By Jon Pierik
As Michael Voss says, Charlie Curnow deserves the plaudits coming his way. The superstar forward has been in such strong form the Saints opted to double-team him as often as possible last weekend. But it didn’t matter, as Curnow adjusted to the challenge, and ensured his teammates got the job done in what became the Blues’ seventh straight win, an achievement they have not enjoyed since 2000.
Curnow, the Coleman Medal leader, managed only one goal for the game but the way the Blues rallied in the second half after direct questioning from Voss at half-time reinforced the balance the Blues have.
The man: Charlie Curnow may be the leading act, but the Blues understand the importance of his less-heralded teammates.Credit: AFL Photos
Only time will tell if their secret herbs and spices are good enough to clinch a September berth, and then mount a deep finals run, but a rethink at selection, and a simpler focus on tackling and pressure acts, has worked a treat since the Blues’ season sprung to life on a Sunday afternoon against Gold Coast in round 14.
The headline acts have led the way, vice captain Jacob Weitering revealing Voss implored his leaders, including skipper Patrick Cripps, to think more about their teammates than themselves during a frank mid-season discussion. However, it’s been the less heralded, “blue-collar” names of David Cuningham, Lachie Fogarty, Matthew Cottrell and Alex Cincotta, the exciting Jesse Motlop, the much-maligned Paddy Dow, and a reborn Jack Martin who are among those who have played key roles at a time when stars Harry McKay, Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra and the hard-working Matt Kennedy have been hurt.
One-time forward/midfielder Zac Fisher, banished to the VFL in round 13, and having spent weeks there learning to be a defender, added his name to the reborn list with a career-high 32 disposals at half-back against the Saints.
“There has been an enormous amount of focus on Charlie, so there should be, given the results of what he has got over the last little while … but it also takes the other group of players to get their jobs done,” Voss said.
The hard-running Cuningham, often used as a spare man at stoppages before pushing forward, and pressure forward Fogarty did not play their first senior games of the season until facing the Suns, but have remained since. Cuningham had not played at senior level for 763 days before his return this season. Time-trial king Cottrell has largely been a fixture of the side since round nine, while small forward Motlop has 10 goals since returning in round 18.
Forward punch: Jesse Motlop has been difficult for opponents to handle over the past month.Credit: Getty Images
Dow, the No. 3 draft pick of 2017 who appeared on the way out, did not make a strong enough impression as a substitute between rounds 12-14, replacing Jack Silvagni and Martin (twice).
He, too, returned to the VFL, but has played well since his recall, again as a substitute, in round 18. While he has retained his spot largely because Walsh, Cerra and Kennedy are injured, the out-of-contract midfielder had a season-high 22 touches (10 contested, seven clearances) against the Saints, including a rousing late goal that put the Blues ahead, and saved him from being subbed off.
“Guys like him and ‘Fog’, I am just so impressed with their persistence through disappointment. Clearly, they want to be AFL players,” said Voss, who was backed by the executive and board during the mid-season flashpoint.
Paddy Dow and Zac Fisher during Carlton’s win over St Kilda last weekend.Credit: Getty Images
“For them to persist, to play a role for us like they are now, has just been really impressive. We have a lot of guys in our team right now that have been in the same boat, and they have had to earn their way back in. Half of our back line, pretty much three-quarters of our back line, is made up of that, have spent some time in the VFL, then have come in.
“There are probably four or five in the forward line that are doing exactly the same thing.″
Brodie Kemp, after six games in his first three seasons, broke through in round seven and has 12 games this season to his credit, emerging as an important defender.
Former Docker Blake Acres has been steady on a wing, after the Blues appeared to lose faith in Lochie O’Brien.
Martin, in his fourth season at Princes Park, was a high-profile signing from the Gold Coast, particularly as his contract was lucratively front-ended. However, impacted by injuries, he has often been criticised by supporters.
As Weitering recently noted, Martin has also bought into the pressure mantra since returning in round 13. His gut running has rarely been highlighted, but his end-to-end burst against the Magpies last month was shown by Voss when reviewing that stunning win.
