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Five years after he announced his arrival on the AFL stage in this competition, Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola has won the Wizard Home Loans Cup for the Blues with a devastating eight goal haul in Saturday night's grand final against the West Coast Eagles.
Fevola, who first came to prominence when he kicked 12 goals in a pre-season match as an 18-year-old in the 1999 millenium match, was the difference between the two teams as he won the Michael Tuck Medal for best afield in leading the Blues to a thrilling 1.14.18 (111) to 1.11.9 (84) grand final victory in front of more than 43,000 fans at Telstra Dome.
And the Blues did it the hard way showing they now not only possess growing skill and confidence under coach Denis Pagan but also the character needed by top teams after surviving a final quarter scare from the more favoured Eagles' line-up.
The Blues looked home when vice-captain Scott Camporeale, who along with fellow veteran Matthew Lappin led by example all night, booted the opening goal of the final term to put the home side 23 points in front.
But the Eagles, inspired by reigning Brownlow Medalist Chris Judd and returning ruckman Michael Gardiner - then showed why they are rated one of the leading premiership contenders in 2005 by kicking the next four goals to snatch back the lead at the 11 minute mark.
Gardiner booted two of them and there seems little doubt his return from the knee injury, which sidelined him for nearly all of last season, will be an enormous boost for the Eagles in 2005.
But just when the favourites looked set to run away with the game, the Blues showed that their days of being the easybeats of the competition are definitely over.
And when the Blues badly needed a goal to stem the momentum it was Fevola who delivered the goods yet again - after goaling from a free-kick at the 12 minute mark to restore Carlton's lead.
Bouyed on a by a passionate crowd of Blues fans, who are sensing the glory days might be soon returning to this proud club, Carlton then lifted enormously and sealed the game when Ian Prendergast let fly with a monster nine-point goal after intercepting a handball.
There was still time for Fevola to add his eighth as the Blues celebrated their first pre-season cup since 1997.
But the fact this trophy came just three years after the club slumped to its lowest ever ebb, when it collected its first wooden spoon in 2002, makes this latest triumph even more remarkable and even sweeter for Carlton fans so used to success.
It also comes at the start of only Denis Pagan's third year as coach as the dual Kangaroos' premiership coach proves yet again why he is arguably the best coach in the AFL by re-building the Blues into a force so quickly.
And Pagan deserved a lot of credit for the Blues triumph on Saturday night, particularly for the way he was able to set up his forward line to allow so much space for Fevola and Lance Whitnall to work in.
While the Eagles' attack often seemed over-crowded in the first half, Fevola and Whitnall had acres of space in the first half and simply destroyed the visitors.
Fevola booted four goals in the first half and Whitnall two as the Blues jumped to a 22 point lead at half-time.
And such was the constant pressure of the Carlton side, which tackled ferociously, the Eagles were forced into mistakes and conceded two deliberate rushed behinds in the second term which virtually added the equivalent of a goal to the Blues' score.
The Blues' defence was equally heroic with Luke Livingston and Brett Thornton underlining their huge improvement by performing superbly in the two key defensive posts although Thornton's night was soured by what appeared a serious ankle injury in the dying minutes.
And despite 35 possessions from Chad Fletcher and 27 touches and two goals from the brilliant Judd, the Blues' underrated midfield more than held its own with Nick Stevens - who missed his brother's wedding to play in this game - a constant inspiration in finishing the match with 22 kicks.
CARLTON: 0.4.2, 0.8.12, 0.10.15, 1.14.18 (111)
WEST COAST EAGLES: 1.3.3, 1.4.5, 1.7.6, 1.11.9 (84)
NINE POINT GOALS: Carlton: Prendergast
West Coast Eagles: Judd
GOALS – Carlton: Fevola 8, Whitnall 2, Morrell, McGrath, Camporeale, Scotland
West Coast Eagles: Lynch 3, Hansen, Gardiner, Banfield 2, Waters, Judd
BEST – Carlton: Fevola, Camporeale, Lappin, Stevens, Whitnall, Livingston, French
West Coast Eagles: Judd, Fletcher, Banfield, Cousins, Gardiner, Wirrpunda
CHANGES – Carlton: Johnson, Bowyer, Betts, Norman
West Coast Eagles: McConnell, Butler, Jones, Embley
INJURIES – Carlton: Thornton (leg)
West Coast Eagles: TBC
REPORTS - TBC
UMPIRES - McLaren, Meredith, Wenn, Ryan
CROWD - 43,280 at Telstra Dome
Fevola, who first came to prominence when he kicked 12 goals in a pre-season match as an 18-year-old in the 1999 millenium match, was the difference between the two teams as he won the Michael Tuck Medal for best afield in leading the Blues to a thrilling 1.14.18 (111) to 1.11.9 (84) grand final victory in front of more than 43,000 fans at Telstra Dome.
