AFL 2024: Carlton claims crucial win over wounded Richmond in Round 1 classic
Patrick Cripps and his Blues have recorded another nail-biting win over a bruised and battered Richmond. Relive the updates and SuperCoach action here.
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A Patrick Cripps-inspired Carlton has pinched another close victory in front of a packed MCG.
The Blues secured their sixth consecutive win by a goal or less over a wounded Richmond.
Relive the updates and SuperCoach action here!
10:15: BLUES WIN A ROUND 1 CLASSIC
Carlton has won its sixth match in succession by a goal or less in a Round 1 classic over arch-rival Richmond.
The dying stages of the match were spent in Richmond’s forward arc as the wounded Tigers mounted one final push.
Despite having three players on the sidelines, the Tigers remained in the game up until the final siren.
Blues skipper Patrick Cripps was enormous, recording 135 SuperCoach points in a clinical performance.
Mitch McGovern, Nic Newman, Harry McKay and Tom De Koning joined Cripps by cracking the SuperCoach century.
THE LEADERS:
Toby Nankervis, Richmond ($583,100): 137
Patrick Cripps, Carlton ($545,000): 135
Nick Vlastuin, Richmond ($514,700): 134
Noah Balta, Richmond ($415,300): 128
Mitch McGovern, Carlton ($448,900): 119
10:10: ANOTHER CLOSE ONE FOR THE BLUES
Carlton’s last five wins have come by less than a kick and if it is to hold on again tonight it will likely be a sixth.
The Blues lead by five points with three minutes remaining.
10:04: CAMPBELL BREATHES LIFE INTO THE TIGERS
Richmond second-gamer Seth Campbell has kept his side in the contest with a clutch goal late in the fourth quarter.
After Vlastuin’s important smother, the Tigers were able to withstand the Blues’ pressure, go end-to-end and kick within five points.
10:00: LIKE A LIBRARIAN!
Nick Vlastuin has produced a smother Heath Shaw would be proud of on Carlton star Charlie Curnow.
In a passage of play that would have put the Blues up by 16 points, Vlastuin mimicked Shaw’s famous 2010 smother to keep Richmond in the game.
The reliable defender has had another terrific night, recording 131 SuperCoach points.
9:58: ARE THE TIGERS FINALLY OUT OF GAS?
Carlton has kicked three consecutive goals to go from eight points down to 10 points up halfway through the fourth quarter.
The Tigers have suffered three injuries to players Tylar Young, Josh Gibcus and Dion Prestia.
The Blues faithful has found their voice sensing a momentum swing.
9:50 COSTLY 50 PUTS THE BLUES IN FRONT
A costly 50-metre penalty from Richmond’s Liam Baker has led to Tom De Koning putting the Blues in front.
The penalty moved De Koning from half back to half forward, where he slotted a long-range goal.
While De Koning is in a battle with Tigers ruckman Toby Nankervis, both players are preferring to sit behind the ball.
9:46: DURDIN IN
Carlton has activated its sub, injecting Corey Durdin into the contest in place of Orazio Fantasia.
Fantasia had kicked two minor scores before he was subbed out of the match.
9:37: BLUES FACE TEST AGAINST WOUNDED TIGERS
Despite a trio of injury setbacks, Richmond is making premiership hopefuls Carlton work for its second win of the season, leading the Blues by eight points at the final change.
Nick Vlastuin and Noah Balta are leading the charge for the Tigers with 104 SuperCoach points.
Carlton spearhead Harry McKay is following up his 130-point outing last week with 94 points to three-quarter time.
THE LEADERS:
Noah Balta 104
Nick Vlastuin 104
Harry McKay 94
Patrick Cripps 94
Toby Nankervis 96
9:26: ANOTHER GOES DOWN FOR THE TIGERS
Richmond has lost another soldier after Tylar Young was sidelined with concussion.
Young was ruled out halfway through the third term after a heavy contest in the second quarter.
His injury follows setbacks to teammates Dion Prestia and Josh Gibcus.
Tylar Young is out of the game with concussion - Richmond are down to two on the bench, with two key defenders out of the game. #AFLBluesTigerspic.twitter.com/5cMpG0XBDq
— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 14, 2024
9:10: BREAKOUT BALTA
Richmond utility Noah Balta is producing a breakout game as his side battles injury concerns.
Switching between forward and in the ruck, Balta has kicked three goals and taken four marks.
He has 85 SuperCoach points during the third term.
8:58: SUSPECTED ACL FOR GIBCUS
Richmond suspects the worst for defender Josh Gibcus.
During Fox Footy’s halftime coverage, Jon Ralph reported Richmond was fearing an ACL tear for Gibcus.
Gibcus will get scans but failed the “90 per cent accurate” ACL test, according to Ralph.
8:50: GIBCUS INJURY PUTS A SPIN ON TIGERS’ HT LEAD
By Glenn McFarlane
Richmond has suffered two major blows in the first half of Thursday night’s sellout clash with Carlton with key defender Josh Gibcus going down with a sickening knee injury and Dion Prestia sidelined with yet another hamstring.
A hush came over the packed MCG after Gibcus flew for a mark and fell to the ground clutching his knee.
