Charlie Curnow almost took a screamer against Port Adelaide but couldn’t hang onto the ball for long enough to be paid a mark.Credit: Getty
With two goals in the first quarter, Carlton’s Charlie Curnow is an ever-present threat for the Power.
The league’s leading goalkicker almost provided a memorable moment in that second term when he flew high and nearly grabbed a mark-of-the-year – or at the very least a mark-of-the-week – contender.
Unfortunately, for him – and Getty Images/AFL Photos photographer Sarah Reed, who was perfectly positioned to grab this sequence of photos – he couldn’t quite hold onto the ball long enough for the mark to be paid.
Sometimes Harry McKay does what Harry does.
He was standing on his own in the goal square with the ball bouncing his way, and all he had to do was pick it up and boot it through.
But the ball bobbled awkwardly and his next best option was to kick it off the ground. But by the time he launched his foot at it, a Port player had beaten him to it and knocked the ball through for a point.
The Blues lead by four points at the start of the third term.
HT: Port Adelaide’s poor goal-kicking has helped Carlton to a slender three-point half-time lead in an engrossing Thursday night arm wrestle at Adelaide Oval.
The Power have established a clear upper hand at stoppages – they have dictated contest and clearance – but a 1.6 conversion rate in front of goals has placed them in arrears.
The Blues’ talls have looked noticeably dangerous in attack and their smart intercept marking has made Port pay for some errant kicks.
While Patrick Cripps has been quelled thus far, Nic Newman and Sam Walsh have stepped up to fill the gap.
In terms of the way the new holding the ball rule is being enforced, Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall has praised the umpires.
“I think the umpires have done a pretty good job,” Dunstall said.
“I mean, it’s not going to be perfect first up.”
He said a free-kick paid against Port Adelaide’s Kane Farrell showed that the umpires would penalise a player for not disposing of the ball while being spun 360 degrees by the tackler.
“I don’t mind that, I thought it was really, really good. I think they’re doing a really good job and the players are adapting.”
Port Adelaide have pulled a goal back through Mitch Georgiades.
That is his second of the night, and the game is tight.
The Blues have kicked two goals three points for the quarter, while the inaccurate Port have booted one goal six.
Carlton lead by three points at half-time.
Four free-kicks were paid for holding-the-ball, three of them against Carlton players trying to take on the tackler and one against Port Adelaide.
The one that seemed to speak to the new interpretation was paid against Port’s Kane Farrell in the second term. He tried to break free, was swung around in the tackle and held the ball for too long. Correct decision. A similar incident was not paid against Jason Horne-Francis, who was given the benefit of the doubt by the umps.
The other two were blatant throwing the ball decisions. Charlie Curnow and Jacob Weitering were tackled on separate occasions, with one arm pinned, and tossed the ball in the air with their free hand.
The Blues have booted the first two goals of the second term.
Brodie Kemp kicked the first to give Carlton the lead, and then Harry McKay cut off a release kick from Port ruckman Ivan Soldo.
He lined up about 25m out on a tight angle, but was able to snap truly on his left foot.
The were valuable goals because the game is shaping as a real arm wrestle.
Jason Horne-Francis had the chance to pull one back, but his kick from 50m drifted late and only registered a behind.
The Blues lead by 10 points, eight minutes down in the second term.
QT: Carlton spearhead Charlie Curnow slotted a free kick on the quarter-time siren to square Thursday’s clash with Port Adelaide.
It was Curnow’s second goal after he had earlier combined beautifully with Patrick Cripps.
Patrick Cripps, as always, was in the thick of the action. Credit: AFL Photos
Led by young bull Jason Horne-Francis, the Power smashed the Blues in the eagerly-anticipated clash between the two gilt-edged midfields, but Port couldn’t convert that ascendancy into a territory advantage.
Carlton had the edge in inside-50s, Curnow looking the most dangerous forward threat on the park.
Two holding-the-ball free kicks were paid against Carlton, but both were blatant infringements.
The commentators are bleating on about the new-look rule coming into affect and costing Carlton – one against Charlie Curnow and the other against Jacob Weitering – but these frees have been there forever and a day.
Weitering had collected the ball off the turf and was tackled by Port ruckman Ivan Soldo, and as the Blues defender was swung around he threw the ball up in the air. Definite free kick.
The second penalty was paid to Aliir Aliir after he tackled Curnow, but once again the Blues player tossed the ball up in the air one-handed. Another definite free kick.
Carlton fans might feel slightly aggrieved for the second week in a row, with their side trailing the free-kick count 4-2 at quarter time, and Port scoring two goals from free kicks, but it is too early to tell if new interpretations are affecting this contest.
The scores are level at quarter time.
Port Adelaide have squared the scores after a sweet long-range goal from Mitch Georgiades.
He landed the drop punt from 50 metres.
He was hit up by Jase Burgoyne who held the ball on the wing, taking a bounce as the Carlton players held off him. This allowed Georgiades to slip into a gap and take an uncontested mark.
Happy to say that there is still no overreaction to the holding-the-ball rule.
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