By Jon Pierik
Carlton have rebuilt their season but will monitor the fitness of Jacob Weitering, while Alastair Clarkson admitted North Melbourne’s rebirth was slower than expected as he defended his club’s ongoing role in the Good Friday marquee clash.
Winless through their opening four matches, the Blues have since crunched strugglers West Coast and the Kangaroos, their latest victory by 82 points at Marvel Stadium – 24.9 (153) to 11.5 (71) – also delivering a crucial percentage boost.
Alastair Clarkson defended his club’s ongoing involvement in the Good Friday clash.Credit: AFL Photos
However, with the contest all but over, Weitering hobbled from the field midway through the final term with a lower leg issue. He was assessed in the dressing room and returned to the bench, but the star fullback did not take further part in the game.
Coach Michael Voss said he expected Weitering to be available to face Geelong on Sunday week, a day when the Blues will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their last premiership.
Jacob Weitering reacts after hurting his leg against North Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images
“He should be OK. I had a quick chat to him, but I am led to believe he is OK – nothing serious there,” he said.
Voss added that Harry McKay (concussion) was tracking well and is expected to be fit to return against the Cats.
Robust midfielder George Hewett (34 disposals, 12 clearances) was best afield, and could well be leading the Blues’ best and fairest count, while ruckman Tom De Koning strengthened his market value, and appeared to have retribution on his mind after a controversial battle with Tristan Xerri last year when De Koning was left with a foot fracture and a collapsed lung.
Adam Cerra was typically smooth through the midfield, Charlie Curnow booted four majors and was among 12 goal-kickers, while Voss was impressed with how well small forwards Corey Durdin and Jesse Motlop worked together.
Voss said this had been the Blues’ most “compelling” performance of the season so far.
“It was really pleasing to see – that’s our most consistent performance, no doubt about it, [our] most compelling one that we have played. I think mainly because Charlie kicked his goals, but there was a spread of forwards that were able to hit the scoreboard,” Voss said.
“It was probably not just because they hit the scoreboard, it was the fact they bought into their jobs, [and] they just brought an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like our pressure across the whole night... we just really dialled it up.”
For the Kangaroos, it was another terrible Good Friday showing, this time in front of 46,373 supporters. They have now won just one and lost seven Good Friday games by an average losing margin of 60 points, taking the gloss off what is their marquee fixture of the season.
Clarkson defended the Kangaroos’ role in a clash where funds are raised for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“That will always be the narrative – that was the narrative with the season opener with Richmond and Carlton for a long period of time, too,” Clarkson said, alluding to the years when the Blues endured heavy defeats.
“That is just swings and roundabouts. The bottom line is, if the wider football public were concerned about the game itself, and the quality of it, then they wouldn’t vote with their feet like they have.
The reason for the Good Friday game at Marvel: Clarkson made SuperClash ambassador Thomas West feel right at home in the press conference Credit: AFL Photos
“Every one of these games has nearly been a sellout. We are not going so well on-field at the present time, but I would like to think [with] the work that both teams do – particularly our club – in supporting the appeal, the on-field stuff will come.”
This was another poor defensive outing by the Kangaroos. They’ve now conceded more than 100 points in five of their six games so far this season – this contest the most they have leaked this year to date.
With just the one win this year, and seven through more than two seasons under Clarkson, they again shape as a bottom-three side in a campaign in which club officials had hoped they would finish higher up the ladder.
Clarkson said he was still the right man for the job.
Blues skipper Patrick Cripps and superstar forward Charlie Curnow share a laugh after their side’s big win.Credit: AFL Photos
“I love the challenge of it. It’s difficult but, as an old coach used to say to me, ‘If it was easy, everyone would be doing it’. It is a really tough caper,” he said.
“We put some things in place at our footy [club] that we think are building blocks to have us heading in the right direction, but it’s slower than we all want. I have also seen it turn around really, really quickly, too.”
Clarkson bemoaned the beating his team took at centre clearances (20-10) and overall across the field (46-38).
“If you can’t win contest – and that has been an area of our game that is pretty strong – if you can’t win contest, then it doesn’t really matter what side you play [against],” he said.
“If they are dominating in a contest like that, it’s going to put your backs under enormous stress. That was the case today.”
Clarkson was regarded as a great defensive coach through his premiership dynasty at Hawthorn, but he seems bereft of answers at Arden Street.
The Kangaroos narrowed the deficit to 20 points at half-time, but the Blues ran amok in a six-goal-to-one third term.
The Blues built this win on contested possession, pouncing on loose balls, and serious inside-50 pressure. They were ranked No.2 in the latter category heading into this contest, but they took it up a notch, finishing with a whopping 23 tackles inside the arc.
George Wardlaw was a standout for the Kangaroos in limited game time. In his first match of the season, the midfield hard nut had 21 touches (five clearances), his pressure and ferocity at the ball – and man – setting an example for his teammates.
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