Round 8 – Carlton v St Kilda: Blue day for Carlton and a blessed one for the Saints

 

Round 8
Carlton v St Kilda
Saturday 2nd May 2026, 7.30pm
Marvel Stadium

 

Pre-Game Thoughts

 

I promise this is the last time I mention our master coach Ross. This week his latest faux par comes as a result of some casual racism towards the First Nation boys a few weeks ago.

 

Full credit to Brad Hill for taking the lead and confronting Lyon in person. Going direct takes courage but more often than not it has a high success rate in gaining closure.

 

Full credit to Lyon for taking the feedback on board and apparently showing some empathy and contrition but did he really learn from it?

 

I’m not sure, if last week’s post Adelaide-loss press conference is anything to go by. I have massive trust issues with this bloke. I just want to see some class and leadership from my senior coach so at some stage we might feel hopeful about the prospect of a second flag.

 

Lyon’s behaviour reminds me of one of the funniest sporting comments I’ve heard that came from former world boxing champion Jeff Harding.

 

Jeff, who wasn’t the most scientific fighter, had a jaw made from double brick. I think it was the 1996 Olympics and he was the special comments man at the boxing.

 

There was a fight where a Russian boxer got absolutely pummelled for three rounds by his Cuban opponent.

 

At the end of the bout, the referee was waiting for the inevitable judge’s decision holding both boxer’s hands. The Russian showed disrespect by pulling faces and pretending to kick the Cuban. It was puerile, disrespectful and it forced a prolonged silence in the commentary box.

 

After a long pregnant pause Harding said matter-of-factly, “We’ve got a name for a bloke like that in Australia……a goose.”

 

Tomorrow night’s game is critical for both sides. I imagine Carlton see this as winnable so the pressure will be on the under siege Michael Voss. No excuses from the Saints. We absolutely must win.

 

A couple of necessary changes for the Saints with the injured and highly entertaining Liam Ryan and luckless Hunter Clark out. Two Liam’s in Stocker and Henry come in. Stocker playing against his old side and the explosive Henry desperate to show his worth after a long time sidelined with injury.

 

The Blues bring in Pittonet, McKay, Ollie Hollands and Saad. Lord, Moir, Byrne and Young all omitted.

 

The Saints have a long history of taking on second hand players from Carlton. This latest batch of Silvagni, Carroll and Stocker have been excellent so far, but TDK needs a big effort against his old side in what will be a rowdy, unfriendly, feral, and colourful crowd with a strong Mediterranean flavour being a Carlton home game.

 

Personally over the years I’ve found the Blues supporters to be the loudest and most fickle. Hopefully the Saints will be so far in front at ¾ time we can witness the legendary mass exodus of Blues fans.

 

If the Saints are serious contenders this year they need to take their good form from last week into tomorrow.  Saints by 41 points.

 

I’m watching from home tomorrow so no special comments this week due to the fact that the co-inhabitant of the house is a devout Pies supporter and would rather be doing a crossword with a fork in her eye than be within a kilometre of a Carlton game.

 

 

1^st Qtr

 

Looks like Liam O’Connell and Craig McRae in. Higgins and Wilson out crook.

 

Silvagni gets booed then marks well. Beautiful long pass from Wood to Sharman who goals.

 

TDK starts well in the centre. Windy running with Cripps. Terrible defensive pass from Sinclair and Kemp goals. Nice work from Wood again and Owens looks his typical brutish best up forward. Good pressure from the Blues defence but Henry takes a one hander from a hack kick out. OO bounds. Saints loose and Blues transition easily. Errors aplenty currently. Smart kick from Ainsworth to Smith who misses 35m out. Sloppy footy all round. NAS pretends he is in U/12s kicking out from a point and running to the wing. Sharman to Henry on a good lead who gives to NAS who misses. The Blues Cowan tagging NAS and in for a long night. Nice kick from Sinclair to Phillipou at CHF who kicks to Marshall who goals. Phillipou looks about ten years old. That will come in handy in later years. Evans snaps from a contest and goals. Lovely clever movement starting from full back by NAS ends up with a TDK mark and goal and accompanied by a cacophony of boos. Saints by 5 points at the break

 

Little in it. Both defences on top and midfields are pushing back to help at a rapid rate so far. I love the aggression of Owens, Garcia and Windhager. Here’s hoping they all play in the Saints second premiership side.

 

2^nd Qtr

 

Sharman in good marking touch gets one 50 out. Misses. Good penetrating pass from Howard to Caminiti who gets a free and just misses. Blues with too much uncontested possession ends up with a Kemp mark and goal. Good vision from Smith finds Cripps who goals from 30. Blues Carroll takes a speccy two deep and goals. STK need more from Flanders, Hill and McCrae quickly. Blues on top but McGovern turns it over and the ball ends up with Owens on the burst and goals. A wobbler from Cowan ends up with Kemp again who misses a sitter. Henry getting some touches. McGovern does what he does best…inconsistency, and kicks a beauty on his left around the corner. NAS does his block and the Saints are rattled as the Blues crowd salivate. No flow with the STK in this qtr. Young Dean intercepting well. More uncontested marks and Ainsworth nails one from 50. 5 goals 2 behinds from 8 entries the Blues. Good pass from Wood identifying a mismatch and Marshall marks and goals. Both sides missing opportunities to goal. Blues by 12 points at the break.

