Carlton scrapped and snarled and clawed and they…they pulled away and beat St Kilda. They then prevailed in an epic contest by 15 points at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night. The final score was 11.11 (77) to Carlton, with St Kilda 9.8 (62). This victory represents a huge turnaround for Carlton after their disappointing last outing against Adelaide.
Harry McKay had the best day on ground, taking the leading goal scorer’s mantle from Wright with last-gasp clinching goal to secure the win. Game after game he showed his talent and competitiveness, finishing with 19 disposals and 10 marks. McKay’s performance was highlighted by his three goals, which played a pivotal role in the team’s success.
Charlie Curnow made a big impact, kicking three goals in the first half to help set up Carlton’s win. His early contributions set up a big enough lead that St Kilda couldn’t claw their way back from. This just served to highlight the team’s depth, as Billy Wilson helped spur Carlton’s scoring efforts.
Patrick Cripps led from the front with a phenomenal performance, reminding everyone why he’s one of the best leaders in the game. Tom De Koning put his stamp on the game, racking up seven clearances, helping to keep Carlton’s foot on the gas for the duration of the contest.
The victory was not without its stresses for Carlton. Mitch McGovern had to be subbed midway through the third term with a chest injury as a result of a heavy collision with teammate Liam O’Connell. Jack Higgins made way at three-quarter time because of gastro. Now this disappointment further darkened St Kilda’s attempts to rally.
After these blows, Carlton did well to keep their heads and stick to the way they needed to play. Energy and determination of the players to dig deep collectively to Columbus Crew SC in advance to the next round.
Harry McKay had a powerful message about raising awareness for mental health problems in the post-match interview. Perhaps most importantly, he underscored the value of candid dialogue in the community.
“As it’s been said tonight, any time you can talk about it, a problem shared is a problem halved,” – Harry McKay
He further added, “The more we can talk about it, speak to a mate — everyone’s so supportive and brings so much love, so it’s really great to be able to have a night like tonight where we can bring it front of mind. The more we can speak about it, get around each other and help each other, the world will be a better place.”
