with ice on his knee.
It’s only taken three quarters of the first JLT clash of the year for bookmakers to crunch Sam Walsh’s price for the Rising Star.
Walsh opened the award as the $7 favourite with TAB.
However, that price didn’t even last until Round 1.
On the back of 24 touches in three quarters, the punters and bookies have spoken, with Walsh moved to $3.50.
The next best in betting is Walsh’s Carlton teammate Will Setterfield, who is $8.
Join the conversation
The players that made Robbo want to do a top 57
The hardest spot to pick in the top 50 isn’t No.1. It’s actually No.50. Robbo names the players he wanted to fit into his annual list – but couldn’t.
Read more
Full rankings: AFL Draft’s top 60 prospects rated and scouted
The 2024 AFL Draft is just over a month away, and to get you ready for the arrival of footy’s next generation, our draft experts CHRIS CAVANAGH and DAN BATTEN rank every prospect.
Read more