Undermanned Blues crunch Eagles; Gawn re-signs with Melbourne

Our expert Steve Barrett has his say on how the Blues dismantled the Eagles in Perth.

Blues are back

Horribly out of form and severely depleted with six forced changes on the back of an embarrassing loss to Hawthorn, Carlton defied stacked odds to storm back into the eight with a stunning return to form, albeit at the expense of utterly uncompetitive West Coast.

Seeking to build on their preliminary final appearance last year, the Blues were sitting pretty in second place after round 16, before crashing to ninth spot before this weekend, conjuring just one win - against North Melbourne - from their previous six starts.

Leader: Patrick CrippsCredit: Getty Images

For Carlton, who leapfrogged ahead of Fremantle into eighth position with their commanding 65-point win at Optus Stadium, the equation is simple.

Beat St Kilda next week and a September berth is sealed.

If the Blues lose, they can still qualify if Port Adelaide beat the Dockers in Perth in the last fixture of the home-and-away season.

Carlton’s on-ball brigade had a field day, conjuring repeat entries which presented numerous opportunities for the Blues’ patched-up, second-string forward line, minus twin towers Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.

The only negative for the resurgent Blues was a left shoulder injury to Corey Durdin, who got tangled up in a Harvey Johnston tackle late in the third quarter.

Lifting spirits: The Blues are a tight unit.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Captain Marvel

Patrick Cripps boosted his hopes of a second Brownlow Medal by hauling the undermanned Blues on his back and producing a majestic midfield masterclass.

The Eagles threw everything at Cripps - starting with Harley Reid on him in a mouthwatering match-up, spending some time with Elliot Yeo going head-to-head and attempting to run Zane Trew as a tagger - but nothing worked.
Cripps finished with game-highs of 35 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 10 clearances, eight inside-50s, 12 score involvements and surely three Brownlow votes.

George Hewett went with him as the Blues’ engine room put their outclassed Eagles rivals to the sword, constantly outnumbering and outworking the home side at the source.</a

Makeshift forward line prospers

Injury presented opportunity for Carlton.

Usual defender Brodie Kemp, who entered the match with two goals from 41 AFL matches, tripled his career tally with a four-goal haul, mixed with strong marks and clever crumbs, after starting in attack in the absence of Curnow and McKay.

Matt Owies added three in a typically enterprising display. <a
One of the 179cm Owies’ goals came courtesy of a pack grab the smaller man took against Trew and Brady Hough. And Matthew Kennedy complemented a prolific display with a pair of goals.</a

Substitute Ashton Moir, on debut, slotted the goal of the day with a marvellous mid-air volley over his shoulder in the last term.

Carlton’s forward line will be stronger when Curnow and McKay return, but they showed they have some depth in their goalkicking reserves.

Key stats

Carlton is back in eighth spot and on equal points with Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs, with Fremantle slipping to ninth, two points adrift. There is only 1.1 per cent separating the surging Hawks and battered Blues.

The Blues face St Kilda on Sunday, while the Hawks have North Melbourne in Launceston on Saturday. The Western Bulldogs have Greater Western Sydney in Ballarat on Sunday, while Fremantle host Port Adelaide on Saunday night, guaranteeing a blockbuster finish to the home-and-away campaign.

It shapes as a must-watch final round of action. For all the news, views and analysis, follow this masthead through the week.

The Blues have thumped West Coast by 65 points, led brilliantly by Patrick Cripps with 35 touches, including 10 clearances.

“It was pretty special. Sometimes when you are backs to the wall, you go away and have a mission. We knew it was going to be an arm-wrestle,” Cripps told Fox Footy

“We had a lot of belief … there was a lot of excitement in that forward line. It was constant pressure … I am just so proud of the boys.”

Got the job done: Michael VossCredit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Brodie Kemp completes a soaring mark deep in the forward line, and converts the set shot for his fourth goal of the afternoon. Can Kemp forge a permanent role inside attacking 50? Without Curnow, McKay and Tom De Koning, the Blues’ makeshift forward line has got the job done. It’s the unpredictability of the attack which has caused the Eagles all sorts of problems.

Zac Williams is off the field with a hamstring issue, but the Blues are reporting it is cramp. More details post match. Corey Durdin [shoulder] is gone for the day.

The Blues are firmly back in the finals hunt, but have a tricky clash against St Kilda next week. The Saints, of course, upended the Cats on Saturday night, storming home from a six-goal half-time deficit.

The Blues will have selection issues, for it’s hoped Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay will be among the inclusions.

Max Gawn has inked a two-year contract extension, ensuring he will remain with the Demons at least until the end of 2027.

Gawn, the 223-game veteran, was already under contract for next season, and will now take his time at the club to 18 years, having been taken in the 2009 national draft.

It’s been a turbulent season for the Demons, but Gawn, 32, has worked hard to unite a playing list which has appeared splintered recently, particularly with Christian Petracca expressing his concern about the direction the club was taking. The Demons will not take part in the finals this season.

Extending his time: Melbourne captain Max Gawn.Credit: AFL Photos

“The Melbourne Football Club has been part of my life for a significant number of years. It is home for me and my family,” Gawn said.

“I absolutely love the club and everyone in it, from my teammates and coaches to the staff and supporters. The people make this club so special.

“It is an honour to pull on the red and blue guernsey each week and play for the Melbourne faithful. I count myself lucky that I have the opportunity to do so for another couple of years, and can’t thank our members and fans enough for all their continued support. I look forward to finishing off this season strongly, before getting to work on 2025.”

Gawn is a six-time All-Australian and two-time Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy winner. The 2021 premiership skipper was taken with pick No.34 in 2009.

The Blues lead by 55 points at the final break. Here’s what our expert Steve Barrett says about the clash so far:

Carlton have powered into the top eight and to a massive 55-point three-quarter-time lead over an uncompetitive West Coast in Perth.

Happy days: Matt Owies has been productive up forward.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Milestone man Jamie Cripps, playing his 250th game, ended the Eagles’ long goalless drought early in the third term, which has otherwise been played on the Blues’ terms, spearheaded by namesake Patrick Cripps. West Coast’s skill level has completely eroded since quarter-time and Carlton’s makeshift forward line has made the home side pay dearly. Patrick Cripps and George Hewett have led a midfield procession, while Matt Owies and Brodie Kemp have three goals each.

The only negative for the Blues was a shoulder injury suffered by Corey Durdin late in the quarter after he was tangled up in a Harvey Johnston tackle.

Debutant Ashton Moir, donning the famous No.43 guernsey worn by [Lord Mayor hopeful] Anthony Koutoufides and fellow premiership great David McKay, has been activated off the bench, with Corey Durdin subbed off because of injury.