Semi Final, 1987

Carlton 1.2 8 2.11 23 6.12 48 11.14 80 Hawthorn 3.2 20 6.2 38 9.3 57 10.5 65	Venue: Waverley Park	Date: Saturday September 12, 1987
Result: Win by 15 points	Umpires: Clayton, Sawers	Crowd: 64,333
Goalkickers: S.Kernahan (3), B.Evans (2), K.Hunter, W.Johnston, J.Madden, W.McKenzie, M.Naley, P.Sartori
Best: M.Naley, C.Bradley, S.Kernahan, S.Silvagni, T.Alvin, W.Johnston, K.Hunter.
Reports: Bernie Evans (Striking Greg Dear) - 1 match
Injuries: P.Sartori - hamstring; J.Dunstall (Hawthorn) - ankle (both players were to miss playing in the Grand Final due to these injuries).

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Game Review

After trailing Hawthorn for the first three quarters, the Blues over-ran their tiring nemesis in the last term to record a telling 15-point victory. Despite having more scoring shots in the first half, Carlton seemed in deep trouble when Hawthorn kicked three quick goals to lead by 33 points at the ten minute mark of the third term.

From that point on however, the game changed. Carlton's work-rate lifted as the Hawks began to tire. The Blues' accuracy in front of goal returned, and they surged to within 9 points of Hawthorn at three-quarter time. During this quarter Hawthorn's full forward Jason Dunstall succumbed to an ankle injury that ended his season.

Two passages of play in the last quarter defined the way the Blues played for the day. On both occasions, Craig Bradley, with his gut-busting run through the midfield, broke the lines and kicked cleanly to a Kernahan-Langford contest. With the luxury of being one-out, Kernahan outmarked Langford both times and goaled at main scoreboard end of the ground. From then on, the last quarter was a procession as Carlton piled on the pressure, kicking five goals to one and winning comfortably.

This impressive win sent the Blues straight into the Grand Final in a fortnight's time, although sadly for Bernie Evans he copped a one match suspension and was ruled out of the big day.

Equally as sad for the Blues was the loss of Peter Sartori with a hamstring injury. Sartori kicked one goal on the day, and set up two superb goals with skilful palming of the ball to Johnston and Naley. The Johnston goal was a clever flip over the back of the pack to the Dominator, who goaled with a right foot snap. In the following quarter at the main scoreboard end, Sartori deftly palmed the ball to Naley in heavy traffic, and his clever snap brought up another telling goal. Both of those scores were the direct result of clever ruckwork by the big West Australian, and showed that it was a much-underrated component of his game.

The Carlton-Hawthorn second semi-final was a bit like 1982 revisited, especially after half-time, when Wayne Johnston went into the centre. The Dominator lifted the Blues by constantly clearing the ball out of the middle. In the third quarter when he kicked a long goal and ran back punching the air, five years suddenly fell away. That's not long in the course of history but Johnno has jammed two lifetimes into that period. He has had his past flash before his eyes in hospital. and with more than his share of luck, he's gone from blocked drains and broken tap washers to million-dollar deals in smoked-glass city offices. If the world is Wayne's oyster, he's the type of player who finds a pearl - particularly in September. - Coodabeen Champions; Inside Football

We'll just keep the champers on ice What a day for the mighty Bluebaggers! To set the pattern for things to come, the reserves stormed away with the first semi and look set to win the flag again this year from the elimination final. Then the super side burst through the banner and despite the fact that popular opinion pointed to a Hawthorn victory, my Blues ran away with one of the most conclusive of all victories. Dead-set, they may as well finish the season now. If Melbourne wasn't still playing I reckon they would. That is the only interest left. Last Saturday belonged to us. After Hawthorn blitzed the Swans, people were saying they would do the same to us. What do they take this Carlton side for? Players like Stephen Kernahan cannot be kept out of a game for the full 120 minutes. To Langford's credit he did a fair job on our skipper but it was Kernahan, with two brilliant goals who kept the Carlton machine running. Apart from his efforts, Mark Naley showed who the best rover from SA really is. All the talk about that "rat" from Hawthorn has shielded "Nails" from the public eye, but that State game performance was just a sign of things to come. Speaking of South Australians, how good is Craig Bradley? This year, "Braddles" seems to have been able to shake taggers and he has been a consistently brilliant player. I could go on. Steve Silvagni was magnificent, Tommy Alvin superb, Justin Madden unbeatable, Kenny Hunter unbelievable, Johnno sensational..... the list of super players goes on and on. Even the likes of Shane Robertson and Adrian Gleeson have become champions. Can you imagine how much bigger their reputation will become after they blitz whoever in the big one? That dream is only one step away now. All Blues supporters will just have to put the champagne on ice, sit back and be patient. - Carl Toner; Inside Football.

