I don’t usually write about specific players after a match. The reason is that there are enough voices in that arena, and there is no need for another one. However, the game against Essendon on Sunday night was, for me, the only thing that I wanted to write about. The reason is that it proves one thing: I think Carlton is this season (and I have stated before) – they are not the team they were last year; they are better!
The game against Essendon was for both sides, simply a battle. It is a long-established battle between two clubs that, for supporters, dislike each other. That for a while, friends become enemies. There is an expectation that our “stars” of the game would become the heroes. That they would be the ones that would catapult the team to a win. But that was not necessarily the case in this game, and that is what this piece is about.
If we look at the statistics of the game, our “stars” produced a great game, but their figures were well below their usual ones. Sam Walsh 22 disposals, Jacob Weitering 13, Partick Cripps 19, Charlie Curnow 11, Harry McKay 8, and Adam Saad 20. But what is more impressive is that it was a combination of players, both “stars” and the peripheral players, that played in a team-spirit way that dominated the game and sealed the win.
Without a doubt, Tom De Koning played an outstanding game even if he did not win in the centre clearances. It was his ground ball usage and subsequent clearances that made him one of the top players in the game. I have always believed that a ruckman can be great at the centre clearances, but how they play around the ground determines the actual impact. He was impactful and dynamic in getting the ball to the midfielders, which resulted in a chance to score a goal on many occasions. Yet, for me, it was not just him but those other players who had an impact that resulted in the win.
It was those such as Elijah Hollands, Zac Williams, and Alex Cincotta who stamped their mark on the game in a way that made the team exciting to watch and see where they could go as we moved further into the season. It is Lachie Fogarty, Mitch McGovern, George Hewett, Mattie Owies and Corey Durdin. These players showed that you don’t need to be considered a “star” of the game; you have to be a passionate, determined and focused player willing to be a part of a team and know that you, too, can make a difference. This was the case on Sunday night. And for me, the vital aspect of the team that had been missing in the past.
Footy is not a singular sport. It is defined by a team mentality, commitment and support. It is one where each player on the field not only knows their role but knows that the outcome does not rest on a few shoulders but everyone’s. For me, that is one of the most exciting aspects not only of the game but also of the growth of Carlton FC.
If we can bring this attitude moving forward to the games after the Bye, we are in an exceptional position to win the ultimate prize. I will state this again: we are not the team we were last year, but we are better. Far better. We are a team, not a bunch of individuals playing for themselves. This is damn exciting to watch and be a part of!
#GOBLUES!
All photos courtesy of AFL
SPORTZ 