Now, I got no fight with any man who does what he’s told, but when he don’t, the machine breaks down. And when the machine breaks down, we break down. And I ain’t gonna allow that in any of you. Not one.
– Sergeant Barnes – Platoon
Machines were torn apart at the weekend by the underdog’s gnashing teeth. On Saturday night, Gold Coast bit Carlton’s season to death in one of this year’s biggest upsets. On Sunday Fremantle mauled North Melbourne in another upset, but one without the curiousness of Carlton’s defeat.
North capitulated in a game vital to positioning in the lower rungs of the eight. The game was also vital in terms of confidence and momentum. Fremantle has it, North doesn’t and once momentum is halted it’s often hard to regain.
The ramifications of Carlton’s embarrassing loss are yet to fully play out. In the shattering aftermath on Saturday night, the reality of a disappointing season became apparent as the players sat on the floor awaiting warm down.
No one talked except for Chris Judd, who muttered fuck me, to himself. Three days on Judd is probably still muttering those same words.
Gold Coast won their third game for the season. It’s fair to say all their wins have been unexpected. On Saturday night, they were damn good. The Blues played like the game was won before it began, that they expected to contend the finals. Before the game, experts were suggesting a ten goal margin was the pass mark.
Carlton was coming off a 96-point thrashing of Essendon which reignited the passion of their fans. Against the Suns they won more possessions, more contested ball, more marks and more inside fifties. The Blues did everything possible to win except win and the only key point indicator they lost was the scoreboard.
They had 31 scoring shots to 23. Bad kicking, no one needs reminding, is bad football. So the pressure grows on their coach Brett Ratten, who must be muttering those same words Judd was after the game.
Ratten may be uttering those same words when the season is over. He’s had five years in charge. Given Carlton’s history and the media’s bloodlust, five years might be all he gets.
Before the game the bookies listed Gold Coast at $13.00 outsiders. Upsets happen all the time, and though this was a classic case of upset, caution is needed. The Suns have performed adequately at Carrara this year without winning much. There were blowouts to St Kilda and Sydney, but they were solid in other games.
They lost to Essendon by 17 points, Fremantle and North Melbourne by seven points, Geelong by 14 and Brisbane by 11. Their breakout win at Carrara, 30 points over GWS, is just two weeks old.
Simply, they’re competitive at home.
For two years, the Suns, to play on words, have been a basking case. Their players were either too young, no good or quitting to head home. Only their captain Gary Ablett was capable of providing leadership. Scant supporters endured heavy losses, the oft-talked about future the only solace.
Those at Carrara on Saturday night could not possibly have predicted the outcome, but they might’ve witnessed a possible future.
A timid, juvenile bunch of footballers suddenly grew old and brave. It was apparent early that the Suns expected to win, which is a fine fundamental of competitive sport.
They were lucky, though. Carlton kicked 7.13 from 20 scoring shots in the second half. If three of those points were goals, their season wouldn’t be over. The match was played under perfect conditions, so there is no excuse for poor skill. The Blues were poor when kicking for goal and poor all over the ground.
For some reason, capable players could not perform. It was mystifying, it still is, and as long as questions are asked, the answers won’t be found.
On Sunday, dedicated Carlton fans who proudly wore their colours throughout the last, devastating decade left those colours at home.
Teams wanting to play finals don’t lose to the Suns. That is a whole lotta hurt…
On Sunday, Fremantle’s 53 point win was secured without Matthew Pavlich, their captain and leading goal kicker. His withdrawal must’ve pushed North’s confidence to complacency, because that’s how they played.
The experts who critiqued the manner in which Ross Lyon was appointed as coach of Fremantle are now silent. However it happened, it’s worked. The Dockers confirmed the fourth finals berth in their miserable history. Though Lyon’s game plan is based on strangulation, they broke North in the last quarter and scored heavily.
Going into the match North had won nine from ten, with their only loss by two points. That’s momentum. Worried fans fretted before the game that the team has been up so long and it’s a long way down.
Next week North plays GWS, hardly the best preparation for the finals. Still, a finals berth is sewn up. North will be there. All that matters is positioning, but don’t expect them to last too long in September.
At the weekend two able machines broke down, two finely constructed game plans were deconstructed and busted. It was apparent early in the first quarter that North and Carlton were going to lose.
When the ball was loose, too many players stood and watched. When in possession there was too much pressure, which caused turnovers. Though Carlton and North rallied in the last quarter they were never in control and played like losers.
Wins against the odds upset the losers. Fremantle were underdogs but they weren’t rank outsiders. They’re going on to September. Upsets like the Gold Coast against Carlton are much rarer, because the difference between the combatants is so vast, on paper anyway. They’re rarer when the difference in importance is so stark.
Had Carlton won, they might play finals. They lose, so they don’t.
That’s the beauty of football. There is no such thing as a certainty. Uncertainty makes football great. Supporters love the underdog and embrace the underdog spirit. Everyone loves a contest or something to be shocked by.
But no one likes losing to the underdog. We hate the underdog when it shits all over the season.
Postscript:
Way back in 1986, North Melbourne was sixth on the ladder heading into the round 21 game against Melbourne at the MCG. North had won eleven games for the season and was jostling with Fitzroy and Footscray for fifth position and a spot in the finals.
Melbourne, with six wins, was in eleventh place. The match was a formality on paper and on form. North had to win to play finals. It was an easy but important game and it turned out bad. Melbourne led by 21 points at half time, by 41 at three quarter time and won by 85 points. It was a shocking upset.
I was furious. I remember thinking that Melbourne was a bunch of pricks, or words like that. Clubs not in contention for finals shouldn’t be allowed to win. That juvenile assessment didn’t last too long, and when the underdog bites there isn’t much you can do except sigh and resign yourself to another season without finals.
The underdog can never, ever be discounted. They’re malnourished, vicious and sneaky.
Pride Cup results:
|
147 |
Anne (7) |
|
145 |
Matt (7) |
|
144 |
Russ (7) |
|
142 |
Dave (6), Matt B (7) |
|
140 |
Andy (6) |
|
139 |
Stevo (7) |
|
137 |
Wayne (6), James F (6) |
|
136 |
Eric (7) |
|
135 |
Sandra (4) |
|
134 |
The Pole (4) |
|
131 |
Dallas (5) |
|
129 |
Jim (6) |
|
128 |
George (4) |
|
120 |
Donna (4), Adam L (4) |
|
119 |
Paul (4) |
|
54 |
Nemo (3) |
