CARLTON 16.10 (106) def RICHMOND 14.12 (96)
CARLTON has kept its finals hopes alive, reversing its recent poor form to upset Richmond by 10-points at the MCG yesterday afternoon.
Of course to make it in to the finals the Blues will need to win their final two games (including defeating Essendon next Saturday night) and will need help from Fremantle who face Port Adelaide next week. If Fremantle wins that game then it will set-up an exciting encounter in Round 23 between the Power and Blues with the winner taking 8th spot and the last finals berth.
But that’s all in the future and for now the Blues will be enjoying a remarkable win over the Tigers that saw them overcome a 30-point quarter-time deficit and then hold off Richmond by a narrow margin for the entire second half.
Asked about the turnaround, Blues coach Mick Malthouse was quick with his response.
“There was some really quality leadership out there and at times, through this year, that hasn’t come to the fore,” Malthouse said.
“And I think it’s been too reliant on Murphy or Chris Judd or Kade Simpson.
“The responsibility fell to a lot of people today and they accepted it.”
While the Blues got standout performances from Kade Simpson, Andrew Walker, Levi Cabsoult and Bryce Gibbs the catalyst for their comeback was provided by Brock McLean and Mitch Robinson who rose to the challenge that was issued by Malthouse.
After an opening term where Richmond ran unchecked, the Tigers found fewer open spaces after the Blues made their adjustments.
“You never like to lose. It was a good kick in the backside,” said coach Damien Hardwick of the loss.
“The second quarter was where it was won and lost. They hit us incredibly hard after that quarter-time break. They obviously got a fair rocket and they came out and played some hard footy. Credit where it is due. They were better than us during that part of the game.
“I thought we were a little bit clumsy. We overused the ball at times and we thought we would be a little bit better than we produced.
“Whether our guys were so far in front they could take some liberties, well, that’s not what good sides do. We’ll look and learn and we have to get better in some areas. There’s no doubt about that.”
After holding off Brisbane last week and coming up short against the Blues yesterday Richmond has a lot of work ahead if they want to play beyond the first week of the finals. They will have a confidence building game against the one-win GWS Giants next week before finishing out the season with a Saturday night match against Essendon.
Here are the highlights from the game:
RICHMOND 8.2 10.3 12.7 14.12 (96)
CARLTON 3.2 9.4 13.4 16.10 (106)
GOALS
Richmond: Vickery 3, Riewoldt 2, Ellis 2, Petterd, Vlastuin, Grigg, Jackson, McGuane, Maric, Rance
Carlton: McLean 3, Henderson 3, Casboult 3, Gibbs 2, Menzel 2, Robinson, Simpson, Tuohy
BEST
Richmond: Deledio, Jackson, Astbury, Conca, Foley
Carlton: McLean, Simpson, Jamison, Murphy, Robinson, Gibbs, Casboult, Armfield
INJURIES
Richmond: Matt White (soreness) replaced in selected side by Matt McDonough, Cotchin (knee), Petterd (left ankle), Riewoldt (right knee)
Carlton: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Dylan Grimes replaced by Shane Tuck in the third quarter
Carlton: Josh Bootsma replaced by Nick Graham in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Wenn, McInerney
Official crowd: 63,825 at the MCG