DARREN MONCRIEFF
Monday, July 25, 2011
CARLTON coach Brett Ratten reckons his club has sealed the double for mark and goal of the year.
Blues goal-sneak maestro Eddie Betts claimed a career-best eight goals as Carlton tore through Essendon by 74 points, 24.9 (153) 12.7 (79), in round 18 of the AFL in front of 74,123 people at the MCG on Saturday night.
Betts' contender came in the third quarter where, corralled on the boundary line near the behind post, he danced around several opponents to slot through his fifth goal from a ridiculously impossible angle.
It almost brought the house down.
Those foundations were given another workout later when Carlton's Andrew Walker flew onto the shoulders of an opponent and was elevated even higher to take a screamer just inside the Blues' 50.
To cap his high-flying effort, the No.2 draft pick (2003) booted his fourth goal of the night to lengthen Carlton's already growing lead.
Ratten's coaching instincts were spot on when, at the three-quarter-time huddle, he told Walker to stay on the ground because he thought he'd soon rake in a big mark.
"That's the biggest mark I've ever seen him take," the Blues coach said post-match. "I said to him, 'Stay on the ground, you're flying a lot'. He got the leap like he was up there for a year.
"Maybe we had mark and goal of the year in one night ... That Betts goal was phenomenal. It was good for him to get into some good touch, it was a good performance ... (Jeff) Garlett, as well, these blokes are working hard on their game."
It was a welcome return to form for Betts who has been a little inaccurate in front of goal before this game. His Saturday night return of 8.0 came from just nine kicks. Betts now has 37 majors this season.
Walker is in some kind of form in 2011, with talk of him pushing for All-Australian selection at season's end.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 25/07/2011 21:49