Carlton v St Kilda

11 nil. Its a great feelong for your side to be in that position, but it counts for nothing if we don't beat the Evil Empire tonight. So it was a great amount of trepidation when I took up my position next to the Doctor over at Strawbs house on Friday night.

The first quarter was absolutely amazing. Carlton looked to try and take out our play makers. Goddard got hammered in a bone crushing tackle, and minutes after, Montagna got hit as well. Not sure about the Blues tactics as we banged on five majors in 15 minutes. However once Carlton started to concentrate on the ball instead of the man, it paid dividends for them, and despite us getting another two, they kicked three, and though four goals was a good lead, I wasn't entirely comfortable.

The second quarter started with a Carlton goal. The next 15 minutes was an arm wrestle, but to me the signs were there. The Carlton midfield were getting on top, and Murphy and Simpson were having blinders. At the 20 minute mark I said to the gang, 'we're in trouble'. Strawbs called me smug, and the Tall One and the Doctor called me an idiot. Next thing you know, Carlton have piled on four majors to only be three points down at half time. I couldn't believe it in a way - the Baggers had kicked 9 goals against us by half time - something that most other clubs haven't been able to do against us in four quarters of football.

The third quarter was almost a repeat of the first. We kicked four big ones, mainly courtesy of Rooey. There is no doubt about it - the guy is a genuine superstar of the game. It was obvious that Carlton had the wobbles - but then Joey, Lenny, and somebody else (can't remember who) had chances to blow the game wide open - they missed crucial shots, and Carlton was able to clear defensive 50, and kick a goal against the run of play. Only three goals in it, and still feeling uncomfortable, and then the unthinkable happened. Luke Ball ran onto the ground with 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter, but he forgot to run within the interchange zone - stupid rule, but no doubt about it - we made a mistake, they ended up with a free and 50 metre penalty, which gave a gift goal to the bogan. Game back to just over a kick the diff, Carlton with their tails up, and our boys looking decidedly sick and sorry.

The last quarter was worthy of a Grand Final. The first 10 minutes was just sheer pressure from both sides. I haven't mentioned Chris Judd yet, and now I will. By this stage of the game, he looked like an advertisement for swine flu. He got cleaned up by his own teammate in the third quarter, and ended up with a badly broken nose. Would that stop the Juddster - hell no. He was bleeding from his nose and mouth, and the trainers couldn't stop the bleeding for long. It was obvious he was in alot of pain, but every time he came back on to the ground, he was at the bottom of packs feeding the ball out and just by force of will carrying the rest of his teammates along with him. Enough of praising a Carlton player however. We kicked the first of the last quarter, but the Blues got it back straight away. At the twenty minute mark we got another, and then they got it back straight away. When they got the next one, I thought we were gone. We still led by a few points, but when Houlihan took a mark on the 50 metre line, it was real heart in mouth stuff. Thank the Lord he missed. With only a few minutes left, and us defending for our lives, we got the ball through Gardiner up into our 50 where a St.Kilda player took the mark - about 35 metres out. I soon realised that it was Zac Dawson. Now let me say a few things about the kid - he was absolutely hopeless when he played for Hawthorn, and when we picked him up in the pre season draft at the start of the year, I wasn't the only St.Kilda supporter who groaned. anyhoo, poor old Maxy did his froin, and Zac haad to be our full back. Well, what a revelation he's been - hes hardly put a foot wrong, and hes become a cult hero. however, his disposal skills are poor, and to date he had only kicked one goal for his entire career (a helicopter kick against the Eagles from 30 metres out that somehow went sort of straight). So here he is 35 metres out on an acute angle - I was praying, but couldn't see him kicking it. Well the ball left his foot beautifully, and it went straight through the big sticks. I did the reverse chainsaw, the Doctor came up with the old Knock Knock joke - Owen - Owen who? owen the saints. The siren went about a minute later, us 9 points to the good in what was a magnificent display of footy by both sides, and the boys can have next week off, before they play the Tiges.

Best players for us were Rooey, Joey Montagna (who now has to be considered as one of the AFL's premium onballers) Dal Santo, Maxy Hudghton who again kept Fev down to only two goals (as he has done over the past decade) and also I'll put the Zac in for that goal. For the Evil Empire, Judd, Murphy, Simpson (who is so underrated its not funny), and Jamieson.