Blues return to scene of AFL Gather Round crime

[Pelican Press 0]

Blues return to scene of AFL Gather Round ******

Carlton return to the scene of their AFL Gather Round ****** next Saturday when they play Fremantle in an Adelaide Oval blockbuster.

Amid several big match-ups in the nine Adelaide games, the Blues and Dockers will each take a 3-0 record into the twilight clash.

It was a similar story for Carlton last year, when they were 4-0 and opened the first Gather Round with a Thursday night match against Adelaide at the same venue.

The Crows tore them apart and it proved the start of a nine-game slump where their only win was over wooden spooners West Coast.

The lessons from that horror night have stuck with star Blues forward Charlie Curnow.

“Obviously every game has high importance and we learned last year, if we let little slides into our game, it can affect you long-term,” he said on Monday.

“Of course, when you go on the road, it also has a higher importance because they (wins) are ******* to get.

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“I know it’s Fremantle – who’s closer (to neutral Adelaide)? – but it’s an important game.”

The Dockers defence, led by in-form captain Alex Pearce, will confront a Carlton ******* that bared its fangs in the Good Friday win over North Melbourne.

The Blues boasted 11 goalkickers, with Curnow kicking four and his fellow key forward Harry McKay contributing five.

Matt Owies also impressed, kicking three goals, and fellow small forward Elijah Hollands made an encouraging Carlton debut.

“It was an exciting one for us, as a forward line … it can be a tough position, that (small) forward role, and being able to score a couple of goals too, that always helps,” Curnow said.

“It was only a matter of time before you saw Owies on the end of a few goals, grabbing his jumper and celebrating.”

McKay’s improved accuracy is another obvious bonus for Carlton after his much-discussed issues last season in front of goal.

With McKay in form, he and Curnow are double trouble for the opposition defence as big-marking, potent tall forwards.

“You take away his goals and look at his whole game, his contesting marking, his leading at the footy – and he’s finishing his work so well,” Curnow said.

“He creates so much more opportunity for all of us as a forward line and as a team.

“We’re going to see a pretty good Harry McKay this year.

“He’s absolutely dominating right now and reaping the rewards.”

There was more good news for the Blues on Monday morning when midfielder Sam Walsh returned to full training.

He has not played this season because of a back injury.

“It makes us all pretty excited. He had the yellow cap on, which means you can’t touch him,” Curnow said.

“I’m glad he doesn’t have that on any more, because he was just running the field and tricking us all.

“The Blues fans will be excited to see him doing his thing. I know he’s a pretty ****** man when he’s not playing football, so I’m excited to see him out there for all our sakes.”

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