CARLTON 2024: A Tragedy
In conformity with the Shakespearean dramatic structure, this is a five act play.
Act 1: 6th July, GWS 116 Carlton 104
I drafted a piece for the Almanac – never progressed due to my need to preserve a stellar reputation as a procrastinator – which described this encounter: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The Dickensian reference was to the changing fortunes during the course of the match.
A scintillating opening quarter by the Blues produced a lead of eight goals to two, reduced by an after the siren goal by Jesse Hogan. The 2nd quarter saw a complete reversal when the Giants ran in seven goals while the Blues scrambled two, to leave the match effectively tied at the long break. Significantly, however, Carlton had suffered injuries to three key tall players, Weitering, De Koning and McGovern. While all played on, this undoubtedly advantaged Western Sydney. The 3rd quarter was won decisively by the Giants, seven goals to one to effectively end the contest. The final margin was reduced by some junk time goals to Carlton, but the result wasn’t in doubt at any stage after the middle quarters onslaught.
Act 2: 13th July, WBD 100 Carlton 86
Following an eight goal thrashing by Port Adelaide, who were only then emerging from a run of indifferent form (or worse), the Bulldogs’ season was on the line. By contrast, the Blues remained in 2nd spot on the ladder, spared by the inconsistency of the teams threatening their spot. However, the Team of the Mighty West dominated from the opening bounce and were only prevented from running away with the match in the opening quarter by their inability to find the goals. From then, the Bulldogs scored 14-9 to 9-10 to win decisively and revive their finals’ prospects.
Act 3: 26th July, Carlton 65 Port Adelaide 79
This was the proverbial game of two halves. Carlton led by four goals at half-time (although somewhat aided by helpful officiating). In the 2nd half, the Power midfield became ascendant as the Blues managed just 1 goal 5 for 2 quarters against the visitors 7-8. This represented a turnaround of 50 points from the previous meeting in Adelaide two months prior, when Carlton had prevailed 107-71.
Act 4: 3rd August, Collingwood 84 Carlton 81
In spite of coming to this match in mediocre form, Collingwood controlled the game for most of the night (refer Frank Taylor’s measured and even-handed match report on the Almanac website (https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/round-21-collingwood-v-carlton-floreat-pica-society/). Initially the Blues were lively but could only manage a string of behinds with 1 goal 8 at ¼ time. I was thinking of the apochrypal tale of an England 10th wicket partnership in the final Test against Australia in 1902. When the 9th wicket fell with 15 runs required, all rounder George Hirst welcomed his No. 11 partner Wilfrid Rhodes with the alleged words, “We’ll get ‘em in singles”. That seemed to be the Blues’ strategy.
Collingwood dominated the middle quarters 9 goals to 5, and an early final quarter goal to Elliott established a game high lead of 32 points which seemed impregnable. However, Carlton, having struggled all night to score with conviction, contrived three goals in three and a half minutes with something like 9 minutes (clock time not countdown clock time) left. It was equally improbable that the only score in that period was a behind to Elliott on a breakaway, as the ball was camped in the Carlton forward fifty for virtually the whole time.
Act 5: 11th August, Carlton 38 Hawthorn 112
The denouement. This was the day when the fantasy of Carlton’s 2024 prospects evaporated, despite those prospects being talked up by neutral observers during the week prior to the match (looking at you Peter Ryan, The Age, 5th August).
Carlton kept in touch for a quarter, although the Hawks’ enthusiasm and dash were evident from the opening minute. As the Carlton casualty ward began to resemble a war zone, the Blues were comprehensively outplayed. What in prospect had seemed an evenly-matched contest turned into a rout, reminiscent of famous Hawthorn humiliations of Carlton in the past. I have painful memories of sitting through the 1991 debacle at Princes Park (156-58) and then the record thrashing at Docklands in 2015 (173-35), among a variety of best-forgotten similar occasions.
