Australian Football

Match Report

Brendon Bolton has recorded his first victory as coach of Carlton, with the Blues pipping Fremantle any just four points in a dour, tense affair at Subiaco on Sunday afternoon. The Blues just held on in this battle of the only two sides without a win, and the narrow loss has plunged the Dockers into what some would call crisis. To make matters worse, Fremantle - which has already lost ruckman Aaron Sandilands to long-term injury - is facing a long stretch of this season without Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe, who broke again the leg that he fractured late last year. 

The Dockers attacked heavily in first five minutes, but the net reward for the efforts was just three behinds. Carlton took its turn to attack after that, but the Blues were similarly wasteful and after 18 minutes, neither side has registered a goal, Carlton leading 0.5 to 0.3. Hayden Crozier finally broke the drought with a snapped goal at the 18-minute mark to put Fremantle ahead but the Blues responded with majors to Dale Thomas and Jed Lamb. A late first-quarter goal to Fyfe levelled the scores at 2.5 apiece at quarter time. 

It looked as though the game might open up early in the second quarter, with a goal each to Docker Michael Walters and Blue Matthew Wright in the first eight minutes, but there was to be only one further major for each team for the remainder of the first half, with the Blues ahead 4.9 to 4.8 at the long break. 

Thomas kicked his second within three minutes of the third term to put Carlton seven points clear, and with Fyfe out of the match with his broken leg by that stage, things were not looking good for the Dockers. After more than 15 minutes without a further goal, Thomas kicked his third and it was the Blues by 11 points. Fremantle rallied late in the third quarter, and time-on majors to Walters and Crozier had the Dockers back in front by two points at the final break. 

The Blues levelled the scores with a couple of behinds early in the final term, before a mark and goal to ex-Bulldog Liam Jones put them ahead by a goal. The Dockers then replied with two behinds and a goal of their own to restore the three-quarter time lead of two points but majors to Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs had the Blues 10 points clear at the 25-minute mark. Still the Dockers came and a Jonathon Griffin kick off the ground from the goal square had them back within four points. 

With a minute left on the clock an errant Docker kick across the face of goal was marked by Liam Jones and he converted to put Carlton 10 points ahead once more. Chris Mayne then marked and goaled for Fremantle but time ran out for the Dockers soon after, the Blues triumphant in a thriller by four points. 

Skipper Murphy was one of Carlton's standouts, with 28 possessions and a vital late goal, while Lachie Neale (35 touches, 10 marks) was a fine player in a losing side.

Carlton will fancy its chances of making it two wins in a row against Essendon at the MCG next Sunday, while Fremantle faces another tough challenge on Saturday, the Dockers to take on the Crows at the Adelaide Oval.

GOALS
Fremantle: Walters, Crozier 2; Sutcliffe, Fyfe, Taberner, Griffin, Mayne
Carlton: Thomas 3; Jones 2; Wright, Lamb, C. Curnow, Murphy, Gibbs

BEST - WATODAY.COM.AU
Fremantle: Barlow, Neale, Hill, Spurr, Walters, Sheridan
Carlton: Murphy, Simpson, E Curnow, Kerridge, Wright, Gibbs

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Fremantle: Neale, Hill, Walters, Spurr, Grey
Carlton: Cripps, Kerridge, Murphy, Simpson, E Curnow, Thomas

INJURIES
Fremantle: Fyfe (left leg), Johnson (right knee), Ballantyne (right thigh)
Carlton: Nil

UMPIRES: Farmer, Hay, Wallace

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Brad Johnson, Gerard Healy, David King