The young Tiger defender missed the entire season last season with a series of hamstring injuries after his strong 2022 debut year. He even flew to Qatar in an effort to change his gate and returned last week for his first game in 18 months.
He was taken from the ground on the medical cart and taken deep into the rooms for assessment.
Prestia was subbed out with his second hamstring injuries across the past five weeks, having suffered a minor tweak in match simulation early last month.
The 31-year-old has endured numerous soft-tissue injuries in recent seasons, playing only nine games in 2020 and 2021.He played 20 games last year and 18 the year before, but he hasn’t played a full season since 2019.
The triple premiership Tiger is in the final year of his current deal.
THE LEADERS:
Harry McKay 79
Nick Vlastuin 74
Nic Newman 70
Mitch McGovern 67
Toby Nankervis 66
8:34: HARRY DOES IT AGAIN
Harry McKay has hinted his set shot demons may be dead and buried with yet another important conversion.
The Coleman Medallist has put the Blues in front with a monster goal from outside 50.
After his strong Opening Round performance, McKay has already added 75v SuperCoach points tonight.
8:25: BLUES MOUNT PUSH
Carlton is putting Richmond’s back six under relentless pressure with repeat entries halfway through the second term.
The Blues have kicked two of the three goals this quarter and have trapped the ball inside their forward half.
Richmond is having trouble get the ball beyond halfway.
8:12: MAJOR BLOW FOR RICHMOND
by Glenn McFarlane
Dion Prestia’s frustrating run of soft-tissue issues continued as the Richmond midfielder was subbed out of Friday night’s sell-out clash with Carlton with a hamstring injury.
It was the second hamstring issue the 31-year-old has encountered in the past five weeks, having suffered a minor tweak in match simulation early last month.
In a big blow to the Tigers after they had led by 11 points at quarter-time, Prestia disappeared into the rooms during the first break and didn’t re-emerge until in the early second when he had already been subbed out of the contest.
Prestia has endured numerous soft-tissue injuries in recent seasons, playing only nine games in 2020 and 2021.
He played 20 games last year and 18 the year before, but he hasn’t played a full season since 2019.
The triple premiership Tiger is in the final year of his current deal.
QT: LYNCH MAKES IMPRESSIVE START
Richmond forward Tom Lynch has wasted no time in his return after an interrupted pre-season.
The Tigers’ key-forward kicked two goals and made an impact on a number of contests to lead all players to quarter time with 43 SuperCoach points.
Lynch is just 12 away from his breakeven of 55.
He is joined by fellow inclusion Toby Nankervis as Richmond’s most influential players to the first change.
THE LEADERS:
Tom Lynch 43
Noah Balta 42
Toby Nankervis 42
Jacob Hopper 40
Nic Newman 36
8:00: SHORT FROM RANGE
Jayden Short has lifted Richmond fans from their seats with a goal from inside the centre square.
The defender won a free kick and had no trouble slotting it from range, making it four consecutive goals for the Tigers.
Short is owned by just 8.2 per cent of SuperCoaches, largely due to his $551,200 starting price.
7:56: HERE’S DUSTY...
Dustin Martin has asserted himself on the big contest with a clever banana from the pocket.
Martin got out the back from a quick Richmond transition and made the finish look rather easy.
He and fellow excitement machine Shai Bolton are looking ominous early.
7:46: BIG INS MAKE IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Richmond inclusions Tom Lynch and Toby Nankervis have made an immediate impact.
Lynch kicked his side’s first before taking a strong contested mark on the wing moments later.
Nankervis has the points early in the ruck dual with Tom De Koning, winning several hitouts and clearances.
Lynch has a breakeven of just 55 and is already on 25 halfway through the first term.
7:38: MCKAY FOLLOWS IT UP
Carlton spearhead Harry McKay has followed up his clutch finish last week by getting the Blues off to a solid start tonight.
After converting his first set shot of the night, McKay then made his presence on the game felt again, setting Matt Kennedy up for the Blues’ second.
7:30: DUSTY STARTS DEEP
Dustin Martin has started his first game of the season as Richmond’s second-deepest forward.
Carlton’s Mitch McGovern is the match-up for the three-time Norm Smith Medallist.
For SuperCoaches, Martin is listed as a sole forward and costs $527,300.
6:55: VOSS STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF WILLIAMS
Carlton coach Michael Voss has stressed the importance of new recruit Zac Williams ahead of his second game back in as a Blue.
Williams was quite emotional after his first appearance in over a year last week.
Speaking to Fox Footy pre-game, Voss described Williams as “critical” to the Blues.
Williams is owned by more than half of SuperCoaches this season.
6:40: FINAL TEAMS — CARROLL TO START
Carlton’s Jack Carroll will start in the Blues’ line-up after a strong cameo as sub last week.
Carroll came onto the field and quickly accumulated 65 SuperCoach points in the Blues’ stunning win over Brisbane.
If Carroll continues last Friday’s form, he will be one of the bigger early-season bargains at $123,900 (MID).
Michael Voss has opted with Corey Durdin as substitute instead.
Rhyan Mansell is the Tigers’ sub.
Neither team has made any late changes.
Originally published as AFL 2024: Carlton claims crucial win over wounded Richmond in Round 1 classic
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