By Roy Ward
Carlton coach David Teague admits his side was taught a lesson on clean ball use by Port Adelaide, so he hopes his players can learn quickly ahead of their clash with Brisbane Lions next round.
The Blues lost by 28 points to the Power at the MCG on Saturday night with Teague pointing out the difference between the efficiency and skills shown by his side and the Power as the difference between a good and a great team.
Teague knows his side will take time to match what teams like Richmond or Port Adelaide can do in the heat of a match but he wants his side to be better when they face the Lions.
“You want to play the good teams, that is what we need to do. We need to beat these good teams to show our progression,” Teague said on Saturday night.
The Blues had more inside-50s (57-48) but the Power were cleaner and more efficient when going forward.
“The positive was we broke even on some stats and even had more scoring shots and inside-50s, so there are bits you want to grab onto, but we learned a lesson in terms of how clean they were with the ball,” Teague said.
“Their ball use hurt us and their ability to defend us on both sides, especially in the second and third quarters, we got some good looks and we couldn’t get it inside 50 and connect yet when they went inside 50, they scored.
Patrick Cripps of the Blues kicks whilst being tackled by Willem Drew of the Power.Credit: Getty Images
“We had 75 chains and kicked 4.11 and they had 72 chains and kicked 10.1 which is the [difference in the] game in itself.”
Power coach Ken Hinkley praised the talent in the Blues side and admitted he was proud of how his side handled beating reigning premiers Richmond last round then backed it up at the MCG in one of just two visits to the ground in the home and away season.
Hinkley said it was the Power’s first game at the MCG since July 2019.
“I thought we played a really good game of footy against a team who is trying to emerge themselves and they have some serious talent,” Hinkley said.
“I was more pleased that you perhaps know as last week was a big game and last year after that big game we didn’t play the game we wanted to play the next week.
“To the boys’ credit, led by [captain] Tom Jonas and [vice-captain] Ollie Wines, they were outstanding the way they went about it.
“You travel, you lose some players, you get some injuries that are important to us and you get some injuries early tonight but they stuck it pretty well and I thought the game was put away pretty early.”
Star midfielder Dan Houston left the game with a shoulder injury and was in a sling post-game but Hinkley didn’t have further information while Hamish Hartlett played on despite a painful corked thigh in the first half.
Hinkley also called for second-game Lachlan Jones to be considered for a Rising Star nomination this round after he had 17 disposals in another assured display.
“Lachie Jones played alright again tonight, if they are looking for someone to award the Rising Star to this week I reckon he is pretty good,” Hinkley said with a laugh.