Australian Football

Match Report

Carlton has kept alive its hopes of playing finals football in 2013 with a surprising come-from-behind win against sixth-placed Richmond. The Blues reeled in a 30-point quarter-time deficit and then held the Tigers at bay in the last quarter to record a meritorious 10-point win and give coach Mick Malthouse the perfect present for his 60th birthday.

At quarter time in the match, such a result seemed unthinkable. Richmond dominated all over the ground in the first term and made Carlton pay on the scoreboard, kicking 8.2 to 3.2 to take a 30-point lead into the first break. But the Blues set the tempo right from the start of the second term with skipper Bryce Gibbs goaling in the first minute. Despite Richmond's Tyrone marking and kicking the next for the Tigers to restore the quarter-time margin, the complexion of the game had changed.

Carlton kicked the next three goals through Brock McLean, who seemed to be everywhere, Mitch Robinson and McLean again, to reduce the deficit to just six points in time on of the second term. The lead was five points at half time and the remainder of the match was a relatively tight affair with the Tigers keeping their noses in front for most of the third term.

But three consecutive goals to the Blues either side of the three-quarter time siren saw them take a nine-point lead. The remainder of the match was something of an arm-wrestle, with Carlton holding on to win by 10.

Brock McLean was inspiring for the Blues, kicking three goals and collecting the ball 27 times. He received great support from Marc Murphy (23 disposals) and Kade Simpson (25 possessions and one goal). For Richmond, Brett Deledio (29 disposals) played a fine game, while Daniel Jackson (23 touches and a goal) and Reece Conca (18 possessions) were also very good.

The win keeps Carlton's finals chances alive. The Blues are two games behind Port Adelaide but have a winnable game against Essendon next week, while Port will travel to Perth to take on the all-conquering Fremantle. If Carlton wins and the Power loses, the battle for eighth spot will come down to a final-round match between Port and Carlton in what will be the last AFL match played at Football park.

The loss did not have a negative effect on Richmond ladder-wise. In fact they perversely went up from sixth to fifth, courtesy of Collingwood's 35-point loss to Hawthorn on Friday night. The Tigers play GWS next Sunday and Essendon in round 23, and will be looking to finish the home-and-away season with victories to take winning form into their first finals campaign in 12 years.

GOALS
Richmond: Vickery 3; Riewoldt, Ellis 2; Petterd, Vlastuin, Grigg, Jackson, McGuane, Maric, Rance
Carlton: McLean, Henderson, Casboult 3; Gibbs, Menzel 2; Robinson, Simpson, Tuohy

BEST - THE AGE
Richmond: Deledio, Jackson, Grigg, Conca, Maric, Foley, Rance
Carlton: McLean, Walker, Murphy, Tuohy, Jamison, Simpson, Waite

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Richmond: Deledio, Jackson, Astbury, Conca, Foley
Carlton: McLean, Simpson, Jamison, Murphy, Robinson, Gibbs, Casboult, Armfield

INJURIES
Richmond: Matt White (soreness) replaced in selected side by Matt McDonough; Cotchin (knee); Petterd (left ankle); Riewoldt (right knee)
Carlton: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Dylan Grimes replaced by Shane Tuck in the third quarter.
Carlton: Josh Bootsma replaced by Nick Graham in the third quarter.

UMPIRES: McBurney, Wenn, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Hamish McLachlan, Basil Zempilas, Tim Watson, Tom Harley, Nick Maxwell