Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Carlton’s metamorphosis under caretaker coach Josh Fraser has gone to another level, with the Blues holding off premiership hopefuls Geelong in a Friday night thriller at the MCG.
What began as another ominous night against one of the competition’s heavyweights quickly became the latest piece of evidence that Carlton’s season – and perhaps their future – is being reshaped before the eyes of the football world.
The decision of goal umpire (and former Richmond, Port Adelaide and Melbourne star) David Rodan not to go to a score review for what should have been Ollie Dempsey’s game-opener will be a massive talking point for the weekend.
Last month, after more than 30 seconds of play were scrubbed from a game following an incident involving St Kilda star Rowan Marshall in which he was deemed to have taken a mark before the ball crossed the behind line, the AFL changed the rules around ARC reviews.
AFL football operations boss Greg Swann – citing the delay to the game (nearly a minute all-up) – announced that the ARC would no longer overrule a goal umpire’s decision, unless the goal umpire had called for a review.
After conceding four of the first five goals and appearing in danger of being overwhelmed by Geelong’s relentless early pressure, the Blues responded with a brand of football that has become increasingly recognisable under Fraser; daring ball movement, aggressive rebound from half-back, and a willingness to take the game on through the corridor.
The result was a stirring victory that would have been difficult to imagine only a month ago.
Carlton looked a completely different team after quarter-time.
Where the Blues had often appeared stagnant and predictable under pressure earlier in the year, Fraser’s side repeatedly sliced through Geelong’s defensive set-up with speed and confidence.
The transformation was perhaps best embodied by Will Hayward, whose career has been revitalised since arriving at Ikon Park.
Hayward was electric throughout, providing energy, class and composure whenever the game threatened to swing Geelong’s way. His work rate up the ground and ability to impact in transition continually stretched the Cats and helped Carlton maintain scoreboard pressure.
But the emergence of Jagga Smith is becoming one of the stories of the season.
The young midfielder produced another performance that suggested he is rapidly becoming far more than just a promising prospect.
Smith dominated periods of the contest around stoppage, repeatedly bursting from congestion and driving Carlton forward. His poise with ball in hand belied his age, while his willingness to take territory and attack the corridor reflected the confidence currently surging through the Blues.
Alongside the established stars in Carlton’s midfield, Smith looked every bit at home on the biggest stage.
The Cats refused to disappear.
Premiership contenders do not win four straight games and entrench themselves near the top of the ladder without possessing genuine resilience, and Chris Scott’s side repeatedly threatened to steal the match.
Jeremy Cameron did not enjoy his most prolific evening, but his presence loomed over the contest from start to finish. He kicked four, but it could’ve easily been seven.
Every time the ball entered Geelong’s forward 50 there was a sense Cameron could change the game with a single moment.
Even on a relatively quiet night by his lofty standards, Carlton’s defenders could never afford to relax.
The same applied to Bailey Smith.
With his trademark headband, flowing blond hair and trademark running power, Smith at times cut Carlton apart.
Whenever Geelong appeared trapped in congestion, Smith seemed capable of creating something from nothing.
His ability to carry the ball through traffic repeatedly generated dangerous forward-half opportunities and threatened to drag the Cats back into the contest.
For long stretches he looked like the player most likely to determine the result.
Yet Carlton continually found the answers.
The Blues’ half-back line was outstanding.
Time and time again they repelled Geelong attacks before launching their own waves of offence, turning defence into attack with a boldness that has become increasingly synonymous with Fraser’s tenure.
The shift has been remarkable.
Only weeks ago Carlton looked a side weighed down by expectation and uncertainty.
Now they are playing with freedom.
Players are taking risks.
Young talent is flourishing.
And perhaps most significantly, the Blues are beginning to look like a team enjoying their football again.
Interim Blues coach Josh Fraser has an eye to the future for his club and he can already see the boost this win will give his emerging players.
“It’s incredible, but winning can do this to a footy club,” Fraser told Kayo Sports.
“I’m just so happy for our players to get to experience an occasion like this tonight.
