"The Carlton two-pronged attack is very real": Premiership captain wowed by gritty Blues

23/04/2024 04:07

Carlton are the real deal in 2024, knocking off the formerly undefeated GWS Giants by 19 points in a heavyweight clash at Marvel Stadium in Round 6.

Carlton now sit 5-1 on the season, winning their toughest matchup despite an extensive injury list which sees 10 first-team players out of the side.

The Blues have worked extensively to coordinate an attacking unit featuring both of their Coleman Medallists, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, and while there have been questions over past seasons as to whether the two could make it work, the elite forwards have proved the doubters wrong.

The key bigs have combined for 36 goals through six games in 2024, the highest total between two teammates in the competition thus far.

One of those doubters was former AFL premiership captain Luke Hodge, who renounced his doubts on SEN's Sportsday last night.

"The Carlton two-pronged attack is very real," Hodge claimed.

"Looking at what they did on the weekend, they are sitting second and fourth (in the Coleman Medal race).

"I was one last year saying that Carlton looks better without Harry McKay. I will put my hand up and say that I'm wrong.

"The whole squad is real."

Beyond the forward line, the Blues looked unstoppable in the contest against the Giants on Saturday.

Despite being behind for a large portion of the game, Carlton pulled the lead back in phenomenal fashion in the third term, kicking eight straight goals in the second half to claim the victory.

The Blues also dominated the midfield battle with ease, claiming the centre clearances 22-8, and the total clearances 48-32.

"With the injuries that they had I thought that Carlton may have struggled this weekend, and yes, I know that (Sam) Taylor was not playing for GWS but, wow," Hodge said.

"A bit of grit, a bit of fight, a bit of belief, something that they have learnt over the past 12 months, it's definitely showing.

"That third quarter patch, ten and a half minutes they had seven inside 50s to score five goals.

"What teams can do that?

"For a side that looked lost with the two talls (McKay and Curnow) in the middle of the way last year, they just seem to be all on the same page, it seems like they are working, they are not clashing for as many contests as what they were doing last year."

SEN's Sam Edmund was also impressed by Michael Voss' men, particularly with the returning players Sam Walsh and ruckman Marc Pittonet.

"The first four games, even though they were undefeated, they went away from their clearance dominance. They were too clearance reliant last year," Edmund said.

"Pittonet coming back as well, whether it be by coincidence, has transformed that clearance game. That was an absolute smashing at the weekend.

"For Sam Walsh to come back, two games back in and have 70 possessions across the two weeks, you watch him at the ground, his work ethic is unbelievable, and the desire to get from contest to contest in amazing."

The true test of Carlton's season has only just commenced with the tough run of Geelong, Collingwood, Melbourne and Sydney to come over the next four rounds.

If the Blues can remain in the top four after Round 10, it will be hard to look past them as the premiership favourites for 2024.