There had been prequels to this theatrical offering when Carlton won five of their six opening matches, and then followed consecutive losses to Collingwood and Geelong with another sequence of five wins from six. The last of these was a stirring victory over Geelong which prompted a display of hubris from a poorly informed Almanac scribe (https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/round-15-carlton-v-geelong-by-the-numbers/) who has suffered a severe bite on the bum as a consequence.
Whom the gods destroy, they first make mad.
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Well said Peter, I emphasise deeply with your comments as they similarly reflect those of another great team – Essendon. You do have to wonder how a seemingly stellar year can so quickly go off the rails for both sides! However, as they say, ‘there’s always next year’! But next year is a year too far away! Cheers.
This is a superbly enjoyable read, Peter.
You’re in top form, PF! I’m with Col as he references the Bombers. Similarly my NRL Brisbane Broncos have gone from Grand Finalists last year to lower third of the ladder and out of contention this year. Can someone tell me how or why?
The way I see it, it’s the curse of the high draft picks (Weitering, Walsh, McKay, Curnow and Cripps) and before that Kruezer, Murphy and Gibbs. Injuries at the wrong time of the year to the most important players in your team makes all the difference, especially in an extremely even competition.
As a much longer suffering and less successful St Kilda supporter, when St Kilda had high draft picks in the early 2000s, as soon as they looked likely to be a genuine premiership threat, they would suffer long term injuries to Hamill and Koschitzke, who was a very underrated ruckman and Riewoldt for the majority of 2010. In 1997, they lost Everett for the remainder of the finals as a ruckman and Vidovic just prior to the finals. I only know too well that finals is a different ball game, after St Kilda won 19 in a row during the 2009 season, but unfortunately fell short in the 2009 Grand Final.
I mention this as De Koning is your biggest loss. You simply can’t replace a ruckman of his calibre. When the West Coast Eagles won the flag in 2018 without their injured ruckman Natanui, the replacement was of a high standard. No disrespect to Pittonet.
Richmond were also fortunate that during their injury plagued premiership year, all their top players were available for the finals, notwithstanding they had amazing depth back then.
All St Kilda supporters envy Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon as they have all won the most flags, 16 each and a massive 48 premierships between them. That’s still 38 per cent of all flags won since the VFL started in 1897.
Anyway, the season’s not over until it’s officially over. If Carlton do play finals this year and have all their best players playing, depending how fit they are, nothing is beyond them. It’s such a strange season that anything can happen, especially in finals. If I had to choose, I would now say it’s a GWS v Brisbane Grand Final. They were the two teams I thought would be the main contenders at the start of the season. But, who am I to know.
It is a strange sense of satisfaction this year. Two wins by the Magpies against the Showponies are a small consolation for our self destruction last Friday night. I feel a bit like Edmund and Edgar, fighting a pointless duel while all around is devastation.
Like King Lear we get to keep our kingdom for a bit – most premierships, most wins, 4 premierships in a row when it really doesn’t matter…
“Is this the end? Or image of that promised horror?”
Believe me, opposition supporters will not rest easily until Carlton can no longer win the flag in 2024!
I distinctly remember the Western Bulldogs in 2016, winning 4 finals in a row to win the flag, with far less talent than Carlton. Carlton will always be capable of winning the premiership, while you have the likes of Curnow, Mackay, Weitering, Walsh and Cripps in your team. Your premiership opportunity is open for at least another 5 years. All of them are matchwinners and in Weitering’s case, a match saver. The Western Bulldogs only had Bontompelli and Stringer as matchwinners in 2016.
Don’t forget that the pre finals bye will help De Koning get back for the finals. That pre finals bye in 2016 helped the Western Bulldogs immensely in getting many injured stars back for the finals.
I read with interest that Mackay, Curnow, Saad and Martin could all play against St Kilda next week. I’m dreading that prospect for St Kilda.
With Essendon losing to Sydney and Fremantle with two tough matches, things are starting to fall in place with your team. In my book, there’s certainly no tragedy!