“Playing a great opposition on a big stage. The game wasn’t perfect for us, but our ability to manage certain moments and players who weren’t having massive impacts, having important moments. It was really pleasing.”
Fraser was also happy to see his midfielders finding different ways to contribute.
“That’s our evolution as we need to be good at stoppage and when we are not, hurt sides in other ways. Leigh Adams was great as our midfield coach and the adjustments we were able to make [tonight].”
Cats coach Chris Scott was asked a few questions in his post-match presser about the Ollie Dempsey no goal. Here are his answers…
“The rest of the game didn’t work out the way we want, and if there is a howler like that, you want it in the first minute [of the game], not the last, so you have time to make up for it,” Scott said.
“The observation I would make is that it is a really relentless season these days, and lots of ebs and flows. Sometimes you are ebbing and the other team is flowing, and we were aware that we’ve been good for a month, but this is the time to have some perspective and balance and not over-react to a poor performance.
“I thought they were really sharp, and their good players were good.”
Interim Blues coach Josh Fraser has remained “consistent in his answer” about whether he wants to take the full-time role, but Garry Lyon can see similarities between Fraser and Paul Roos’ stint as caretaker Sydney coach in 2002.
Fraser is only three games into his time as Blues coach, but his ease in the role is catching people’s eyes; even Tom Hawkins commented on how impressive Fraser sounded after tonight’s win.
The Swans were set on naming Terry Wallace as coach for the 2003 season, but Roos finished 2002 so strongly that they had to keep him in the role, where he went on to lead them to the 2005 premiership.
“He might just do a Paul Roos, you know,” Lyon said on Kayo Sports.
The man of the moment, Blues skipper Patrick Cripps spoke to Kayo Sports post-game.
On kicking the winning goal:
“I knew we had time,” Cripps said.
“It was not trying to panic, not trying to rush, [the key was to] make sure you play your role and make sure the boys knew there was time.
“Sometimes those moments pop up and you take them, but I’m not going to lie, it was a bit of an out-of-body experience after I kicked it.
Carlton’s metamorphosis under caretaker coach Josh Fraser has gone to another level, with the Blues holding off premiership hopefuls Geelong in a Friday night thriller at the MCG.
What began as another ominous night against one of the competition’s heavyweights quickly became the latest piece of evidence that Carlton’s season – and perhaps their future – is being reshaped before the eyes of the football world.
The decision of goal umpire (and former Richmond, Port Adelaide and Melbourne star) David Rodan not to go to a score review for what should have been Ollie Dempsey’s game-opener will be a massive talking point for the weekend.
Blues skipper Patrick Cripps spoke to Channel Seven post game.
On the win:
“That’s the reward for a cracking game of footy,” Cripps told Seven.
“I felt like we played so good tonight. That’s the best team in the comp at the moment.
“The first quarter they dominated us. We were able to compose ourselves a bit. There is nothing better than seeing these boys smiling, especially the young ones who are just starting their careers.”
Blues midfielder Sam Walsh has praised interim coach Josh Fraser for his relationship-building as the Blues celebrate a third straight win.
“He’s a great relationships person – he really values his relationships, and I was lucky he was here in my first year,” Walsh told Kayo Sports.
“I’ve seen him grow in his coaching, and he’s just driving us to get better each day which we love.”
On the win, Walsh said he was proud of his side.
“These are the nights you dream of as a kid, playing AFL footy on the big stage,” Walsh told Kayo Sports.
“I’m just so proud of the boys fight. We know how good Geelong are.”
The Blues have won by four points to claim their third win in a row under interim coach Josh Fraser. Who saw this coming?
Patrick Cripps is the hero, fittingly, but how costly is that non-goal to Ollie Dempsey now! That’s going to be one of the biggest talking points of the round, if not the season.
The Cats threw everything at them in the final minute, but the Blues hold on: 12.16 (88) to 12.12 (84).
Inspirational Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps came off the bench after Henry’s goal and he has pulled in an epic contested mark at the top of the goal square.
Then he booted the goal to put the Blues in front.
These Blues fans are roaring like it is 1995 again.
But there are 93 seconds still left to play…
