Tigers cop Blue beltingRohan Connolly
August 15, 2010 IF THERE'S been a worse opening quarter to a game this year than yesterday's at the MCG, condolences to those who had to suffer through it. This was appalling stuff, admittedly hardly helped by a swirling, gusty wind, but in which sometimes even the execution of basic football fundamentals seemed beyond the grasp of almost anyone on the ground.
Of course, there are always exceptions, and in this case Carlton captain Chris Judd was a very honourable one. While nearly all the Tigers, and a good handful of Judd's teammates, were stumbling, fumbling and turning it over, Judd was just as committed, and on another level with his skills and decision-making.
Eventually, Judd managed to drag the Blues along with him, which meant that you could at least watch one team playing half-decent football and experience the sometimes perverse pleasure in watching a one-sided picnic, and a fair, old thrashing more in keeping with the Tigers of old.
Even in the first, error-riddled term, Carlton had enjoyed enough ball and enough scoring chances to put the result beyond doubt. But the Blues' radar was right out, 3.7 the wasteful return. It started early, when Eddie Betts ran in for the first goal of the game and hit the post from 20 metres out. Jeff Garlett missed a sitter from a free kick. Lachie Henderson missed another golden chance having been gifted a second shot at goal after Brett Deledio had committed the heinous crime of mockingly wiping Henderson's brow with a towel.
Against better opposition, they might have been lost chances lamented. But Richmond was so poor yesterday all it meant was Carlton would have to wait to convert the next inevitable chance. In the second term it did, and that was that.
The Blues piled on 7.5 in a second-quarter procession. The Tigers not only couldn't score, they couldn't even get the ball past halfway. While Judd continued to run amok, Bryce Gibbs roamed free and easy and Henderson showed some really good signs with his hard leading and defensive pressure, not to mention three first-half goals. Richmond had next to no resistance to offer.
Richmond won't play too many quarters as uncompetitive as its second term yesterday. The Tigers entered their forward 50 a grand total of four times for the quarter. Halfway through that term, Carlton had had 32 possessions in its forward 50 to Richmond's two. Yes, two. What did come the Tiger forwards' way came straight back again, Jack Riewoldt very soundly held by Michael Jamison. And Richmond's lack of pretty much everything helped bring some Blues, who hadn't been great, well into the picture.
You sensed you were about to watch a belting once Garlett had the first goal of the second quarter on the board within two minutes, a casual stroll into an unguarded goal square after more great Judd work.
Then debutant David Gourdis tried to sidestep Henderson, was nailed and another resulted.
By the time Richard Hadley and Heath Scotland had bombed two more through, it was serious party time, Shaun Grigg, Jarrad Waite and Henderson again joining in festivities.
It was already nearly a 10-goal margin at half-time, leaving Carlton merely having to avoid mishap for a half, and Richmond with nothing to gain but a little belated respectability.
Briefly, the Tigers did manage to claw some back, a string of four unanswered goals midway through the third quarter the reward for the only period all afternoon in which Richmond seemed prepared to back itself and show a bit of dare.
They weren't without triers, the Tiges, none better than Ben Cousins, who looked like he might have broken his leg late in the second quarter but soldiered on bravely, finishing with 26 touches and six clearances.
It was brave stuff, and if, as it appears, Richmond is to go without his services in 2011, it must be pretty confident about the rest of its list.
Daniel Connors had a crack, so did Deledio, Shane Tuck, Shane Edwards, and later on, Dustin Martin. But most of the rest looked every bit like a team which had had enough and was keen to get on with the end-of-season trip. Funnily enough, given an 89-point win, Carlton will want to play better than it did yesterday, too, if it is to finish its own year any longer than a week after the Tigers.
But as a confidence builder, at least, it was hard to beat, the cheap touches and easy goals coming apace again in the final term, nine of them giving Carlton its highest score of the year.
Waite impressed up forward, booting four for a second week in a row, Robert Warnock looked impressive again in the ruck, Scotland, Kade Simpson, Marc Murphy, Gibbs and Andrew Carrazzo were all busy, and Garlett and, belatedly, Betts, were able to get on the end of enough good work further afield to share six goals.
And thank goodness for that. At least we ended up seeing one team string some coherent footy together. Who knows how much of a crowd there would have been left by the end had we all been put through another three quarters as bad as the first.
PLAYER WATCH
Robert Warnock (Carlton): Has shown why the Blues fought so hard to snare him from Fremantle. In addition to some deft taps in the centre, Warnock impressed with his kicking and marking skills. His attack on Chris Judd's pass in the last quarter, where he marked at full stretch and converted from 25 metres, was particularly good.
Ben Cousins (Richmond): After a week of focus on next week's screening of his documentary, it was nice to be reminded of the primary reason why he is famous: the way he plays football. Seven first-quarter possessions continued his rich form of the past month but his day looked to be finished when he left the ground with a severe limp. The diagnosis on radio that Cousins had a fractured fibula created the suspicion it may be the last time the Brownlow medallist would be seen at AFL level, but he tenaciously defied that gloomy outlook to return as a solid contributor.
WHERE THE MATCH WAS WON
After a profligate first quarter, Carlton slammed through seven goals to nil in the second to ensure its dominance in general play translated onto the scoreboard. The lack of intensity was startling, and the Blues did not have to produce anywhere near the intensity that will be required for finals.
WHERE THE MATCH WAS LOST
Richmond was only 11 points down at the first break but that masked how far off the pace it was. In the opening quarter the Tigers had only two possessions inside their attacking 50. Their four consecutive goals in the third quarter temporarily added respectability to the scoreboard but Carlton's scoreboard dominance in the last quarter was deserved.
BEST
Carlton: Judd, Waite, Scotland, Henderson, Jamison, Warnock, Gibbs.
Richmond: Cousins, Connors, Deledio, Edwards, Tuck, Gourdis.
THE RUN HOME
Carlton: Geelong (ES), Fremantle (Subiaco).
Richmond: St Kilda (ES), Port Adelaide (ES). - JESSE HOGAN
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