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Carlton have escaped with an eight-point victory over Essendon at the MCG on Sunday night after a mid-match collapse threatened to waste their seven-goals-to-one start.
However, the Blues’ much-needed win – 11.12 (78) to 11.4 (70) – was overshadowed by a second-quarter incident where Bomber Sam Durham put Adam Cerra on his back with a front-on bump that is sure to attract match review scrutiny.
Durham’s hit on Cerra dazed the Blue and left him briefly flat on his back as Carlton teammates, including former Bomber Adam Saad, rushed in to remonstrate with the Essendon midfielder.
Former Bomber Adam Saad had plenty to say to Sam Durham after his bump on Adam Cerra.Credit: AFL Photos
Cerra remained on the field for more than 10 minutes before disappearing into the Blues’ rooms for a head injury assessment (HIA) that cleared him of a concussion.
Speaking on Fox Footy, Melbourne great Garry Lyon was critical of Carlton’s delay in undertaking the test, but the Blues defended their decision.
“[Cerra] was immediately assessed out on the ground and was OK to remain out there,” a Carlton spokesperson told this masthead.
“Vision was also reviewed on the bench, [and] the club made the decision to have HIA completed as an absolute precaution. He passed that also.”
The Blues seemed on track for a comfortable win over the injury-ravaged Bombers when they went to quarter-time with a 33-point lead in front of 74,280 fans.
Xavier Duursma kicked a big goal late for the Bombers.Credit: AFL Photos
Ex-Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia extended Carlton’s margin to a match-high 38 points in the second quarter, but the Bombers kicked six of the next seven goals either side of half-time to launch a fierce fightback.
Michael Voss’ men, who led by 11 points at three-quarter-time, again looked safe when Blake Acres slotted a brilliant 50-metre goal from the boundary before Zac Williams blasted through another from point-blank range.
But Essendon kept on coming and were only six points behind with almost four-and-a-half minutes left when Xavier Duursma soared across a pack to mark then kick a goal.
Neither team managed a goal thereafter, although Blues pair Charlie Curnow and Acres had the only two set shots in the dying minutes.
The Bombers’ last opportunity slipped through Durham’s hands just outside 50, and they were unable to piece together a match-winning passage.
Carlton’s restricted free agent Tom De Koning was best afield with 23 disposals, 13 contested possessions, seven clearances and a goal in a ruck mismatch with veteran big man Todd Goldstein.
Blue Sam Walsh and Bomber Nic Martin were also prominent with an equal-game-high 32 disposals apiece, while Darcy Parish amassed 30 touches and 10 clearances in a strong return game.
