Carlton Dominates West Coast Eagles in AFL Saturday Scoreboard Match

AFL Saturday Scoreboard

By Andrew McGarry

FT: Carlton 17.15 (117) beats West Coast 9.10 (64)

By Andrew McGarry

The siren sounds with a goal from Jagga Smith the cap on things, and the Carlton fans let everyone know how much they enjoyed that.

The final margin of 53 points did not flatter them.

Aside from a few periods where West Coast raised the pressure, the Blues had this one in control for most of the day.

The spread of goalkickers was excellent, and Talor Byrne in particular had a huge day. Some great goals, and even better team-first choices. Top work from the young man.

That is six wins in a row for Carlton under Josh Fraser, who keeps saying he just wants to be interim coach and nothing more.

But someone is going to snap him up if Carlton keeps going like this. This victory puts them temporarily in the top 10, so the Blues are a legitimate chance of making finals with a couple of months left before September.

Ainsworth adds another goal in final minutes

By Andrew McGarry

The home side don't want this one to end!

They are moving the ball at will here, and Ben Ainsworth hoists one from 50 and it sails through!

The lead is blowing out a bit here, but it's well deserved.

Great teamwork leads to Evans goal for Carlton

By Andrew McGarry

The Blues are a happy crew here!

They win a forward half stoppage, and kick to Talor Byrne on the right wing. He has a chance to kick his fourth, but takes the team option and handballs to another option - a second handball gets it to Francis Evans on the line, and he boots it into the stands.

Blues still going with goal to Ainsworth

By Andrew McGarry

Carlton have got this one done, and Ben Ainsworth makes sure of it just before time one with a lovely goal on the run.

The Blues fans are enjoying this, and are taking every moment in at Docklands.

Misses at either end as Blues still in charge

By Andrew McGarry

A little of the sting has gone out of this one, with just over half the final quarter to go. It's not over, but the Eagles need everything to go right for them.

At one end, a great kick from Sam Walsh hit up young Jack Ison, but his set shot drifted right.

Then at the other end, Elliot Yeo had a snap but it missed as well.

And just now Jake Waterman had a ping himself - but his shot went wide as well.

The lead is 30 points.

Eagles hit back with goal to Jobe Shanahan

By Andrew McGarry

That was a good moment for West Coast!

They went forward and Jake Waterman - who has been virtually frozen out of things today - got the ball in traffic and handballed over the top to set Jobe Shanahan clear to kick the goal.

Great team-first play from the big mulleted one, and that just about keeps the Eagles in it. Back to 37 points.

McKay kicks the opener for Carlton in the final term

By Andrew McGarry

Well, that would have to be nearly that, wouldn't it?

The Blues end a scrappy opening to the final quarter, getting it inside 50 once more and Harry McKay snaps his third!

The lead is out to 42 points.

3QT stats

By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 47-37 Carlton

Clearances: 34-29 Carlton

Centre clearances: 13-9 West Coast

Contested possessions: 110-92 Carlton

Uncontested possessions: 226-131 Carlton

Marks inside 50: 16-2 Carlton

Tackles: 41-34 Carlton

3QT: Carlton 12.11 (83) leads West Coast 7.5 (47)

By Andrew McGarry

The Eagles have a couple of last attacks, but they both end with intercept marks to the Blues.

The very final seconds see a long kick inside 50 from Carlton, and a tough contested mark from Francis Evans, who is flattened as he takes it.

His kick after the siren goes wide, but with three quarters down, Carlton have extended their lead slightly, so all the effort expended by West Coast after the long break is all for nought (on the scoreboard at least).

The Eagles could make things interesting with some early goals, but you can't see them kicking a net seven in the final term to grab a win. Would be a great story if they could, though!

Harry McKay adds to Carlton's lead

By Andrew McGarry

The Eagles are still trying here, but they haven't made few inroads in this quarter.

The Blues are steadying and they have just broken on the counter, a kick through the corridor sets them free, and then a long ball out the back for Harry McKay to run on to.

The Docklands crowd roars again as the big man gets hold of it a few metres out and kicks it through!

Now that lead is back out to 34 points deep in time on.

Talor Byrne starring for Carlton

By Andrew McGarry

It's been a bit of an arm-wrestle the last few minutes, but Carlton have steadied and forced it inside 50.

And it's that man, Talor Byrne, who kicks straight and true from the left forward pocket!

He has three goals, ranging from good to great. And Carlton now lead by 28 points entering time on.

Miss from McKay as Carlton under more pressure

By Andrew McGarry

The pressure level has risen and Carlton are feeling it a bit.

But they find their way inside 50 and Harry McKay has a set shot from the pocket.

But that's a poor snap - it curls way too much to the right.

West Coast bags another goal to narrow the margin

By Andrew McGarry

All right, we may have a contest here!

The Eagles get the ball forward and have a forward 50 stoppage.

And the umpires find a ruck infringement from Marc Pittonet on Bailey Williams.

The big man goes back and kicks a lovely right - to - left curler.

That's two in a row for the Eagles, and there is a murmur of concern at Docklands. The lead is now 21 points.

Good start for the Eagles with goal from Murdock

By Andrew McGarry

It's been a big contested start to the second half, and the Eagles have forced it inside 50.

It's a bit of a scramble inside Carlton's defence, and the ball spills to Milan Murdock, who steps out and snaps a nice goal to give the visitors a positive start!

The lead is back to 27 points.

Top possession-getters

By Andrew McGarry

Sam Walsh (CARL) - 20

Patrick Cripps (CARL) - 19

Jagga Smith (CARL) - 15

George Hewett (CARL) - 15

Ollie Florent (CARL) - 15

Ben Ainsworth (CARL) - 14

A sign of the Carlton dominance is that the top EIGHT possession-getters on the ground are all from the Blues.

HT stats

By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 33-25 Carlton

Clearances: 25-17 Carlton

Centre clearances: 9-8 West Coast

Contested possessions: 75-59 Carlton

Uncontested possessions: 172-84 Carlton

Marks inside 50: 13-0 Carlton

Tackles: 28-22 Carlton

Carlton are controlling the ball, even though West Coast did better at inside 50s and centre clearances in that quarter.

The big standout is the uncontested possessions - the Blues have nearly 100 more than their opposition, and that is helping them dominate.

HT: Carlton 10.6 (66) leads West Coast 5.4 (34)

By Andrew McGarry

A late goal from Brady Hough gives the Eagles a bit of hope, but as the siren sounds for half-time, it's been a fairly one-sided half of footy.

The fact that West Coast are only 32 points behind is a slight plus, but how they are going to put together six unanswered goals to get ahead escapes me right now.

The Blues need to straighten up and not take their foot off the pedal in the second half, and they could not only earn their sixth-straight win, they could get a nice percentage boost as well.

The only query is a late moment where Patrick Cripps was left wringing his hand in discomfort. The Blues will be hoping it's just temporary and not the sign of an injury. #OneToWatch

Carlton converting their chances well in second term

By Andrew McGarry

The Eagles defence is just not coping with the Blues attack right now.

Carlton are racking up the inside 50s, and making use of them.

Matthew Cottrell has scored a goal after a mark on 50.

The Blues have 32 inside 50s and kicked 10.6 so far.

The big red alarm bell for West Coast is Carlton snagging 14 marks inside 50 to none. FOURTEEN!