Riewoldt bag can't stop Blues Martin Blake
March 25, 2011CARLTON 2.8 9.10 9.13 14.20 (104) defeated RICHMOND 3.0 7.0 13.3 13.6 (84)
GOALS Carlton: Betts 3, Walker 2, Garlett2, Carrazzo, Gibbs, Judd, Armfield, Curnow, Murphy, Hampson. Richmond: Riewoldt 6, Jackson 2, Morton 2, Graham, White, Vickery.
BEST Carlton: Murphy, Robinson, Judd, Simpson, Gibbs, Russell, Curnow, Betts. Richmond: Riewoldt, Newman, Cotchin, Jackson, Houli, Conca.
UMPIRES M Stevic, M Nicholls, B Rosebury.
CROWD 60,654 at MCG.
BRETT Ratten had predicted that last year's Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt would hold last night's season-opener in his hands. Carlton, missing its two main tall defenders, needed to find a way to curtail him.
So it turned out. For three quarters, the Blues cut the supply lines to Riewoldt, and profited. But for 25 minutes in the third quarter, Richmond found a way through the new, modern forward press that Ratten has his team playing, and the brilliant Riewoldt booted three goals, threatening to steal the game from Carlton.
..In the end the 22-year-old Tasmanian's six goals from limited opportunities was not enough to beat the more even spread of workload employed by Carlton. The Blues, who had gone from 22 points up at half-time to 14 points down at the last change, overran Richmond with five goals to none in the final quarter to win 14.20 (104) to 13.6 (84).
It was an appropriate celebration for 200-gamer Heath Scotland, a fine player for a long time. Even so, there were major worries for the Blues, notably at the back. Ratten's team has a magnificent midfield group but is weak at both ends.
Paul Roos had made one of the week's more prescient comments when he said that if Chris Judd won Carlton's best and fairest again in 2011, the Blues would be in trouble. The implication was quite clear. The Blues need to stop asking their captain to carry them; gifted players like Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs need to stand up.
Here was an example of Roos's point working for Carlton. Murphy was superb all night for the Blues, clocking a game-high 31 disposals and a goal, running hard into the spaces and winning big numbers in close (16 contested balls). Richmond sent Shane Edwards to his side after the long break, and while this worked for a period, Murphy was still the most effective player on the field in a close-run race with Mitch Robinson (29 disposals), a surprise packet in midfield rather than up forward, and Riewoldt.
Gibbs surprisingly started on the bench but also had a significant hand in Carlton's first-half domination. With some support, Judd also had a whale of a game, winning 10 clearances and ending with 25 disposals and a goal. Throw in Kade Simpson, a vastly underrated midfield ball-winner who was good again last night, and Carlton has the depth and talent and speed in midfield to trouble most teams. The Blues' domination of stoppages 49-26 hurt Richmond badly.
Richmond was only in the game at half-time by dent of straight kicking (and Carlton's profligacy). The Tigers had logged seven straight goals from 13 forward-50 entries, a tribute to Riewoldt's smarts, and a sign that Carlton's defence is less than great. By contrast the Blues had missed too many set shots, including four in a row early in the game. Richmond kicked eight goals before Trent Cotchin's miss early in the third quarter.
This allowed Riewoldt to influence the contest. The big man was on from the start, launching himself into a couple of marking contests, chirping at opponents and goading them. All he needed was some Sherrin in his direction. Ratten chose Simon White as his opponent in the absence of Paul Bower and Michael Jamison, but it was a big ask. White was in just his seventh game, and he struggled.
When the tumult came in the third quarter Ratten switched the veteran Bret Thornton to Riewoldt for a few minutes, but this was worse. Richmond threatened to steal the game with five goals in a row, and Ratten went back to White, who held firm in the last quarter when the football stayed in Carlton's half. Richmond had been brave, but Carlton had been called upon to go to the well once more, and the last quarter provided the answer.
The Blues would have been encouraged by a couple of newcomers, notably the fine debut of Ed Curnow (24 disposals) in the middle, and Nick Duigan's run off half-back, and Jeremy Laidler's stoic defence. Similarly Richmond drew an impressive start from Bachar Houli, and draft pick Reece Conca also won plenty of football.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/riewoldt-bag-cant-stop-blues-20110324-1c8op.html
