Blues Hold Off Bombers for Eight-Point Victory at MCG

Melbourne, Australia – Carlton secured an eight-point victory over Essendon at the MCG on Sunday night, despite a dramatic mid-match collapse that nearly cost them a commanding start.

The Blues ended the match with a score of 11.12 (78) to 11.4 (70) amid a fierce fightback by the Bombers. The game was marred by a second-quarter incident involving Essendon’s Sam Durham, who delivered a front-on bump to Carlton’s Adam Cerra, prompting scrutiny from the match review officer.

Durham’s hit left Cerra dazed and briefly on the ground, leading to a response from Carlton teammates, including former Bomber Adam Saad. Cerra remained on the field for over 10 minutes before undergoing a head injury assessment that confirmed he had not suffered a concussion.

“[Cerra] was immediately assessed out on the ground and was OK to remain out there,” a Carlton spokesperson said. “Vision was also reviewed on the bench, and the club decided to perform the HIA as a precaution. He passed that as well.”

The Blues seemed set for an easy victory after leading by 33 points at quarter-time, with 74,280 fans in attendance. Ex-Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia pushed Carlton’s lead to a match-high 38 points in the second quarter, but the Bombers responded with six of the next seven goals either side of half-time.

Coach Michael Voss’ team managed to stay in front by 11 points at three-quarter-time. Carlton appeared safe again as Blake Acres scored a stunning 50-meter goal followed by a close-range goal from Zac Williams. However, the Bombers were relentless and drew within six points with just over four minutes left when Xavier Duursma marked and converted.

No goals were scored in the final minutes, although Carlton’s Charlie Curnow and Acres had set shots. Essendon missed their last chance when Durham could not secure the ball just outside the 50-meter line.

Touted as the best player on the field, Carlton’s Tom De Koning recorded 23 disposals, 13 contested possessions, seven clearances, and a goal. Blues midfielder Sam Walsh and Bombers’ Nic Martin had an equal game-high of 32 disposals. Darcy Parish also shined, contributing 30 disposals and 10 clearances in his return.

Cerra expressed his relief after the game. “I felt fine, obviously went off for the test and passed,” he said. “It felt normal. Accidents happen in the game.”

As the match concluded, Blues captain Patrick Cripps emphasized the need to maintain focus and persist with their game plan. The win keeps Carlton’s finals hopes alive, although the team acknowledged it could have been a stronger performance.