Carlton smash West Coast by 65 points to ruin Andrew Gaff’s farewell and kick Fremantle out of top eight

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Carlton smash West Coast by 65 points to ruin Andrew Gaff’s farewell and kick Fremantle out of top eight

An injury-ravaged Carlton have broken the hearts of both WA sides in one game, smashing West Coast by 65 points to remain in the finals hunt.

The Blues ensured there would be no winning send-off for retiring Eagles wingman Andrew Gaff and 250-gamer Jamie Cripps with a 14.15 (99) to 4.10 (34) victory at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

But more importantly, Michael Voss’ side knocked Fremantle out of the top eight for the first time since round 11 with one game to go in the home-and-away season to leave the Dockers facing an uphill battle to feature in September.

All the talk leading into the game was about what the Blues didn’t have after being forced to make six changes due to a raft of injuries.

But it was what they did have that mattered the most.

Patrick Cripps returned to WA and monstered the contest with 35 disposals, 10 clearances and 12 score involvements to enhance his claims for a second Brownlow Medal.

Carlton also had a dominant ruckman in Marc Pittonet (32 hit-outs, 20 disposals and eight clearances), who got the better of the Eagles’ two Williams in Jack and Bailey, as well as a plethora of small forwards who applied pressure like their life beyond August depended on it.

And they still had their reliable defensive end in Jacob Weitering and Mitch McGovern that was able to handle the twin threats of Jake Waterman (two goals) and Oscar Allen.

It was more than enough against an Eagles side that went into the contest chock full of confidence after consecutive wins, but vulnerable as their season draws to a close.

Meanwhile, the Blues had finals to play for and their effort reflected it after a slow start.

The way the Blues played wasn’t as clean or clinical as it had been when they dominated earlier in the year, but it was enough to get a vital win.

Camera IconPatrick Cripps starred. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West ***********

The signs looked ominous early for the Blues when they wasted several forward forays in the absence of Coleman medallists Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.

At the other end Waterman kicked the opening two goals to continue his breakout season for the Eagles.

The Blues needed to find alternative avenues to goal, and it came in the unlikely form of defender Brodie Kemp who kicked majors either side of the first break on his way to a career-high four to triple his career tally.

As Carlton began to take control, the Eagles lost the decisiveness that had been the hallmark of their previous fortnight.

Carlton piled on six unanswered goals from late in the first term until just before half-time to put them in the box-seat.

It took a goal from the Eagles’ Cripps to start the second half to end the Blues’ run, but it didn’t halt their momentum.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconBailey Williams and Harley Reid help up Elliot Yeo. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West ***********

Carlton’s dominance was on the back of their ability to overwhelm the Eagles at the contest, pushing numbers up and then breaking out the back with pace.

This allowed Carlton to win the clearances 43-33 and take 15 marks inside 50 to only six.

Come the final term the result was beyond doubt, but the Blues started eyeing a percentage boost to add further weight to their finals hopes.

Debutant Ashton Moir kicked a miraculous goal when he snapped the ball out of mid-air over his left shoulder, while Kemp and Jaxon Binns also hit the scoreboard.

The only consolation for the Eagles was a late behind to narrowly avoid recording their lowest-ever score in Western Australia.

CARLTON 2.4, 6.9, 11.12, 14.15 (99)

WEST COAST 2.2, 2.2, 3.5, 4.10 (34)

Goals – CARLTON: B Kemp 4 M Owies 3 M Kennedy 2 J Binns C Durdin A Moir J Motlop Z Williams. WEST COAST: J Waterman 2 J Cripps J Petruccelle.

Best – CARLTON: P Cripps M Pittonet G Hewett B Kemp J Weitering M Kennedy. WEST COAST: E Yeo H Reid L Duggan T Kelly B Hough J McGovern.

Umpires: J Dalgleish N Williamson N Toner J Mollison. Crowd: 48,455 at Optus Stadium.

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