THERE comes a time in a season when a team simply has to win. There can be no excuses or hard-luck stories. That time has come for both Carlton and Richmond. This afternoon, the Blues just have to beat a fragile Fremantle and tonight at the MCG in the "Dreamtime game", the Tigers will be defenceless if they get beaten by the brittle Bombers.
Through the week, the Carlton membership, for the first time in its history, passed the 40,000 mark. The loyal Blues deserve to get a lot better than the insipid first-quarter effort that the team served up in its game last week against the Brisbane Lions. The contest was over at quarter-time when the Blues were belted eight goals to two.
In recent years, I felt the Carlton club had failed the team. Recruiting and development of players had been sub-standard, as were the club's resources and facilities. At board and coaching level, there had been disharmony. It was tough on the players, but not now. Now that's all gone and it's time the team delivered more, starting with:
Jarrad Waite
Today will be a game No.94 for the 25-year-old. It is time that he stood up to be counted as a key defender. The apprenticeship is over and he needs to prove that he can take on and beat Matthew Pavlich. Last week, he had to be moved before quarter-time when Jonathan Brown cut loose. Waite then played as a spare man in defence and got plenty of ball but that is irrelevant. The Blues want him to eventually play in a grand final and control a power forward. It is time to show he can do that, time to win contested ball.Nick Stevens/Heath Scotland
Time for these two to toughen up. Both play too wide, to receive too much easy ball. If they looked at their captain Chris Judd's hard-ball-gets statistics for the season — 47 — compared to theirs (Stevens 16 and Scotland 15), they should be red-faced and embarrassed. And they should do something about it, starting with measuring their performances on strong, selfless acts, rather than building a high tally of meaningless possessions.Matthew Kreuzer/Shaun Hampson
They are both tall skinny boys, but the Blues have to show faith and let them battle it out in the ruck against bigger, more experienced opponents because they are the future. And they have got more talent and grunt than the just-dropped Cain Ackland. They will be beaten in the hit-outs today by Aaron Sandilands, but that won't matter much, because the Dockers are the worst in the competition at winning clearances.Brendan Fevola
"Fev" is in fine form at the moment and you could say it's hard to knock a bloke who kicked five goals last week. Well you can, because he could have kicked 10, had he had his mind on the job. You have to make the most of your opportunities when you are hot.Eddie Betts is the smallest man in the team. He is an inspiration with his fanatical tackling and preparedness to win contested ball. You just hope his attitude rubs off on some of his cruising teammates.
And as for the Tigers, it would be a disaster if they dropped tonight's game to the Bombers. Essendon is reeling. The team is unsettled. Massive scores are being kicked against it and, other than a struggling Matthew Lloyd, no one else averages a goal a game. Richmond has earned respect in recent weeks with a big win over Fremantle at Subiaco, an unlucky draw with the Bulldogs, and close contests with Hawthorn and St Kilda. A poor showing in a showcase game tonight would undo a lot of good work.
Tonight the Tigers need Matthew Richardson to continue his excellent form. The old Tiger is flourishing in his new role of go-anywhere wingman. Averaging more than three goals and 10 marks a game, I can't see one Bomber who can stop him and he will relish the big occasion.
But the Tigers also need:
Keep up to date with the latest AFL news.