Carlton v West Coast: Blues miss chance at big scalp for interim coach David Teague

David Teague needs to knock off one of the AFL’s big fish to close his fist on the top job at Carlton, but, despite a loss to reigning premier West Coast, the players showed they were committed to the caretaker’s plan.

Carlton’s Patrick Cripps runs away from Andrew Gaff. Picture: Michael Klein

It’s the biggest week of David Teague’s football life.

While Alastair Clarkson could write his own cheque if he was interested, Teague could potentially seal his application for Carlton’s top job with one more win against one of the flag heavyweights in the run home.

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The Blues were encouraging again as the more experienced West Coast put another down payment on a top-two spot and home first final.

The Eagles have greater depth this year and loom as an even more formidable side as they gun for back-to-back premierships.

Carlton again played with an attacking flair and instinct unseen in Brendon Bolton’s tenure, exciting fans about what may lie ahead next season despite the 24-point loss to the reigning premier.

No loss could be considered a tick, but Carlton’s effort and system again was decent enough as Nic Newman slotted four goals.

Carlton’s Patrick Cripps runs away from Andrew Gaff. Picture: Michael Klein

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But the big decision weighing on Chris Judd as he sat in stands was whether Teague is a better option than say, Michael Voss, and the players again showed they were fully engaged, fully committed to Teague’s plan at Marvel Stadium.

Could Judd and Co. resist him if the Blues upset flag favourite Richmond on Sunday, or even top-placed Geelong in Round 23? One more big scalp could be definitive.

Carlton fell short in the aerial battle against West Coast, but they beat the Eagles for contested possession and had only two less inside 50s.

The difference was the Eagles’ marking power, and their polish inside 50m as Elliot Yeo and Luke Shuey tag teamed Patrick Cripps.

RULING THE SKIES

He’s on the podium as one of the league’s most exciting players.

And Liam Ryan might have claimed the mark of the year with a crazy-brave effort reminiscent of St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt.

Ryan was running back with the flight directly into the path of three oncoming players when he blindly launched at the high ball in the second term.

With little regard for his own safety, the high-flying Grand Final hero reeled the ball in to his chest and crashed hard to the turf, narrowly avoiding full-on contact with Carlton defenders Jacob Weitering and Lachie Plowman.

AFL legend Wayne Carey dubbed it the mark of the year.

And there was a broader warning for their rivals as West Coast ruled the skies once again against Carlton.

Liam Ryan flies for a courageous mark. Picture: AAP

For all the buzz about winning ground balls in 2019, the Eagles’ heavyweight opponents’ biggest challenge this year will be how to beat them down the spine, as Collingwood struggled to do last year.

And in a fortnight the big test will come against Richmond pair Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt at the MCG.

While Ryan’s courageous screamer was one unforgettable example, McGovern was absolutely dominant sweeping across half back in the first half, forcing Carlton to move Jack Silvagni on to him as a defensive forward.

By halftime West Coast controlled the airwaves with 10 contested marks to Carlton’s one as the Eagles took control leading by 20 points.

And that was despite a relatively quiet first half from Josh Kennedy after seven goals last week.

Instead, Ryan snagged four majors and Willie Rioli fired off one of the handballs of the season with an inboard flick to set up Shuey into an open goal.

Sam Walsh breaks the tackle of Jarrod Cameron before kicking a goal. Picture: Michael Klein

WICKED WALSH

He’s been provocatively dubbed more of an accumulator, than a matchwinner.

But Sam Walsh showed he has a decent trick bag, too.

In arguably his most dazzling passage of play of the season, Walsh baulked out Jarrod Cameron selling some candy to his left as he ran away from goal 50m out.

Then, showing lightning feet, Walsh turned brilliantly back towards goal and let fly with a long bomb from 49m.

Mobbed by teammates, the clutch goal put an exclamation point on his Rising Star claims, brought Blues’ fans to their feet and put Carlton eight points up at the first change.

Walsh showed more incredible consistency racking up 18 possessions in an excellent first half, but this goal will be on the highlight reel when he takes out the AFL’s best young player award.

SCOREBOARD

CARLTON 4.1 6.3 8.6 11.9 (75)

WEST COAST 2.5 9.5 14.7 15.9 (99)

GOALS

Blues: Newman 4, Gibbons 3, Murphy, Walsh, McKay, Lang

Eagles: Ryan 4, Darling 2, Shuey 2, Waterman 2, Rioli, Cameron, Allen, Petruccelle, Kennedy

JAY CLARK’S BEST

Blues: Walsh, Newman, Murphy, Cripps, Weitering, Gibbons

Eagles: Yeo, Ryan, McGovern, Gaff, Shuey, Hickey, Sheppard

JAY CLARK’S VOTES

3 — Elliot Yeo (WC)

2 — Liam Ryan (WC)

1 — Jeremy McGovern (WC)

INJURIES

Blues: Thomas (illness) replaced in selected side by Schumacher

Eagles: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Hay, Dore

Official crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium

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