Round 8 – Carlton v Collingwood: Honourable Loss FC

It’s a rivalry almost as old as the sport itself. Carlton and Collingwood. Battles that breed passion. Leading up to this game there were those in the media that claimed that this rivalry doesn’t mean anything anymore. Maybe not in grand scheme of ladder positions or finals places but to these historic Melbourne clubs and their supporters, it means everything.

 

I left home early, hoping to grab a quick bite to eat before heading in. So I hopped on the train to Flinders Street Station and headed to the Duke of Wellington where I had arranged to meet a mate for a couple of pre match beers. It was early but the train was still dotted with pockets of navy blue here and black and white there.

 

After a couple of beers we left the Duke and merged with the rest of the supporters making their weekly pilgrimage to the MCG. Our walk down would be consumed with the usual pre-match chatter; predictions, analysis of previous performances and our hatred for the team in black and white. Nobody expected Carlton to come out of this match with the 4 points. Nobody. We were 1-6. Bottom of the ladder playing arguably the best side in the league. And while my head was telling me all of this my heart was saying something different. Yes, we may only have one victory to our name but we’ve been in every single game this season, bar last week’s calamity performance against North. Maybe, just maybe it wasn’t going to be another showing from Honourable Loss FC this week.

 

Like they say, it’s the hope that kills you.

 

We made our way into the ground, taking a spot at the back of the Carlton members section where a few of the Magpie army had managed to sneak in. The first quarter was a scrappy affair, which suited us just fine. We were in it. We were stopping them from playing their game. Scores were tight. All the while, that niggling thought in the back of the head persisted. We only play 3 quarters, the Pies are going to blow this game wide open any minute now. That didn’t happen though, not yet anyway.

 

After a slow start to the season Charlie Curnow seemed to have found his rhythm. He and Darcy Moore tussled it out throughout the game and showed the football world what we can expect to see from these two future superstars in the years to come. Once again Sam Walsh gave us a mature performance and Patrick Cripps was the best on ground.

 

As the second half progressed, all around me the Carlton faithful started to believe that an upset against the old enemy was on the cards. While the confidence grew in those clad in navy blue the Magpie army were getting nervous. “I really hope we beat them by just the one point,” said one Pies supporter to his friends, loud enough for everyone else around him to hear.

 

Unfortunately for us Collingwood came out top and showed why they really are the team to beat this year.

 

It was not to be for Carlton. Their current crop of green shoots perhaps still a bit too green for last year’s grand finalists. Yet another close one for Honourable Loss FC.

 

CARLTON     1.4     5.6     10.8     13.9 (87)
COLLINGWOOD     2.1     5.6     9.9     16.10 (106)

 

GOALS
Carlton: 
McGovern 3, Cuningham 2, McKay 2, C.Curnow 2, Cripps, Murphy, Silvagni, Gibbons 
Collingwood: Hoskin-Elliott 2Phillips 2, De Goey 2, Brown 2, Stephenson 2, Grundy 2, Crisp, Treloar, Mihocek, Thomas

 

BEST
Carlton: 
Cripps, McGovern, Murphy, Cuningham, E.Curnow,
Collingwood: Phillips, Grundy, De Goey, Brown, Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Treloar

 

INJURIES
Carlton: 
C.Curnow (ankle)
Collingwood: 
Mayne (concussion), Thomas (ankle)

 

Reports: Nil

 

Umpires: Dalgleish, Howorth, Fleer

 

Official crowd: 69,289 at the MCG

 

 

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Comments

  1. I hear you! That’s why the loss hit me so hard too. I know good times are coming but right now, it’s tough to be a Blues fan.

  2. John Butler says

    “it’s the hope that kills you”

    Yep, when we got in front in the last quarter, there was a tantalising moment when we could dream.

    The thing that encourages me is that players and coach all looked very dirty after the game. They’re sick of losing. That’s a start.

    Hang in there Jake.

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