FIVE on the trot and all is looking good at Arden St. While fans would have had the jitters when the Roos trailed by almost four goals at half-time, like all good sides, the boys hit back hard in the second half to record a comfortable 17-point won over Denis Pagan's Blues.
The momentIn a match brimming with individual highlights, it might be odd to suggest that the high point of the evening occurred after the final siren. Skipper Adam Simpson spent much of last week reminding anyone who would listen that his teammates forgot to chair him off after his 200th appearance in the club's loss to the Saints a couple of years back. There was to be no oversight on this occasion, with arguably the club's most consistent performer this decade getting the recognition he deserved after his 250th match.
Goal of the gameWhen Brent Harvey ran onto a loose ball at half-forward late in the third term, with speedy Carlton runner Kade Simpson in hot pursuit, you just hoped he'd be able to push the ball deeper into the Roos' attacking zone. But Boomer obviously had other ideas, swooping on the pill, burning off his pursuer with a deft sidestep and snapping cleverly with his deadly right foot to stretch the Roos lead to 11 points.
The moveLeigh Brown hadn't had much of a time of it in defence in the first half, but a shift to attack proved just the tonic for the Anvil. He pulled in a couple of commanding grabs deep in the forward line and finished with three goals for the game.
Coaches' awardJosh Gibson continues to defy his lack of senior AFL experience, again proving an impenetrable force across the Roos' backline. His defensive spoiling helped repel many Carlton forward thrusts and his disposal coming out of the back half helped turn defence into attack with pinpoint passing and creative handball.
King of the kidsLindsay Thomas repaid the faith of the selectors who brought him back into the senior line-up after performing only modestly in the VFL over the past two weeks, delivering a 17-possession, three-goal effort.
Syd Barker watch Brent Harvey will almost certainly get maximum votes for his 32 possessions and three goals however big Hamish McIntosh would have done his Syd Barker chances no harm with another dominant display in the ruck, collecting 14 possessions and winning 30 hitouts. Corey Jones' 14 contested possessions formed part of an eye-catching performance at half-forward.
LadderThe Kangas moved from seventh to sixth on the back of their fifth win this season. We are now just one game away from second but, to temper that, 12th placed St Kilda sit just a game away.
Next weekMelbourne have been a bit of a bogey side for the Roos in recent seasons, triumphing in six of the clubs' past seven encounters. Melbourne will likely welcome back a couple of established stars to the side that lost by 77 points to the Eagles in Perth. Dean Laidley will expect to have Glenn Archer back at his disposal, while Djaran Whyman and Ed Lower, both named best for North Ballarat at the weekend and David Hale will also be pushing for selection.
