Australian Football

Match Report

Carlton has moved to within a game of the AFL top eight with a hard-fought 32-point win against the Adelaide Crows at the MCG. The Blues jumped the Crows early, kicking six goals to one to establish a 28-point lead at the first change. The Blues shared the first-quarter goals around with Chris Yarran kicking two and Brock McLean, Andrew Carrazzo, Marc Murphy and Chris Judd scoring one apiece.

Taylor Walker provided the Crows only joy in that first quarter, with a goal at the 12-minute mark but minutes later he would cause despair for all Crows' fans, as he landed awkwardly, twisted his knee, and was subbed out of the game. (The news would only get worse. Scans on the following Monday revealed a ruptured ACL, a season-ending injury for Walker.)

The Crows were far more competitive across the second and third quarters, but despite that being the case, Carlton was able to extend the lead to 35 points at half time and 41 points at the final change of ends.

In the last quarter Adelaide provide their fans with a brief flurry of hope. An early goal to Jared Petrenko reduced the margin to 35 points, and after a goal to Blue McLean, Matthew Jaensch scored two goals and Sam Jacobs and Tom Lynch followed with another each to reduce the margin to just 17 points at the 14-minute mark.

But the Blues steadied through goals to Yarran and Jeff Garlett (2) to coast to a 32-point victory. Andrew Walker and McLean were amongst the best for Carlton, while Rory Sloane was outstanding for the Crows.

Carlton now face second-last placed Melbourne at the MCG next Sunday, a game they should win, while Adelaide returns home to face flag-favourites Hawthorn.

GOALS
Carlton: Garlett 4; Yarran 3; McLean 2; Judd, Murphy, Carrazzo, Simpson, Gibbs, Scotland, Armfield, Betts
Adelaide: Otten, Jaensch 3; Walker, Vince, Douglas, Petrenko, Jacobs, Lynch

BEST - HERALD SUN
Carlton: McLean, Walker, Garlett, Robinson, Scotland, Yarran, Judd, Warnock
Adelaide: Sloane, Douglas, Otten, Laird, Dangerfield, Talia

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Carlton: Walker, Judd, Armfield, Scotland, McLean, Yarran, Simpson, Murphy
Adelaide: Jaensch, Sloane, Rutten, Kerridge, Vince, Douglas

COACHES' COMMENTS
Mick Malthouse (Carl): We're still having our lapses, which is a bit disappointing. I don't want to take anything away from the opposition, that finished in the top four of last year but when we lapse, we're lapsing badly and we've just got to get better. But the lapses were shorter and restricted to one or maybe two quarters, so we are getting better.

Brenton Sanderson (Adel): Not too much went right for us today unfortunately. We made fundamental errors; we got beaten inside the contest and outside the contest. Carlton were the better team. We could have pinched it late [but] Carlton were the better side.

INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Adelaide: Walker (knee), Brown (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Eddie Betts replaced Bryce Gibbs at halftime
Adelaide: Rory Laird replaced Taylor Walker in the first quarter

UMPIRES: Margetts, Stewart, Ryan