One of the unsung stars in Carlton's second consecutive Grand Final appearance is dual premiership winger David Glascott. Glascott's unselfish contributions this year - he's often sacrificed his own free-running game to control opposing stars - may have gone unrecognised by many, but not by Blues coach Robert Walls or the Carlton match committee. Last weekend he restricted Hawk captain Michael Tuck to just half a dozen possessions in the second half. Unlike some taggers, Glascott insists on trying to br creative when his team has the ball. He makes space and provides options around the centre as the Blues look to rocket the ball quickly to skipper Stephen Kernahan or veteran Ken Hunter. - Ken Piesse; Inside Football.

Team

B:	31 Tom Alvin	1 Stephen Silvagni	26 David Rhys-Jones
HB:	22 Ian Aitken	6 Jon Dorotich	35 Peter Dean
C:	38 Shane Robertson	21 Craig Bradley	32 David Glascott
HF:	7 Wayne Johnston	4 Stephen Kernahan (c)	3 Richard Dennis
F:	18 Peter Sartori	9 Ken Hunter	12 Adrian Gleeson
Ruck:	44 Justin Madden (vc)	43 Mick Kennedy	17 Mark Naley
Interchange:	15 Bernie Evans	45 Warren McKenzie
Coach:	Robert Walls

Gallery

• 
  1987 2nd Semi - 1st Robert Walls quote.
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  1987 2nd Semi - 2nd Robert Walls quote.
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  1987 2nd Semi - A bloodied but happy Harry Madden.
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  1987 2nd Semi - A happy Craig Bradley & Mick Kennedy.
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  1987 2nd Semi - A happy Craig Bradley at the end of the game.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Ball magnet Mark Naley.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Battle lines drawn.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Blues secret of success.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Blues still have their woes.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Blues turn the tables.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Col Kinnear's boys kicking on.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Craig Bradley drives the ball long.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Craig Bradley on the burst.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Craig Bradley pumps the ball long.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Craig Bradley shoots for goal.
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  1987 2nd Semi - David Glascott spoils Michael Tuck.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Doritich to keep spot for GF??
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  1987 2nd Semi - Dorotich & Brereton chase the loose footy.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Dorotich & Brereton watch the play.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Final 20 for GF undecided.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Glascott & Rhys-Jones go for the loose ball.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Hawks start to feel the pinch (IF 16/09/87).
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  1987 2nd Semi - High praise for David Glascott.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Holiday may not suit Blues?? (IF 16/09/87).
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  1987 2nd Semi - Ian Aitken gets a clearing kick.PIC: Inside Football.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Jason Dunstall quote.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Johnno & Sticks; Big Time Players (IF Tony Shaw).
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  1987 2nd Semi - Jon Dorotich stopping another Hawk attack.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Justin Madden gives Blues first use of the footy.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Justin Madden safely marks.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Justin Madden to settle score in GF.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Ken Hunter quote.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Ken Hunter sizing up options.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Ken Hunter takes a courageous mark running with the flight of the ball.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Kernahan takes a crucial mark in the last quarter.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Madden & Dipper clash.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Madden & Sartori in marking contest.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Mark Naley in front of Greg Dear.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Mark Naley leaves Hawk opponent in his wake.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Mark Naley quote.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Mark Naley rides Russell Morris into the turf.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Mark Naley.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Match Stats.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Naley a quiet achiever.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Naley rises to the occasion.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Naley turns the corner (IF 16/09/87).
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  1987 2nd Semi - Naley's day out.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Paul Meldrum to miss out on GF???
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  1987 2nd Semi - Peter Sartori shoots for goal.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Player Profiles (pg 1 of 2).
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  1987 2nd Semi - Player Profiles (pg 2 of 2).
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  1987 2nd Semi - Player ratings.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Rhys-Jones quote.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Sartori & Hunter available for reserves.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Silvagni & Madden - quiet achievers.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Silvagni spoils Dunstall.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Silvagni spoils Dunstall.
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  1987 2nd Semi - SOS earns his place.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Stephen & Serg Silvagni after the game.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Steve Silvagni collects the loose ball.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Team List & Selections (pg 1 of 2).
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  1987 2nd Semi - Team List & Selections (pg 2 of 2).
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  1987 2nd Semi - Tempers flare between the Blues & Hawks.
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  1987 2nd Semi - The boys sing the song after win into the GF.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Tom Alvin tackles Brereton.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Wayne Johnston quote.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Wayne Johnston shows the type of desperation that wins finals matches.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Wayne Johnston slips one into Dipper.
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  1987 2nd Semi - Why those big-time Blues are on fire! (IF 16/09/87).
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  1987 2nd Semi article.
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  1987 2nd Semi Final - Silvagni spoils Dunstall.PIC: Sunday Observer.
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  1987 2nd Semi Preview (IF 09/09/87).
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  1987 2nd Semi Preview by Kelvin Moore (FW 11/09/87).

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Round 22 | The Grand Final