Australian Football

Match Report

Carlton has recorded its fourth win in five matches, a thrilling win over Adelaide at the MCG, to move up to 12th on the ladder and within a game of the top eight. In a see-sawing and at times ugly encounter, the margin at each of the breaks was not more than seven points, with the Blues just five points in front when the final siren sounded.

The first half was a dour affair, with just six goals scored as both defences dominated. The Blues kicked four of those six, while the Crows managed just 2.7, and Carlton held a slender 26 to 19 lead at the long break.

With the game opening up in the third quarter the goals began to flow as one side, and then the other, dominated periods of play. Carlton kicked the first two of the term to lead by 20 points at the seven-minute mark, and then Adelaide kicked two to cut the Blues' lead back to five at the 14-minute mark. Carlton then took another turn to dominate, kicking the next two majors, before Charlie Cameron, Scott Thompson and Matthew Jaensch conjured three in a row for the Crows to give them a one-point buffer at the final end-change.

Former Blue Eddie Betts kicked his third at the two-minute mark of the final quarter to put Adelaide seven points ahead at the two-minute mark but goals to David Ellard and Troy Menzel saw Carlton back in front after nine minutes. Betts responded again at the 12-minute mark to put the Crows back within a point but Dale Thomas kicked his first two minutes later to restore a seven-point buffer for the Blues.

At the 18-minute mark, Jarrad Waite appeared to put the result beyond doubt, his goal putting Carlton 13 points clear, but a couple of Crow behinds and a David Mackay goal saw that margin cut back to five points with minutes to play. Each side added a behind after that until finally, with the ball deep in Adelaide's forward line, the siren sounded to deliver a memorable five-point win to the Blues.

Kade Simpson (36 possessions and a goal) and Chris Yarran (23 disposals, one goal) were magnificent for the winners, while Rory Laird (10 marks, 28 disposals) and Sam Jacobs (38 hitouts, 23 disposals) were valiant all day for the Crows.

The Blues are now 12th on the ladder with a 4-5 record and within touch of the top eight. They will take on Brisbane at the Gabba next Saturday, in search of their fifth win in six matches. Adelaide's record is also 4-5 and the Crows will host the all-conquering Gold Coast at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

GOALS
Carlton: Menzel 3; Docherty 2; Casboult, Yarran, Everitt, Simpson, Ellard, Thomas, Waite
Adelaide: Betts 4; Kerridge, Walker, Cameron, Thompson, Jaensch, Mackay

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Carlton: Simpson, Yarran, Menzel, Everitt, Gibbs, McLean
Adelaide: Jacobs, Betts, Thompson, Dangerfield, Douglas

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Carlton: Simpson, Yarran, Gibbs, Walker, Thomas, Menzel
Adelaide: Laird, Thompson, Jacobs, Betts

COACHES' COMMENTS
Mick Malthouse (Carl): A tough, hard win. Just pleased to get a victory against a very good football side. They proved that last week and the week before that. They're not an easy side to play against. They've got some really sensational-type players, so very happy. It was a close game. A few more seconds they pick the ball up off the ground and maybe kick a goal and we're in here saying we've lost by a point.

Brenton Sanderson (Adel): Definitely [a lost opportunity] when it's a small margin like that. Carlton were in front for most of the day. With five or six minutes to go we hit the front [but] unfortunately we couldn't hold that lead. We were coming from behind for most of the day. It was an ugly contest and, unfortunately for us, we were the losers.

INJURIES
Carlton: Simpson (corked left thigh), Buckley (left leg)
Adelaide: Dangerfield (hip/lower back)

SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Jeff Garlett replaced Dylan Buckley in the third quarter.
Adelaide: Jarryd Lyons replaced Ben Rutten at three-quarter-time.

UMPIRES: Leppard, Hay, Meredith

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, Gerard Healy, Cameron Mooney