Insipid Carlton watch finals chances slip away at SCG in loss to Sydney
The knives have come out for Carlton after a shambolic performance on Friday night that all but ends their finals hopes.
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Carlton have had pain piled on pain after another insipid performance against Sydney at the SCG for the annual Marn Grook fixture.
The contest shaped as one of the biggest of the season to date, with significant finals implications for the winner, while the loser would likely be relegated to bottom-eight purgatory for the remainder of the year.
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Going down 11.11 (77) to 6.15 (51), the loss marked one of the most dire performances for the Blues this season, seeing them criticised from all sides.
AFL great Jason Dunstall criticised Carlton woeful kicking in front of goal with their 15 behind display, giving them a mark of 41 behinds in their last three matches, asking “what is the work they are actually doing?” on Fox Footy.
Former Hawk Ben Dixon said: “You’ve got to finish the job, that’s why you get paid $800,000 a year, to finish the job, it’s your craft.”
Social media lit up after the latest loss and supporters were furious at the display produced against an injury-ravaged Sydney outfit.
Former Coleman Medallist Harry McKay bore the brunt of the criticism, spraying the ball in all directions to kick no goals, three behinds.
SEN’s Nic Negropontis said: “If Carlton had a viable next option on their list, Harry McKay would probably get omitted this week.”
Football social media personality Lenny Phillips joked at one point: “Harry McKay (is) about to confront his greatest fear: a set shot 30m out in front.”
Another social media user simply raged: “Harry McKay can’t kick a drop punt and should be in the VFL.”
Journalist Leo Puglisi said it looked like “that’s Carlton’s season over for 2023”, while News Corp’s Tim Michell simply said “Yuck.”
One social media user even suggested that Harry McKay’s form in front of goal was “nearing Ben Simmons territory”, suggesting you would rather concede kicks in front of goal to McKay and let him miss, rather than bother contesting the ball and potentially letting the ball go to a more competent scorer.
“Can’t wait for the first team who decides that Hack-a-Harry is a legitimate tactic,” referring to the tactic used on similarly inept free throw shooter Shaquille O’Neal in the NBA.
“Jeez, Harry McKay looks cooked at the moment,” said another social media user.
“It has gone beyond his goalkicking now. Lost his marking. Lost his fierce attack on the ball. Lost his want to even have the pill.”
“Carlton are a shambles of a club,” declared another.
“Relegate them.”
Salt was further rubbed into the wound with captain Patrick Cripps injured halfway through the fourth quarter.
Midfielder George Hewett was also concussed trying to tackle Lance Franklin in the second quarter, which activated sub Ed Curnow.
Coleman Medal leader Charlie Curnow saw plenty of the ball and took some sensational marks, but like his teammates couldn’t convert the opportunities.
Buddy quiet as history beckons
Lance Franklin was been kept goalless for the fourth time in his eight games this season, which includes three of the past four weeks.
Franklin endured a sluggish start to 2023 before he looked to have found form with three goals against North Melbourne last week.
But it proved another quiet night for the veteran who is almost certainly in the final season of his decorated career.
The 36-year-old is averaging just 1.25 goals per game this season, well down on his career average of 3.03 per game.
Franklin needed one goal against Carlton to leapfrog Doug Wade into outright fourth on the AFL/VFL all-time goals list.
A roar went up every time Franklin touched the ball but he couldn’t deliver the elusive 1058th goal the Swans faithful were desperate to see.
Franklin, who has played 349 games, is 196 goals off Jason Dunstall (1254) who sits in third behind Gordon Coventry (1299) and Tony Lockett (1360).
De Koning fires back into form
The talented Tom de Koning returned for the Blues at the expense of Jack Silvagni and delivered a solid performance in his first AFL game since being dropped a month ago.
The ruck-forward took a strong pack mark late in the first quarter and booted the goal to put his side within three points at the first break.
“Such a talked about footballer and that’s how you keep people quiet, mark and goal, nicely done,” James Brayshaw said in commentary.
De Koning took another strong mark in the second quarter beating three Swans defenders and then hit Charlie Curnow inside 50.
“That’s a massive win, he was three on one, contested mark down the line, really good stuff,” Matthew Richardson said.
The 23-year-old is one of the most sought-after players set to hit the market and has been linked to the Swans and Saints.
De Koning has been called the next $1 million player but speculation is rife he’ll leave Ikon Park at the end of the season.
Miss of the season contender
Carlton forward Matt Owies produced arguably the worst miss of the season, with a howler in the first quarter.
Owies had a set shot 40 metres from goal in the right pocket, but he sprayed it so far off the side of his boot that it ended 15 rows into the stands and nowhere near the sticks.
Brian Taylor was left stunned in the commentary box and declared “he wasn’t far off missing the ball”.
“What happened there?” James Brayshaw said.
“I don’t know, did he get it too far outside the body? I’d love to see that on replay, that was a complete muff,” Taylor responded.
Owies was quiet for the rest of the night, while teammate Harry McKay also endured a forgettable night off the boot with two shocking set shots of his own.
– with NCA NewsWire
Originally published as Insipid Carlton watch finals chances slip away at SCG in loss to Sydney
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