Outgoing GWS coach Leon Cameron has been forced to step away from his post in defeat as the Giants couldn’t get the job done against Carlton at home on Sunday afternoon.
With the end result being a 105 - 75 scoreline in the Blues’ favour, it was GWS who couldn’t keep up with Michael Voss’ side in the last term as the 7-2 outfit pulled away to win.
At half-time, it looked as if Cameron could be sent off a winner as scores were level, but Carlton would slowly wrestle control of the contest into their favour before breaking the match open in the last.
After 180 games in charge, SEN’s Sam Hargreaves says the departing coach “deserved better” than the eventual five-goal loss.
“It’s a heartbreaking situation for Leon Cameron,” Hargreaves said on AFL Nation.
“He pulled the pin during the week, it would’ve been oh so nice after 180 games at the helm at the Giants to go off with a win.
“But they cannot deliver one against an undermanned Carlton outfit.
“Carlton has completely dominated in the midfield in the fourth quarter.
“All the best Leon, you deserved better than this today.”
For Carlton, the win was set up in the midfield as the Blues’ highly regarded midfield outfit put together a 36 - 28 clearance differential, while also winning both the contested possession (164 - 129) and uncontested possession (260 - 209) counts.
Another key to victory for the Blues was aerially down back, as the likes of Jacob Weitering and Lachie Plowman restricted the Giants to just five marks inside 50.
With spearhead Harry McKay sidelined, the Blues also shared the load in front of goal as Corey Durdin (2.1), Sam Walsh, (2.1), Charlie Curnow (2.0), Jack Silvagni (2.0) and Zac Fisher (2.0) all booted multiple majors.
For the Giants, Josh Kelly (one goal, 36 disposals) and Harry Perryman (one goal, 24 disposals) fought well in their coach’s last game.
While they keep winning, Carlton’s injury list was added to as former Giant Zac Williams went down with a lower leg injury. The club will be hopeful that the concern is merely a lower calf issue as an Achilles tear would rule him out for the remainder of the season.
For GWS, medical substitute Bobby Hill was injected into the game in the last quarter as Connor Stone had ice applied to his hamstring.
Carlton will go in search of their eighth win from 10 games when they host Sydney at Marvel Stadium on Friday, while GWS host West Coast on Sunday in interim coach Mark McVeigh’s first game in charge.
FULL SCORE
GWS: 3.3, 7.5, 10.6, 11.9. (75)
Carlton: 5.3, 7.5, 10.12, 15.15 (105)
GOALS
GWS: Himmelberg 2, Riccardi 2, Greene 2, Kelly, Ward, Callaghan, Kennedy, Perryman
Carlton: Durdin 2, Walsh 2, Curnow 2, Fisher 2, Silvagni 2, O’Brien, Kennedy, De Koning, Docherty, Motlop
BEST
GWS: Josh Kelly, Harry Perryman, Sam Taylor, Braydon Preuss
Carlton: Jacob Weitering, Jack Silvagni, Sam Walsh, George Hewett, Zac Fisher, Sam Docherty
INJURIES
GWS: Connor Stone (hamstring)
Carlton: Zac Williams (lower leg)