CARLTON 3.3 8.7 11.14 14.19 (103)
GOLD COAST 5.5 6.7 8.9 9.15 (69)
By MATTHEW BALMER
Since the sacking of Mick Malthouse as coach, Carlton have looked a completely different side, displaying increased tackling pressure and an attacking style of play.
After beating Port Adelaide last weekend, Carlton now find themselves in the unfamiliar territory of winning two games in a row, for the first time since Round 10, 2014.
Both sides had their share of clangers with 86 for the match, however it was the Carlton defenders who continued to run hard to ensure the Blues would be able to bring the ball inside 50.
Kade Simpson collected 25 disposals, with nine rebound 50s kicking the ball long inside 50, giving tall forward Levi Casboult a chance at marking the ball against an undermanned Gold Coast defence.
Casboult and Andrejs Everitt both had six shots at goal, returning with 3.3 each. Casboult had five marks inside 50 and his season goal kicking tally lifted to 17.
Inside midfielders Tom Bell (32 disposals, six inside-50s), Marc Murphy (32 disposals, six clearances) and Andrew Carrazzo (27 disposals, eight clearances) worked hard all day, ensuring that Carlton would win the crucial clearances 37-17. Chris Yarran also played his best game for the season with 25 disposals and nine marks, running the ball off half-back with ease.
Carlton interim coach John Barker was happy with the performance, but wanted the Blues not to become over-confident.
“Our confidence is growing, but that needs to be tempered,” Barker said.
“The minute you think that you’re going better than you actually are is when you come undone.”
Gold Coast started the match well, kicking five goals to three and taking a 14-point lead into quarter-time through key position forwards Charlie Dixon and Tom Lynch. The Suns’ tall timber kicked three goals between them in the first quarter against an undersized Sam Rowe and Simon White.
The second quarter belonged to the Blues, where they were able to kick five goals to one to blow the Suns away, taking a marginal two-goal lead into half-time.
The Blues continued to play with spirit with Dennis Armfield kicking the Blues’ first for the quarter from 30m out. However Carlton missed a golden opportunity to put Gold Coast to the sword, kicking 3.7 in the quarter, which allowed Gold Coast to stay in the contest, trailing by 23 points going into the final quarter.
Gold Coast’s chances of a comeback were hindered with an ankle injury to key forward Charlie Dixon ending his day before three-quarter-time.
Lachie Henderson put through the first goal of the last quarter and the Blues were able to hold off the Gold Coast side, which had looked flat and lethargic at stages throughout the match, finally winning by 34 points.
A damming stat that coach Rodney Eade will look at was substitute Nick Malceski being the leading possession winner in the second half with 12.
The Suns will crucially gain captain Gary Ablett back for next week's match, with Ablett confirming himself as a certain starter to face the Bulldogs.
“It’s been a frustrating couple of months but I’ve done everything … to get the shoulder right,” Ablett said.
“I’ll be out there next week [and] I’m really looking forward to it.”
With the bye rounds completed, Carlton play an improving Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, while Gold Coast are at home to North Melbourne on Saturday.
THE WRAP-UP
GOALS
Carlton: Everitt 3; Casboult 3; Armfield 2; Henderson 2; Menzel; Tuohy; Yarran; Buckley; Gold Coast: Lynch 4; Dixon 3; Bennell; Boston;
BEST
Carlton:Bell, Simpson, Murphy, Yarren, Carrazzo, Tuohy
Gold Coast: Lynch, Dixon, Rischitelli, Bennell, Kolodjashnij, Saad
INJURIES
Carlton: Menzel (knee)
Gold Coast:Dixon (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Nick Holman replaced Troy Menzel in the third quarter.
Gold Coast: Nick Malceski replaced Charlie Dixon in the third quarter.
REPORTS
Carlton: None
Gold Coast: Andrew Raines for striking Patrick Cripps in the final quarter.
UMPIRES: Luke Farmer, Heath Ryan, David Harris
OFFICIAL CROWD: 30,207 at Etihad Stadium