 

Statistically nothing in it except the uncontested possessions where The Blues have about twenty more. Walsh and Smith are looking dangerous and if you’re a Blues fan you must be very excited with Smith and Dean Jnr. Saints need a big lift around the ball. Hall has been a standout but he needs help. Our forward thrusts have been too easily picked off and turned over. Lyon won’t like the current gap in uncontested possessions so hopefully we will see an increase in accountability and pressure.

 

3^rd Qtr

 

Two mins in and we’ve barely touched it. Hill is running at half rat power. A comedy of errors and Dean spoils again. Too much freedom for the Blues through the midfield again! Red flags appearing. Terrible defending. Good work from Hall to NAS to Sharman to Hill who gets a shot from 30 out and goals. Better. Garcia threatens Cripps with his life after an underhanded indiscretion. Wilkie is amazing. Has not missed a game in 161. Another good grab from Sharman again. His fifth I50 40 out and kicks his second. Phillipou having a good game. Terrific clearance from Phillipou to Sharman to Owen who misses but much better play. Free to NAS, pass to Hill who delivers a worm burner to Phillipou who misses. Another NAS U/12s run with 4 x bounces provokes movement down the ground and Owens goals. Four in a row and up by 4 x points. Blues now look nervous and conservative. A forward bomb gets out the back and Henry goals and gets pushed by Dean into the fence. Henry gets another shot and converts a second. Saints by 13. Great tackle on Cripps from Hall, a superb spot up from Garcia to Wood and goal. Saints dominating the centre clearances. Marshall marks I50 from Garcia and goals. 8 x unanswered goals. Free to NAS in the centre. Kicks to Flanders to Wood who kicks a shocker and its marked by TDK 20 out. Goal and 9 x unanswered. Blues giving away too many frees. Ainsworth kicks one after a messy exchange I50. Saints by 29 points. Superb play from Windy and Carroll from defence then Hill kicks a beauty to Sharman on the siren but he misses. Saints by 30 points at the break.

 

The Blues absolutely capitulated at the five minute mark of that qtr. It’s a pattern that they can’t break this year. Hill lifted his rating, in fact all the aforementioned under performers lifted. I’ve been so impressed with former Blue Carroll this year who was on the fringes last year. He’s genuinely hard and his skills have improved enormously. Both TDK and Marshall have been better and look how we had hoped they would. At what stage do the Blues fans start eating their own this qtr? We will see.

 

4^th Qtr

 

Better Blues composure from a STK turnover but Kemp misses. Lots of empty seats suddenly. Good move having Flanders in defence. Plenty of Blues I50 entries but Wilkie and Howard too good in the air. Sinclair transitions to Owens who finds Henry unopposed in the goal square who kicks his 3^rd. Clever work from Phillipou goes to Hill to NAS who goals. Saints by 40. Blues fans clearing out in droves. Circle work from both teams before Owens hits a ripper from 55. Much deserved. Kemp gets his 3^rd late. All over Saints by 39 points.

 

I feel sorry for Vossy. He was an unbelievable competitor as a player and his team have played like wet lettuce leaves this year. At what stage do players like Mackay, Williams, McGovern and Weitering take the next step in their leadership?

 

All my friends who barrack for The Blues remember the old Blues, the ruthless Blues, The Dominator, Doull, Hunter, Southby, Jezza, Diesel etc etc. All that legacy has disappeared from this great club.

 

Having said that the Saints were excellent in the second half. Our youngsters continue to grow and I love Mitch Owens. Like North’s Paul Curtis, he’s guaranteed to make the odd mistake but both are seriously brave and capable of the ridiculous.

 

A terrific game from Phillipou again. I think his size is underestimated by opponents and he marks very well overhead. Perhaps he could improve his tank a bit to compliment his natural footy brain but he’s still very young.

 

More bad news for Max King but it appears the hammy isn’t too bad. Well done Saints, a positive step forward.

 

 

Willow’s best:

 

STK – Wilkie, Owens, Hall, Phillipou, Marshall, Carroll, Wanganeen-Millera, Sharman, Garcia

Carlton – Newman, Smith, Kemp, Ainsworth, Florent,

 

CARLTON          2.4    7.7    8.11   9.15 (69)
ST KILDA            3.3    5.7    13.11   16.12 (108)

 

GOALS 
Carlton: Kemp 3, Ainsworth 2, Evans, Cripps, Carroll, McGovern
St Kilda: Marshall 3, Henry 3, Owens 3, Sharman 2, De Koning 2, Hill, Wood, Wanganeen-Milera

 

BEST 
Carlton: Smith, Florent, Kemp, Newman
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Wood, Wilkie, Sharman, Marshall, Hill

 

INJURIES 
Carlton: Dean (groin), Cowan (head knock)
St Kilda: Butler (left hamstring)

 

LATE CHANGES
Carlton: Nil
St Kilda: Jack Higgins (concussion) and Darcy Wilson (illness) replaced in selected side by Liam O’Connell and Jack Macrae

 

Crowd: 41,062 at Marvel Stadium

 

 

Read more from Ian Wilson HERE

 

 

To read all Round 8 match reports click HERE

 

 

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