Who sizzled?
Chris Judd. A phenomenal second half, particularly the third term where his 11 touches got the Blues back in the game. He had another five in the final term including the sealer. Not bad for a bloke who was supposed to be out for the season a month ago.
Who fizzled?
Jack Riewoldt. 11 touches and a goal. He played further up the ground, but the Richmond spearhead needed to hit the scoreboard in the frantic second half if the Tigers were going to stay in it. Perhaps his knee was giving him more trouble than we thought.
The moment
Sixteen minutes to go final quarter, ball in the air, Carlton up by four points, Nick Duigan and Steven Morris collided mid-air. The clash was sickening, but they both went to ground and then and went back for the ball as it moved to the wing. So brave, both of them.
The stat
Carlton gave away four 50m penalties in the second term, three of which resulted in goals.
The quote
"Chris Judd was very good, but don't underestimate the players around him." - Blues coach Mick Malthouse.
3-2-1
One vote: Bryce Gibbs (Carlton)
Gibbs had 27 touches mainly through the midfield, 18 of which were contested (a personal best). Carlton fans hoped Mick Malthouse would find Gibbs' harder edge and they won't be disappointed.
Two votes: Nick Duigan (Carlton)
Four goals as a pinch-hitting medium forward. In the leadership group at Carlton, yet in the coach's doghouse for most of the year. This was just his fourth game for 2013.
Three votes: Chris Judd (Carlton)
Wound back the clock with an influential second half that sparked the Bluebaggers back into action. He and Hawk skipper Luke Hodge struck a mighty blow for the draft class of 2001 this weekend.
Turning point
Judd and Gibbs lifting their work-rate after half-time. Once the premier Carlton midfielders had control of the game, the comeback was on, particularly against a side playing a long overdue final and that has trouble holding a lead.
The replay they won't want to see
Umpire Matthew Nicholls missed a gimme free to Carlton's Jarrad Waite in time-on of the second term. Carlton had the momentum, was doing all the attacking and Waite should have been rewarded for a textbook tackle on Alex Rance 25m from goal. The Blues could have been within 14 points in the shadows of half-time, instead the Tigers got the ball down to skipper Trent Cotchin who marked and goaled on the siren for a 26-point lead.
The tone-setter
The first quarter was tight, with goals at a premium as you would expect in finals. But with 27 minutes gone, Cotchin snapped a great goal on his left foot from deep on the half-forward flank, capitalising on several moments of relentless Tiger forward line pressure. It took the margin out to a handy eight-point lead, a buffer Richmond would build on in the second term.
Overheard at the MCG
"Three to four hours," a security guard outside the MCC Members at 12pm when asked how long the queue, which snaked from outside the gates to near the Hilton Hotel, would take to clear. It took 20 minutes for our correspondent, who joined the queue in Wellington Parade, to find a seat on Level One. The attendance was 94,690, the sort of figure we usually get on Anzac Day.
