by Booney » Tue Apr 19, 2022 2:47 pm
With Carlton returning from the Gold Coast after a shock 30 point loss Port fans were hoping the real Carlton had returned, this Carlton group has a bit more too it and despite clawing back a 51 point deficit Port fell 3 points short in a game of two halves.
The first term it was all Carlton, piling on 6 goals to 2 for a 25 point margin the likes of Curnow, Martin and McKay were opening up the Port back half on the back of a scintillating term from Sam Walsh, 15 touches, 3 I50’s and 3 tackles he set the game up for the Blues as they took control in centre clearances, Pittonet on top of 1st gamer Hayes, that changed as the game went on however. Hewett, Kennedy and Cerra have added some much needed depth to the Carlton midfield and they won their fair share of ball sending it inside 50 to a promising forward set up. At the other end once more the Port forward 50 was lacking any structure. Gray and Georgiades goaled but both were more by accident than design.
After the first lot of oranges one of the Mum’s had brought along the situation didn’t much change, another 6 goals to 2, another goal to Gray and Finlayson who, while dropping some marks actually found some space and gave himself some chances ( ended up with 8 marks for the day ) while at the other end McKay, Curnow, Fischer and Silvagni all added to Port’s miserable start to 2022. Carlton were scoring at ease, from clearances and from turnovers as the Blues big men drew the returning ( and clearly under done ) Aliir up the ground to take his intercept ability away and once more the opposition are getting a good look on goal, 12.6 at half time and that’s with Curnow and Silvagni missing very gettable shots.
There was however something in the water at half time and goals to Powell-Pepper after some impressive pressure and even more impressive snap, Butters, Boak, Rozee and two towering majors from Burton wrapped around a fortunate one to Curnow had the game back alive with the margin under 3 goals with a half hour to go. Port had finally brought some front half pressure, Powell-Pepper, Rozee and Butters had upped the ante forward of centre as Hayes began to show some signs his tap work is at the level required of an AFL ruckman. There’s no doubt he has a lot of work to do on many areas of his game but his aerial work and willingness to get his knees dirty was befitting of someone who had been waiting for their first crack at AFL football.
Things got rowdy at my place at the start of the last as in the first 10 minutes Port had every opportunity to take control of the game and butchered it, not for the first time this year. Gray missed one, Motlop missed 2 shots on goal, 1 on the back of an odd decision by Gray to play on ( granted he marked on 50, well outside his range ) and what should have been 3 goals and a lead felt liked missed opportunity. But the front half game Port play was now being played, Carlton couldn’t get the ball out of the back half and it looked like a boil over was on the cards. The old Carlton were back. When Powell-Pepper again snapped truly from distance and Gray bagged his third after a mark only Gray can take I was up and down out my chair like a preferred PM Morgan Galaxy poll. As was the story of the day though the Carlton big men in the front half stodd up when required and McKay and Curnow iced the game. A late hail Mary from Amon was as close as Port got to resurrecting it’s season.
Positives – Hayes didn’t look out of his depth, Rozee stood up in the midfield, Houston and Butters continued their steady form, Burton in his 100th was immense, Gray slotted straight back in with 3 goals and looks set to stay inside 50 and Powell-Pepper continues to build some form. Despite a meagre return I though Finlayson showed he’d got the feel of the midfield coming at him with ball in hand, missed two gettable shots and dropped a couple of easy marks, with 1.2 and 8 marks it was a positive. Aliir looked cooked and clearly needed the run and Mead looks capable at the level with some more experience.
More scoring shots again from less inside 50’s but over possessing the ball with 50 more marks, 121 to 71, clearly the movement from the back half has changed in the last month as the coaches try and move the ball forward differently to a different mix.
Boon’s best – Burton, Rozee, Powell-Pepper, Butters, Houston and an honourable mention to Hayes who battled all day and gave Port a sniff in the last half.
PAFC. Forever.
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