Round 6 – Carlton v Collingwood: So close but so far

 

Carlton v Collingwood  
Round 6 April 16.
Thursday 16 April
MCG

 

I occasionally find myself observing my behaviour from a third person perspective, which can provide surprises. One such instance was my reaction at the conclusion of the Carlton-Collingwood match last week. I was unexpectedly calm in the face of the narrow defeat for the Blues, no worse than mildly disappointed. I might have expected that the fact that the outcome hinged on a kick after the siren, which could have levelled the scores would have left me distraught, given my considerable emotional investment in the fortunes of the Carlton FC.

 

My equanimity can probably be explained by a number of factors: I have become reconciled to the limitations of the team, with a consequent lowering of expectations; I was accompanied to the match by a Collingwood-supporting friend, and I was pleased for Stuart that an evening of tension culminated in a hard-earned victory for his team; finally, my assessment was that the Magpies’ performance was worth the win, as they were (marginally) the superior team on the night, and that there is currently a gap in ability between the teams in the black & whites favour. However, in prospect, I had also nursed some hope of an upset, as I felt that Carlton were meeting Collingwood at a time when they were struggling for form and confidence as well as missing key players, so that they were somewhat vulnerable.

 

My pessimistic expectations prior to the game, meant that I was pleasantly surprised that Carlton proved to be as competitive as they were. While I felt that Collingwood dominated the opening quarter so that the one-point advantage they held at quarter-time flattered Carlton, the Blues enjoyed ascendancy in the middle quarters. Neither side was particularly convincing in their forward approach, but Carlton battled to an eighteen-point advantage at three-quarter time.

 

This was the cue for the outstanding player on the field N. Daicos. He inspired the decisive burst at the commencement of the final quarter. He kicked the opening goal, 18 seconds in having followed forward from his own centre clearance, then had a ‘score involvement’ in the next four, which gave Collingwood a lead, which thereafter they did not relinquish. The first four goals came in the space of 6 minutes 45 seconds, which was pretty impressive for a team which had managed three goals nine behinds for the whole of the first half, and had managed five goals nine behinds for the whole match in Adelaide a week previous (admittedly against quality opposition – Fremantle – and in testing conditions in the wet). I do note that Collingwood’s remarkable accuracy in the second half which yielded ten goals one behind was necessary to enable them to secure a victory.

 

From then, there was little doubt about the eventual result. There was some consolation from my perspective in that the Blues ran out the game, evidenced by their narrowing a margin of thirteen points in the final minutes. The fact that Taylor Byrne’s kick after the siren could plausibly have tied the score represents progress – baby steps certainly – as Carlton have managed to improve on their wretched second half fadeouts. In this match the witches’ hat phase of the performance was limited to the opening few minutes of the final quarter, and there was something of a revival – battling rather than brilliant – for the remainder of the match.

 

I also draw some consolation from some extenuating – but not excusing – factors. The loss of Harry McKay half-way through the last quarter unbalanced the forward line and together with the confusion which arose because of the team effectively playing one man short for much of the game, contributed to two breaches of the 6-6-6 rule. The second of these was properly penalised which swung momentum in favour of the Magpies when the match was in the balance.

 

Unlike Kane Cornes and other commentary luminaries, I am not an expert on mental health, having only a peripheral or vicarious experience of conditions like anxiety and depression. However, it is apparent that Carlton’s game-day management was deficient. Whatever the workplace, someone suffering the affliction which impacted Elijah Hollands is unfit to perform their normal work obligations. This is much more pronounced for someone in a workplace with almost eighty thousand onlookers. I can only assume that the failure to act of those with responsibility to do so, is attributable to the bystander effect – where people are less likely to help someone when others are present, that those who observed the unfortunate young man (bench officials, coaching staff, medical advisers, players) figured that somebody ought to do something, but that can be somebody else. It is unfortunate that this incident offers further evidence of a less than professional organisation.

 

 

To read more by Peter Fuller click Here.

 

CARLTON             2.3   6.5   9.9   12.11 (83)
COLLINGWOOD   2.4   3.9   6.9   13.10 (88)

 

GOALS
Carlton: McGovern 3, Kemp 2, Ainsworth 2, Carroll 2, Hayward, McKay, Evans
Collingwood: Elliott 3, McStay 2, Steene 2, Membrey 2, McCreery, N.Daicos, Hayes, Lipinski

 

BEST
Carlton: Newman, Walsh, Carroll, Florent, Kemp, Pittonet
Collingwood: N.Daicos, Perryman, Cameron, Howe, J.Daicos, Lipinski

 

INJURIES
Carlton: McKay (head)
Collingwood: Nil

 

Crowd: 78,058 at the MCG

 

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