BLUES IMPROVEMENT (ROUNDS 14-21)
ATTACK RANKINGS
Points for: 108.3 (1st)
Scores per inside 50 %: 49.9 (1st)
Goals per inside 50 %: 28.2 (1st)
Shot-at-goal accuracy %: 53.8 (3rd)
Marks inside 50: 13.9 (equal 5th)
Points from turnover diff.: +8.9 (8th)
Points from stoppages diff.: +38.4 (1st)
Points from centre bounce diff.: +11.0 (1st)
DEFENCE RANKINGS
Points against: 61.3 (1st)
Scores per inside 50 % against: 39.1 (3rd)
Goals per inside 50 % against: 17.2 (2nd)
Shot-at-goal accuracy % against: 41.8 (3rd)
Marks inside 50 against: 11.0 (6th)
Source: Champion Data
Kennedy told 3AW: “There was a clip highlighted [against Collingwood], he started in the back pocket, and he worked the whole way up the ground, and he got a mark in the opposite pocket in the forward line. [They are] just little things that you probably don’t see as much. I spoke … about our pressure and contest – he hits as hard as anyone in the team.”
Alex Cincotta has been a presence inside 50 since round 12, particularly with McKay and Silvagni unavailable, while rookie wingman Oliver Hollands, this week’s Rising Star, has delivered the required endurance running. He hurt his shoulder in round 11, but has followed up on his bid to return “bigger and better” since round 19.
Now comes another significant test, for Melbourne are arguably premiership favourites. Will their “brand” continue to stand up?
Kennedy has admitted the Blues played “scared” during their run of eight defeats in nine games, but doesn’t see this returning. The Suns’ victory, intertwined with a mid-season epiphany, saw to this.
It was about getting back to the tough, contested style of football Voss was renowned for as triple-premiership Brisbane Lion, and which the Blues boasted until the midpoint of last season. Then came greater dare, built off winning the contested ball.
“We were getting taught and coached in so many different areas of the game – basically, we were so scared of doing anything. So, we just scrapped it and went back to our contest [work],” Kennedy said.
The statistics show the Blues, since round 14, have been brilliant. During this stretch, they have been the most potent scoring side (108.3 points a game), and defensively the stingiest (61.3). The scoring is a result of what coaches say is better “connection” between the midfield and forwards, for they rank No. 1 for scores and goals per inside 50. Defensively they are following assistant coach Aaron Hamill’s ethos of: “It’s not your man, it’s our man.”
If finals become a reality at Princes Park for the first time in a decade, the likes of generals Curnow, Cripps, Walsh and Weitering will naturally win praise. But the Blues know that without their foot soldiers, this battle would have been lost.
Alex Cincotta celebrates a goal against Collingwood.Credit: Getty Images
BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS
How Champion Data rates the unheralded Blues
Paddy Dow
Solid in his past two full games – finishing with 22 disposals, 10 contested possessions, seven clearances (four centre bounce) and one goal against St Kilda. Also attended 15 centre bounces – third behind George Hewett and Patrick Cripps.
- In round 19, he had 21 disposals and kicked one goal.
Alex Cincotta
Played every game since round 12 and leads the Blues for defensive-50 ground balls (21).
- Ranks sixth for intercept possessions (41).
- Has been a consistent ball winner, collecting between 10-18 disposals in each game.
Lachie Fogarty
Selected in round 14 and kicked one goal in each of his first four matches, but has been goalless since.
- Ranks fourth at the club for score assists with nine over this period.
- His defensive effort has stood out – applying 15 forward-50 tackles – ranked No.1 at the club (equal fifth in AFL). He also ranks second for tackles with 35 – one short of Sam Docherty.
David Cuningham
Season-high 18 disposals against the Saints, also kicking one goal and having four tackles.
- Came into the team in round 14 and ranks ninth at the club for his centre-bounce involvement.
- Booted goals in four of seven games and is averaging just under one score assist.
Matthew Cottrell
- Had 18 disposals, two score assists, and a season-high nine score involvements against St Kilda.
- Had a season-high 23 disposals against Sydney in round 11.
- Ranks ninth at the club for score involvements since round 9.
Jack Martin
- Goalless just twice since round 13 – kicking two hauls of three along the way.
- The Blues have retained possession 80 per cent of the time they have targeted him inside 50 over this period – best percentage of the top-five targets.
- Ranks second at the club for disposals inside 50 and third for scoreboard impact in this time.
Jesse Motlop
- Kicked two-plus goals in every game since round 18 – ranking second at the club for scoreboard impact with 10 goals and four score assists.
- Across the season – he ranks third overall for goals with 20 and leads the Blues for tackles inside 50 with 23.
- Has posted a shot at goal accuracy of 55.6 per cent which ranks third among the top-10 for shots at the club.
Zac Fisher
- Played his first match last weekend since round 12.
- Won a career-high 32 disposals on the weekend – also having 23 uncontested possessions and four clearances.
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