Carlton will tackle Hawthorn on Saturday on the MCG, in what looms as a should win for David Teague’s males.
After a aggressive efficiency in opposition to the Dogs, the Blues have been outclassed in the long run, earlier than taking place comprehensively to the undefeated Melbourne facet.
Right now this places the Blues able of sitting thirteenth at 3-6 and fairly probably out of rivalry for finals. This is properly beneath what Carlton have been anticipating this yr and if Carlton fail once more to Hawthorn, who suffered a defeat to the winless Kangaroos final week, Teague might be in dire hassle.
(Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/by way of Getty Images)
Hawthorn enter this conflict with a 2-7 document, together with after final week’s embarrassing loss to North, the place they gave up a lead of past 30 factors. Carlton enter because the clear favorite to get again to successful kind.
Carlton will welcome again Jack Silvagni to the facet together with Tom De Koning, who has been in good kind within the VFL.
They will present additional attacking choices alongside Coleman Medal chief Harry McKay. Out of the facet come the injured David Cunningham with an ACL. De Koning is available in for Levi Casboult and Luke Parks has additionally been omitted.
An essential focus for Carlton shall be how they ship the ball into their ahead 50. They fell quick final week regardless of it usually being a power of the facet to this point in 2021.
The gamers that may actually make a distinction for the Blues embody the next robust performers final week.
Harry McKay saved up his work final week with three objectives. Patrick Cripps had 27 disposals, 18 handballs and 9 kicks. Sam Docherty had 27 disposals, 12 kicks and 15 handballs. Sam Walsh had 30 disposals, 14 kicks and 12 handballs.
For Hawthorn, listed below are some gamers who did properly in opposition to North, and who could make a distinction for them.
James Cousins had 23 disposals, eight kicks, 15 handballs and two objectives. Jacob Koschitzke had 15 disposals, seven kicks, eight handballs and two objectives. Blake Hardwick had 28 disposals, 21 kicks, seven handballs and 7 marks. Liam Sheils had 24 disposals, 17 kicks and 7 handballs.
The final two occasions these groups have met, Carlton have blown leads of over 30 factors. In 2019, they led by 36 factors within the second quarter in Round 6 in Tassie, earlier than getting overrun to go down by 5 factors. Last yr they led by 31 factors after kicking the primary 5 objectives, earlier than occurring to lose by that actual margin in some way.
Carlton shall be hurting from these final two outcomes. But by welcoming some high quality gamers again in Silvagni and De Koning, hopefully together with McKay up ahead, the Blues can kick a successful rating and get a a lot wanted victory.
If not, the writing might be on the wall for Teague.
Prediction: Carlton by 25 factors.
