West Coast have had loads of darkish days in 2023 however this is perhaps their most devastating.
The scoreboard was arduous to observe for Eagles followers, particularly within the first half, however it was the sight of courageous skipper Luke Shuey shattered on the sidelines with one other comfortable tissue damage that might’ve damaged hearts.
Shuey might solely watch on from halfway by way of the second time period as Charlie Curnow massacred his Eagles for the second time this season on their strategy to a 71-point loss at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, 21.14 (140) to 10.9 (69).
Curnow booted 10 objectives, including to the 9 he kicked in opposition to the Eagles simply three months in the past to take his tally to 19 in opposition to the hapless West Coast this season alone.
Injuries which left the Blues with only one match participant on the bench for a lot of the second half, arguably ensured the Eagles prevented a fifth triple-figure loss this season after Carlton destroyed them within the first half to guide by 82 factors at half-time.
There was a glimmer of hope heading into the sport for the Eagles, with the Blues being with out Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps, in-form midfielder Adam Cerra and considered one of their Coleman medallists in Harry McKay.
News that Tom Barrass would miss with a shoulder damage simply an hour earlier than the sport made that glimmer only a speckle because it left late inclusion Rhett Bazzo to attempt to curtail the monstrous Curnow.
Then Adam Simpson pulled a transfer that nobody noticed coming.
Bazzo was despatched to Jack Silvagni, leaving Brady Hough to sort out Curnow regardless of giving up a whopping 13kg.
The transfer appeared much more ridiculous when Curnow had monstered Hough for your complete first time period booting 4 objectives because the Blues snuffed out any upset by the primary break after they led by 57 factors.
West Coast’s undersized defence was not helped by their underperforming midfield, who had been smashed within the first time period as Sam Walsh (14 disposals and a objective) ran amuck within the absence of Cripps and Cerra earlier than injuring his hamstring within the second time period.
Desperate for solutions, Simpson despatched main goalkicker Oscar Allen to Curnow to begin the second time period however it mattered little with Curnow belting three extra for the time period.
It would imply Allen would go goalless for the primary time this season.
Carlton continued to lose gamers within the third time period with Jesse Motlop (two objectives) injuring a calf, whereas Alex Cincotta had a concussion check after a sort out by Samo Petrevski-Seton that may undoubtedly be checked out by the match evaluate officer.
Without Walsh the Blues relied upon George Hewett (31 disposals, 10 clearances and a objective) and Sam Docherty (29 disposals and 9 clearances) within the midfield, whereas Adam Saad supplied a prompt half-back.
It opened the door for a response from the Eagles, who managed to raise and discover some momentum and three objectives for the time period.
A win in already of their backpocket, all Carlton followers wished was to see Curnow kick 10 objectives, which he achieved halfway by way of the ultimate time period with a beautiful snap to just about blow the roof off of Marvel Stadium.
SCOREBOARD
CARLTON 9.5, 15.8, 17.11, 21.14 (140)
WEST COAST 0.2, 2.4, 5.8, 10.9 (69)
Goals – CARLTON: C Curnow 10 J Motlop 2 A Cincotta D Cuningham P Dow E Curnow G Hewett J Honey J Silvagni N Newman S Walsh. WEST COAST: J Darling 2 J Cripps A Gaff R Maric N Long S Petrevski-Seton J Petruccelle D Sheed B Williams.
Best – CARLTON: C Curnow G Hewett S Docherty J Weitering A Saad N Newman. WEST COAST: A Gaff A Witherden L Duggan S Hurn B Williams.
Injuries – CARLTON: J Motlop (calf) S Walsh (hamstring) J Silvagni (knee). WEST COAST: L Shuey (hamstring) J Williams (ankle) T Barrass (shoulder) changed within the chosen facet by R Bazzo.
Umpires: L Fisher J Howorth P Bailes H Birch. Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
