Carlton starts David Teague’s tenure with victory over St Kilda

Carlton fans have boarded the Teague Train, which has left the station and is charging towards 2020 as the Blues continued their resurgence with a come-from-behind win over St Kilda.

Blues coach David Teague with Matthew Kennedy at the MCG. Picture: AAP

The spark is back and the faithful are no longer restless — they’re ready to rumble.

They’re all aboard the Teague Train and it’s running express to 2020, and if the new Carlton is anything to go by, you’d better buy your ticket early.

It was — until Thursday, at least — billed as the Caretaker Cup until Carlton locked in their man and the new-look locomotive pulled into Jolimont for its first permanent timetable.

And even without a few key passengers, the Blues rallied on a huge day for a club that is stepping

There was no co-captain Sam Docherty, and no Charlie Curnow.

There was no Liam Jones, no Jacob Weitering and no Caleb Marchbank, either.

Mitch McGovern celebrates a goal. Picture: Michael Klein

And still, these Blues had shades of an ability to blister with pace and punish — and when Harry McKay booted the sealer with four minutes remaining, Teague gave a smirk and the crowd had shades of the heady mid-90s.

“It’s a juggernaut waiting to happen,” Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said on 3AW.

“Like Richmond … they’ll come from everywhere to watch this team.”

Teague admitted afterwards that there is an element of the “sleeping giant”.

“It was probably a bit before my time,” Teague said.

“It is definitely a sleeping giant as far as I’m concerned. Our supporters and the numbers … and the way our guys are playing. They’re playing exciting football, they’re playing a brand that I think our fans will want to come and watch.

“They’ve been outstanding and they’re quite vocal, which I love.”

Mitch McGovern caught most eyes at the MCG, clearly sharpened after a lack of fitness cost him his spot mid-season.

Patrick Cripps was his typical bull-like self in the victory, while former skipper Marc Murphy turned back the clock.

Patrick Cripps is tackled by Jack Steele. Picture: Getty Images

Teague revealed Cripps almost missed his 100th game after brushing off an ear infection.

Cripps was so unwell on Saturday morning that Teague was told “he may not play”, but he passed a fitness test to deliver an “unselfish” performance in his milestone match.

“I got a call (on Saturday) morning saying he may not play, but he got here – I think he had all his family over from WA and he couldn’t afford to fly them back over next week,” Teague joked.

“He soldiered on – he was pretty strong in there and he did a fair bit of unselfish stuff for us.

“We knew (the Saints) were going to double-team him – we tried to position him in a position to help the team, not so much his stats sheet.

“He’s a warrior and he found a way.”

Cripps still gathered 22 disposals and five clearances and laid six tackles.

AS RELIABLE AS YOUR FAVOURITE JEANS

Levi Casboult has been a new man under new coach David Teague.

And he again showed exactly why on Saturday afternoon.

With defender Jacob Weitering a late out due to a groin issue, Casboult was swung into defence and took Josh Bruce after his late-game heroics last week.

He took a career-high intercept marks and was rock solid, while fellow defender Kade Simpson showed he’s still got it — and why another year is on the table — in turning a handful of Saints inside out.

Harry McKay takes a huge grab in the last quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

IS IT TOO LATE, DAISY?

Simpson wasn’t the only veteran.

Dale Thomas was simply huge. Just 24 hours after announcing he hadn’t closed the door on another season of AFL, his phone could well be ringing.

“Bring him back!,” one of the Blues faithful demanded.

And why not?

He finished the day with — and a little touch of his typical rascal, too. When he sold some candy in front of the members in the dying minutes, they bowed down and chanted his name in recognition.

One more year at the likes of Gold Coast? They could do worse.

SPRING IN THE AIR … AND McGOVERN’S STEP

Finals ramifications this game had not, but Melbourne was absolutely buzzing as 51,786 made their way to the MCG in simply glorious conditions.

Most eyes were on Brisbane but at the MCG in Queensland-like conditions — albeit for the temperature — there were shades of September as the sunglasses and caps were dusted off.

The sun caught out the likes of Nic Newman and Josh Bruce — both of whom were temporarily blinded at the Punt Road end in the first half — but McGovern made the most of the spring-like air to launch a spring of his own with a late mark of the year contender that could well see him rewarded.

He was brilliant with three goals including one off a big run.

Dale Thomas savours Carlton’s win with daughter Matilda after announcing his retirement during the week. Picture: AAP

GIVING A RATTS

A decade ago to the day, Brett Ratten was the senior coach of Carlton.

On Saturday, it was the latest in his audition series for the senior job at the Saints.

It wasn’t ideal, but it shouldn’t cost him.

While the Saints were sloppy at times and obviously lost control in the second term to give up a 24-point advantage and allow the Blues back into the game — something that needs to tighten if they want to take the next step — Ratten was right in what he said pre-game.

Winning games isn’t enough to get you the gig, and he’ll soon present again as he stakes his claim for the top job.

But there was fight and some serious rally against a team that was always going to bring plenty of heat, and with a bit of tidying up, things will continue to look positive for the Saints.

Saints caretaker coach Brett Ratten was unable to get a win over his former club. Picture: AAP

Ratten is confident that the loss won’t hamper his shot at the top job.

“I don’t think so,” he said.

“We lost a game of footy today. You don’t go through and just win every game of footy. There was aspects that we should have done better as a group, and we’re going to address that, but I don’t think it’s going to hinder my chances.

“We did things in the game that were really, really good … but the way we finished off and the things we were trying to do from half-time onwards, we didn’t get right,” he said.

“When you’re trying to defend and teams are going at 41 per cent from end to end, it’s not good numbers.

“That was a structural issue that we couldn’t fix.

“Sometimes it all works for you and sometimes it doesn’t. We just squandered numerous opportunities.”

SCOREBOARD

CARLTON 2.4 5.5 8.11 11.12 (78)

ST KILDA 3.3 7.4 8.8 10.8 (68)

GOALS

Carlton: McGovern 3, Kennedy, Silvagni, Lang, Curnow, Murphy, Dow, Deluca, McKay

St Kilda: Membrey 3, Hind 2, Billings, Hannebery, Long, Newnes, Carlisle

BEST

Carlton: McGovern, Murphy, Casboult, Curnow, Cripps, Kreuzer, Thomas

St Kilda: Ross, Hannebery, Billings, Steele, Marshall

INJURIES

Carlton: Weitering (groin) replaced in selected side by Lang

St Kilda: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: O’Gorman, Harris, Wallace

Official crowd: 51,786 at the MCG

LAUREN WOOD’S VOTES

3 — Mitch McGovern

2 — Marc Murphy

1 — Levi Casboult