Australian Football

Match Report

Carlton kept its finals hopes alive by claiming a narrow victory over the Western Bulldogs. Without their skipper Chris Judd, who was missing due to a suspension for a “chicken-wing” tackle, the Blues struggled for much of the game, but were able to get the four points. As well as missing Judd, Carlton was without a number of players including Matthew Kreuzer and Andrew Walker and Mitch Robinson was a late withdrawal. The Blues took on the Bulldogs with three debutants Levi Casboult, Frazer Dale and Tom Bell. It was tight all the way through the game, but it was the Dogs who were able to secure a handy 17-point lead at the long break. It was a much improved performance from the Dogs after more than a month of extremely poor games. The Dogs suffered a blow when key mover Shaun Higgins was subbed out of the game with a hamstring injury in the third quarter.

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus 4; Williams, Grant 2; Picken, Higgins, Giansiracusa, Tutt
Carlton: Collins 3; Garlett, Thornton, Gibbs, Betts 2; Joseph, Bell, Bower, Carrazzo

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Western Bulldogs: Lake, Griffen, Liberatore, Dahlhaus, Cross, Picken
Carlton: McLean, Scotland, Collins, Yarran, Garlett, Murphy

BEST - SPORTAL
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus, Lake, Wallis, Griffen, Howard, Gilbee
Carlton: Yarran, Scotland, Jamison, Collins, Bell, Murphy

COACHES COMMENTS
Brendan McCartney (WB): We did a lot right to create the opportunity (to win) and then lost the opportunity in the last quarter. There were a significant number of just little, subtle one-on-one battles that they won.

Brett Ratten (Carl): I thought the continuity of the team or the cohesion of the team wasn't quite on right at the start [and] I thought our pressure was pretty average in the first half. They did … get a rocket at half-time.

Umpires: Stewart, Wenn, Foot