Pressure builds on Carlton coach Brendon Bolton after another horror loss

It was only a week ago the Giants produced their ‘worst ever performance’. But after a ruthless decimation of Carlton, the pressure is all elsewhere this week, as Brendon Bolton fights to save his job.

Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson did as they pleased against the Blues. Picture: Phil Hillyard

GWS responded to its ‘worst ever performance’ with a ruthless decimation of Carlton that has left Blues coach Brendon Bolton in a fight to save his career.

A week after posting just five goals in a humiliating loss to Hawthorn at the MCG, the Giants took just 18 minutes to put six through a crisis-stricken Carlton on their way to a brutal 93-point victory.

Find of the year Jeremy Finlayson booted five goals and Harry Himmelberg and Brett Deledio three apiece in a brutal 20-goal mauling that resembled a training run and made Carlton players look like 18 stranded witches hats at a cavernous Giants Stadium, which had only 9,599 watching on.

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GWS wasted no time getting its premiership campaign back on track following last week’s major hiccup, and not for the first time this year looked close to unstoppable with a full head of steam, racing out 138-45 victors.

Lachie Whitfield made a world of difference after missing the Hawks game, and had 40 disposals, but GWS will be on trial next week when they return to their hoodoo ground the MCG against Melbourne in a real acid test of their September credentials.

The Blues have looked to back their embattled coach through their horror 1-8 start to the season, but after four years in the job, questions must be asked about how many chastening losses it could take for Bolton to be facing the axe.

Brendon Bolton talks to his players during Sunday afternoon’s smashing. Picture: Getty Images

Supporter patience has expired and in year five of a rebuild, Carlton are anchored to the bottom of the ladder.

The Giants looked single-minded in their hunt for vengeance after being slayed by board member Jimmy Bartel during the week, but Carlton didn’t turn up for the fight and after 20 minutes had laid just one tackle and had only 12 inside 50s and two goals by halftime.

GWS appeared destined to eclipse its record winning margin of 108 and last year’s 105-point smashing of the Blues, but took their foot off the pedal in the second half, with 99 the biggest margin of the match.

Tim Taranto was also superb for the Giants with 38, while veteran Deledio was outstanding in his first match of football, at any level, following six weeks out with a calf injury.

Zac Williams (hamstring) didn’t finish the game for GWS.

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In one of the biggest wins in GWS history, it’s extraordinary that Coleman Medal leader Jeremy Cameron (four behinds) couldn’t buy a goal — particularly considering he collected 13 disposals in a mammoth second quarter.

Cameron’s much-hyped charge towards the 100-goals in a season milestone might have dried up following two goal-less weeks in a row, but it mattered little as Finlayson stepped up to collect the first five-goal haul of his career and enter the Coleman race himself (21 goals).

Jeremy Finlayson booted five goals against the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

CRIPP WALK

Brownlow Bounty Hunter Matt de Boer has claimed another major scalp for the year, after the Giants’ assassin tagged Carlton captain Patrick Cripps out of the game.

De Boer was one of only two GWS players board member Jimmy Bartel said could still hold his head high after last week’s humiliating loss to Hawthorn, and the 29-year-old has shown this season that he is the club’s new barometer performer.

Pundits have previously declared Cripps ‘untaggable’ but at halftime he had just six disposals, unable to breathe in de Boer’s shadow.

Just like Richmond star Dustin Martin’s meltdown earlier in the year in the face of de Boer’s pressure, Cripps also snapped — giving away a free-kick and subsequently a goal following a fiery jumper punch to Jeremy Finlayson.

Dejected Carlton players leave the ground after being smashed by GWS. Picture: Phil Hillyard

MUMMY WATCH

Shane Mumford could come under scrutiny by the match review committee over an incident which resulted in former Carlton skipper Marc Murphy being taken to hospital with a rib injury.

Murphy left Giants Stadium in an ambulance before half-time after copping the full force of Mumford’s knees during a heavy challenge during the first quarter.

Former Collingwood Premiership-winner and News Corp expert Mick McGuane said Mumford should have no case to answer, but given the extent of Murphy’s injury it’s likely the incident will at least be reviewed.

Originally published as Pressure builds on Carlton coach Brendon Bolton after another horror loss