And the Blues did it the hard way showing they now not only possess growing skill and confidence under coach Denis Pagan but also the character needed by top teams after surviving a final quarter scare from the more favoured Eagles' line-up.
The Blues looked home when vice-captain Scott Camporeale, who along with fellow veteran Matthew Lappin led by example all night, booted the opening goal of the final term to put the home side 23 points in front.
But the Eagles, inspired by reigning Brownlow Medalist Chris Judd and returning ruckman Michael Gardiner - then showed why they are rated one of the leading premiership contenders in 2005 by kicking the next four goals to snatch back the lead at the 11 minute mark.
Gardiner booted two of them and there seems little doubt his return from the knee injury, which sidelined him for nearly all of last season, will be an enormous boost for the Eagles in 2005.
But just when the favourites looked set to run away with the game, the Blues showed that their days of being the easybeats of the competition are definitely over.
And when the Blues badly needed a goal to stem the momentum it was Fevola who delivered the goods yet again - after goaling from a free-kick at the 12 minute mark to restore Carlton's lead.
Bouyed on a by a passionate crowd of Blues fans, who are sensing the glory days might be soon returning to this proud club, Carlton then lifted enormously and sealed the game when Ian Prendergast let fly with a monster nine-point goal after intercepting a handball.
There was still time for Fevola to add his eighth as the Blues celebrated their first pre-season cup since 1997.
But the fact this trophy came just three years after the club slumped to its lowest ever ebb, when it collected its first wooden spoon in 2002, makes this latest triumph even more remarkable and even sweeter for Carlton fans so used to success.
It also comes at the start of only Denis Pagan's third year as coach as the dual Kangaroos' premiership coach proves yet again why he is arguably the best coach in the AFL by re-building the Blues into a force so quickly.
And Pagan deserved a lot of credit for the Blues triumph on Saturday night, particularly for the way he was able to set up his forward line to allow so much space for Fevola and Lance Whitnall to work in.
While the Eagles' attack often seemed over-crowded in the first half, Fevola and Whitnall had acres of space in the first half and simply destroyed the visitors.
Fevola booted four goals in the first half and Whitnall two as the Blues jumped to a 22 point lead at half-time.
And such was the constant pressure of the Carlton side, which tackled ferociously, the Eagles were forced into mistakes and conceded two deliberate rushed behinds in the second term which virtually added the equivalent of a goal to the Blues' score.
The Blues' defence was equally heroic with Luke Livingston and Brett Thornton underlining their huge improvement by performing superbly in the two key defensive posts although Thornton's night was soured by what appeared a serious ankle injury in the dying minutes.
And despite 35 possessions from Chad Fletcher and 27 touches and two goals from the brilliant Judd, the Blues' underrated midfield more than held its own with Nick Stevens - who missed his brother's wedding to play in this game - a constant inspiration in finishing the match with 22 kicks.
CARLTON: 0.4.2, 0.8.12, 0.10.15, 1.14.18 (111)
WEST COAST EAGLES: 1.3.3, 1.4.5, 1.7.6, 1.11.9 (84)
NINE POINT GOALS: Carlton: Prendergast
West Coast Eagles: Judd
GOALS – Carlton: Fevola 8, Whitnall 2, Morrell, McGrath, Camporeale, Scotland
West Coast Eagles: Lynch 3, Hansen, Gardiner, Banfield 2, Waters, Judd
BEST – Carlton: Fevola, Camporeale, Lappin, Stevens, Whitnall, Livingston, French
West Coast Eagles: Judd, Fletcher, Banfield, Cousins, Gardiner, Wirrpunda
CHANGES – Carlton: Johnson, Bowyer, Betts, Norman
West Coast Eagles: McConnell, Butler, Jones, Embley
INJURIES – Carlton: Thornton (leg)
West Coast Eagles: TBC
REPORTS - TBC
UMPIRES - McLaren, Meredith, Wenn, Ryan
CROWD - 43,280 at Telstra Dome
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