By Danny Russell
Carlton have conceded their vice-like grip on a top-four slot and suffered a worrying injury blow to creative forward Zac Williams just eight weeks out from the finals series.
The Blues have lost their past two games in a worrying form slump, being overrun by a backs-to-the-wall Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, and face being without with Williams for the coming weeks with hamstring tightness.
Small forward Rhylee West kicks one of his four goalsCredit: Fox Footy
In comparison, the gritty Western Bulldogs (9-8) have kept their season alive, maintaining touch with the top eight and now have a crucial clash against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium next Saturday.
Williams, who has kicked 14 goals for the Blues since being re-invented as a forward across the past seven weeks, was subbed out of the Bulldogs’ clash in the second term.
With a history of soft tissue injuries, he is facing a number of weeks on the sidelines.
Blues coach Michael Voss said there were no alarm bells ringing in the Carlton camp following a disappointing fortnight.
“We’ve had a couple of losses, and it’s about resetting,” he said. “We look over the course of 23 games, that’s the way we look at it. But we also respect the competition, and you have only got to cast an eye over the ladder to see how close it is.
“When you’re operating at the back end of the season, you have got teams that are fighting for their spots, and we’re no different.”
The gritty Dogs out-tackled, out-ran and out-scrambled the more-fancied Blues and proved the party poopers for Patrick Cripps’ 200th game.
“It never felt like [we] we’re in a position to win it,” Voss said. “They sort of kept us at bay for most of the game, that sort of 10 to 15 or 16 points. And every time we closed, they got an easy one back.
“It says in the numbers that they kicked four goals from centre bounces and they kicked goals from defensive-50 stoppages, so they’re two score sources you probably don’t account for. We were always on the backfoot to try and generate our own score source as well.”
The Dogs have a positive win-loss record in a season in which 13 wins will be needed to guarantee a finals berth.
Luke Beveridge’s team manufactured a stirring victory without key forward Aaron Naughton and polished midfielder Adam Treloar (calf), who withdrew beforehand.
“I am just tremendously proud of what the boys were able to do this afternoon. It was a great victory for the club,” Beveridge said.
The Bulldogs’ scoring reliance fell Jamarra Ugle-Hagan who was given a bath early by intercept defender Jacob Weitering. The Dogs then directed lively forward Cody Weightman to provide aerial support and help nullify Weitering’s dominance in the air.
The plan worked. Ugle-Hagan fought his way back to kick four crucial goals, and the Bulldogs’ extra attention took a toll on a sore-looking Weitering.
“That’s what happens when you get knocked in the back a few times when maybe you’re not supposed to be,” Voss said after the match, before refusing to elaborate further.
Beveridge said Ugle-Hagan had been searching for answers to improve himself after a poor showing against Port Adelaide last week.
“Even in the first quarter (against Carlton), we needed to pay attention to what Jacob Weitering was doing, he was intercepting too much football, largely off the back of Jamarra,” Beveridge said.
“We needed to make some adjustments and Marra needed to think about his game in a technical way, around some negating and some halving.”
With Ugle-Hagan flourishing in the second half, small forward Rhylee West played an ideal cameo with four goals of his own.
But, ultimately, the game was won by the Bulldogs’ forward-line pressure and theior hard-working engine room. Tom Liberatore and Ed Richards gained midfield ascendancy over Cripps and Sam Walsh, while Bailey Dale (30-plus possessions) was superb off halfback.
They did so on a day that Marcus Bontempelli was kept to 20 possessions by tagger Alex Cincotta.
“We lost stoppage (32-28), we lost clearance (45-40), but we pressured well, and to kick four goals from centre bounce and to limit their impact there, that’s a really good result for us,” Beveridge said.
“They’re not free hits, but they’re great opportunities to score. So if you can stifle theirs and capitalise on yours, it has a big say.”
The Blues face North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium next Sunday and need to rediscover winning form. When Cripps and Walsh are held, the Carlton support cast needs to lift.
Another concern is whether they can continue to play two ruckmen, with the return of Marc Pittonet (nine disposals) not seeming to help their cohesion across the ground. Pittonet and Tom De Koning, however, won the hitouts against Tim English and the Bulldogs 49 to 37.
“We’re still evolving as a footy team,” Voss said about the two big men. “So there’s nothing that is set.
Charlie Curnow after booting a goal.Credit: AFL Photos
“We seem to be somewhat besotted by that conversation, you know, is it one ruck or is it two? We’re really fortunate that we’ve got some strengths in our team, and we’ve got two guys that can play ruck very well. And Tom can impact forward as well.
“It probably didn’t impact as well as we wanted tonight, but we feel like it’s a strength of ours.”
Two of the most intriguing contests of the afternoon happened in the Carlton forward line. Charlie Curnow kicked 3.6 and Harry McKay booted three goals in the first two quarters, but young defender Buku Khamis had Curnow’s measure in the air, while Rory Lobb shut down McKay after half-time.
Weightman
also put his hand up for the mark-of-the-year competition with a screamer in the first quarter. The small forward sat on De Koning’s head and landed on his feet like a cat. It might not be enough to better the sensational grabs of Collingwood pair Jamie Elliott and Bobby Hill, but it will be a worthy entrant.
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