Blue heaven: Carlton look finals-bound after Captain Cripps’ heroics against Demons

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Michael Voss said this contest had all the feeling of a final, and so it proved, as a surging Carlton made it eight-straight wins to take a key step towards ending a decade-long absence from September with a four-point win over Melbourne on Saturday night.

In a tense contest at the MCG, skipper Patrick Cripps hauled his Blues on to his broad shoulders in the final term, having a direct hand in their opening burst of three goals, after scores were knotted at the final change.

Finals bound: Charlie Curnow and Patrick Cripps celebrate winning a thriller at the MCG.Credit: Getty Images

Cripps had 29 disposals (five clearances) in a best-on-ground performance, while star forward Charlie Curnow and dual All-Australian defender Steven May had a fascinating battle as the Blues posted their 12th win (with a draw) of the season. Cripps refused to leave the field after he was hurt tackling Angus Brayshaw in the final term.

“That was just tough footy … it was finals like footy,” Cripps said.

A year after the Demons pinched victory over the Blues in the corresponding fixture, the Blues this time survived more potential heart-ache.

“Talk about the lessons learned – I am really proud of them. It was tight and tough. We had to win a different way,” Voss said of his players.

The Blues survived a controversial score review with 41 seconds remaining when the goal umpire said Christian Petracca’s shot from 50 metres had been touched on the line by the left hand of Caleb Marchbank. The score review officer found there was “insufficient evidence” to over-turn the decision, leaving the Demons behind by five points. The Blues then coughed up a couple of deliberate out of bounds, but were able to hold on. With two rounds remaining, they are primed to make the top eight.

The Demons had their run of five-straight wins snapped. After the Blues’ early burst in the final term, they responded with two goals, the second coming after David Cuningham’s sling tackle on Trent Rivers led to a Joel Smith major. Cuningham will face the scrutiny of the match review officer.

Paddy Dow, Nic Newman and George Hewett were relentless for the Blues, while Sam Docherty (corked calf) had been among the best before he was subbed off. Demons’ vice-captain Jack Viney (31 disposals) maintained his stellar form in the midfield. Brayshaw (31) also ran hard all night.

The intensity of the contest was shown in that there were 173 combined tackles.

Brodie Grundy’s return to the Demons’ senior line-up for the first time since round 17 brought renewed focus on his partnership with Max Gawn. Grundy had worked on his forward craft in the VFL, and had moments of success against the Blues. He began as a deep forward, and had three inside 50s and two score involvements until half-time. When he pushed up, the Demons mid-sized forwards set up around him, and his contest work was strong. He also allowed young power forward Jacob van Rooyen to play deep.

Gawn spent more than 70 per cent of his time as the frontline ruck, but Tom De Koning, for the most part, neutralised him. The Demons are likely to continue to pursue the Gawn-Grundy combination, but whether it can work to the level they hope, remains to be seen.

Petracca was brilliant as a forward and when pushing into the midfield. Extractor Clayton Oliver, in his first game for 10 weeks because of a hamstring injury, worked his way into the contest. He did not begin at the opening centre bounce, the Demons preferring the Viney, Brayshaw set-up which had done so well recently, but finished with 27 disposals (nine clearances).

Back on board: Brodie Grundy made a solid return to the Demons’ line-up against Carlton on Saturday night.Credit: Getty Images

Kozzy, the high flyer

In what was a frenetic first term, Kysaiah Pickett left his mark, literally, when he flew over Alex Cincotta on the wing and hauled in a spectacular mark. It was one of the few highs for the Demons, for they were under siege – exemplified when Charlie Curnow finally opened the Blues’ account after a 15-2 inside-50 avalanche. The Blues’ tackling and overall pressure inside 50 was ferocious, and they should have been further in front, the Demons going more than 20 minutes without the ball in their attacking arc. However, a late goal by Ed Langdon meant the Demons were only three points behind at quarter-time.

A big blue

As ridiculous as it was, the Demons were in front in the opening minutes of the second term when Jake Melksham dribbled a pass to Kade Chandler in the goal square, who converted. The Blues had a whopping 27-6 inside-50 advantage, but they paid a price for their inability to capitalise when they fell behind by eight points. This Carlton team, though, has renewed belief, and their ability to use numbers around the ball meant the advantage was wrenched back by the main break.

Waltzing Curnow

The Matildas’ result was also front of mind for some players after the game started. Upon hearing the roar of the crowd after Australia’s penalty shoot-out victory, Blues’ substitute Ed Curnow ran over to Seven boundary rider Cameron Ling and asked what the score was.

CARLTON 1.3 3.5 6.6 9.6 (60)
MELBOURNE 1.0 3.3 6.6 8.8 (56)
GOALS – Carlton: Curnow 2, Owies 2, Acres, Cripps, Martin, De Koning, Docherty.
Melbourne: Petracca 2, Chandler, Smith, Neal-Bullen, Pickett, Langdon, Sparrow.
BEST – Carlton: Cripps, Charlie Curnow, De Koning, Docherty, Newman, Hewett.
Melbourne: Viney, Brayshaw, Salem, Langdon.
UMPIRES – Power, Chamberlain, Findlay, Wallace.
CROWD – 68,577 at MCG.

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