Carlton keep fading out of games. It inspired a meme
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If football was played over one quarter, Carlton would be on top of the ladder, Tom De Koning would have a powerful reason to stay, and life would be rosy for coach Michael Voss.
An Instagram post this week by the account Memes About Carlton, presumably run by a Blues fan, gave a glimpse into this parallel universe.
Featuring highlights from the 1995 grand final under the title '2025 Carlton if AFL games ended at quarter time', the post finished with Stephen Kernahan and David Parkin holding aloft that year's premiership cup, the last won by the Blues.
The Blues have won 10 of 13 first quarters, equal with Adelaide. They play daring football in this period, move the ball quickly by hand, are efficient inside 50 metres and kick straight. But things change dramatically after the first break, almost as if the quarter-time siren to them is what the stroke of midnight is for Cinderella.
The key metrics drop. The Blues are less willing to handball after a mark, score conversions after entering 50m drop, as does accuracy – from third to 14th for the final three quarters.
Unfortunately for success-starved Blues supporters, the events on the opening night of round one against Richmond were not an aberration, even if their subsequent fadeouts have not been as spectacular or as embarrassing.
They have won just three of 13 second halves and are equal 16th for winning final quarters. In the 10 games they have led at quarter-time, they have won six, well below the competition average of 76.5 per cent. Even with one more win, they could have been playing this week for a spot in the eight.
There are numerous theories to the Blues fadeouts. They are slow; they are not a good kicking team; or, don't have the fitness to play a physically taxing game built on contest and clearance are among the schools of thought.
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