CARLTON’S super signing Chris Judd has survived his first game in the navy blue, showing no ill effects from his serious groin injury and inspiring more than 10,000 people to flock the MC Labour Park for a NAB Challenge match against the Western Bulldogs.
But it wasn’t all good news for the Blues with young gun Marc Murphy set to face the tribunal after a heavy clash with Bulldog Mitch Hahn, and defender Andrew Walker sent to hospital for scans on his troublesome shoulder after another solid hit.
The Blues did win on the scoreboard with a 13.15 (93) to 12.12 (84) victory to whet the appetite of fans heading into the home and away season.
Yet while the highly anticipated return of Judd stole the show, there were also plenty of positives for the Doggies in the lead up to round one.
Former Crow Scott Welsh found his range with three first-half goals while Jason Akermanis was the best of a plethora of good performers for the Western Bulldogs.
But the day was all about Judd who was serviceable, playing the majority of the match in the centre and finishing with eight kicks and 12 handballs.
The Brownlow Medallist recruit led the young Carlton outfit on to the field to generous applause just before the 4.30pm kick off.
The crowd even cheered when Judd won the toss moments later against Western Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson. And they were in raptures when Judd grabbed four touches in the opening 70 seconds of the match.
None of those possessions were effective but it was enough to raise the hopes of the long-suffering Carlton fans and he steadily improved as the match wore on.
Another positive sign for Blues fans was the performance of No. 1 pick Matthew Kreuzer who looked at home on the big stage.
The Dogs had the better of the opening quarter and took an eight-point lead to the first change, 5.1 (31) to 3.5 (23). A Judd goal after the quarter-time siren was disallowed which most of the jubilant crowd didn’t immediately realise.
Carlton improved its rating in the second term through the efforts of Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson, Brendan Fevola, Andrew Carrazzo and Kreuzer but they were unable to make much impact on the scoreboard.
Young wingman Steve Browne was another Blue to show plenty of promise as a shadow to key Bulldog playmaker Nathan Eagleton.
But the Dogs continued to hold sway and by half-time had stretched the margin to 15 points with Akermanis on fire and senior stars such Scott West and Brad Johnson working their way into the match.
The Blues jumped out with two quick goals after the long break, with a typical roving effort from Judd again a crowd favourite, and by the last change they had fought back to within two points.
Carlton hit the lead early in the final term heading to the Robert Heatley grandstand end of the famous ground.
The official crowd of 10,137 nearly lifted the roof off the stand and that momentum was enough to drag the home side over the line.
NAB CHALLENGE
CARLTON 3.5 6.7 10.11 13.15 (93)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.1 9.4 11.7 12.12 (84)
Goals: Carlton: B Fevola 4 J Edwards 3 J Russell C Judd S Browne A Hartlett C Cloke R Houlihan. Western Bulldogs: S Welsh 3 B Johnson 2 J Hill 2 S Minson 2 R Griggen S Higgins J Akermanis.
Best: Carlton: M Murphy B Fevola J Waite M Kreuzer C Judd A Carrazzo. Western Bulldogs: J Akermanis B Johnson S Higgins M Boyd A Cooney S West.
Injuries: Carlton: A Walker (shoulder). Western Bulldogs: Nil. Reports: Carlton: M Murphy (reported by umpire S Stewart for allegedly making forceful front-on contact to M Hahn in the third quarter). Western Bulldogs: Nil.
Umpires: S Ryan S Stewart S Wenn H Kennedy.
Crowd: 10,137 at Princes Park.
