Goalkickers: Henderson 3, Waite 3, Robinson 3, Judd, Simpson, Warnock 1.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: S. McBurney, M. Nicholls & M. Vozzo

Injuries: Walker & Jacobs replaced Hampson & Joseph (both ankles) in the selected side

Ladder: 8th

Game Review

The thought of matching up against the Cats any time in the last few years had generally been a daunting one, perhaps more so when you strike them after they’ve just dished out a 100 point hiding to a fellow finalist. Even bearing in mind Carlton’s good fortune in recent clashes with Geelong any expectations (like many other Bluebaggers I suspect) for this game were set quite low. True to form, the Cats were too good, though not first without being pushed (perhaps nudged) by the Blues.

On the back of two large victories the match committee again dangled the “No Change” sign out front of Hotel Princes Park. It was to prove to be an optimistic gesture at best as both Shaun Hampson and Aaron Joseph limped out of the side with ankle injuries that failed to come up. The emergencies Andrew Walker and Sam Jacobs came into the side in their stead.

With the Cats on 26 and the Blues on 7 (thanks to a little Kade Simpson magic) midway through the first quarter the signs were looking ominous. The Cats had done pretty much what they liked unimpeded and their big bodied forwards were making the likes of Paul Bower look like schoolboys physically. As the Blues slowly steadied, perhaps the tiniest bit of maturity or self-belief was evident. The remainder of the quarter was played predominantly at Carlton’s end as they challenged the Cats and booted four of the next five goals. Jarrad Waite (two goals) and Lachlan Henderson (one) were providing legitimate options up forward and Andrew Carrazzo had stopped Gary Ablett’s influence (at least temporarily) at the other end. The one point Cat lead reflected a quarter played in two distinct parts.

The second term was Geelong’s. They stamped their authority on the game as they continued to dominate the Blues physically. The Blues couldn’t (or wouldn’t) tackle Geelong and the defensive intensity that is such a signature of Carlton’s winning football was sadly missing. That said, the Blues hung tough and answered with two goals just when Geelong’s lead had reached an alarming 33 points. Robert Warnock provided one, with a neat mark and finish, while Mitch Robinson snagged his after a great handball into space from Chris Judd. The half time margin was 22 points to Geelong, but the Blues were still alive and within reach.

Frustration was the word that sprung to mind during the third term. The Blues dominated the possession and control of the ball during the opening ten minutes, but really struggled to make it count on the scoreboard. With Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Judd all heavily influential it was disappointing that more hay wasn’t made. Henderson’s third was the only goal the Blues could scrounge during that period. Time and again the Blues would stream forward only for an ill-directed entry inside 50 to find a Cat defender, or when the Blues did get on the end of it the resulting shot at goal was wasted. Jeff Garlett sprayed one out on the full and after marking strongly Shaun Grigg missed from close range straight in front. These deflating missed opportunities prevented the Blues from making any decent inroad into the Geelong lead and eventually the Cat-machine wound up again. They finished with three goals for the quarter, and but for Robinson’s second mid-term, could’ve extended their lead further.

With a 25 point deficit to make up in the last the Blues were always going to be up against it. Waite raised hopes early when he banged through his third to open the term, but with the margin reduced to 19 points hopes faded fast as the Cats returned fire soon shortly after. Ablett’s normal domination had been curbed early by Carrazzo but as the game wore on he, like many of his teammates, got better and the Cats proceeded to run away with the game. His two goals snuffed out any slim chance the Blues may have harboured and another two unanswered to the Cats stretched their lead to 8 goals before Robinson’s third came in the shadows of full-time. The 42-point final margin reflected none of Carlton’s periods of ascendency, but there was no doubting Geelong were a far superior side on the night.

Team

-* Walker & Jacobs replaced Hampson & Joseph in the selected side

Milestones

100 Games : Marc Murphy, who became the third youngest Blue to have achieved this feat.
Interesting Fact : With Murphy's 100th, he became part of the first Grandfather - Father - Son group in history to each play 100 games.
Interesting Fact : It was the first game that Aaron Joseph had missed since his debut in Round 1, 2009. He had played 43 games straight before this match
Losing Streaks : This loss would mark the first of seven successive losses to the Cats, ending in 2016

Brownlow Votes

3. Paul Chapman, Geelong
2. Joel Selwood, Geelong
1. Gary Ablett, Geelong

Best & Fairest Votes

38 Marc Murphy, 31 Bryce Gibbs, 26 Lachlan Henderson, 24 Andrew Carrazzo, 23 Michael Jamison, 17 Jarrad Waite, 14 Dennis Armfield, 9 Jordan Russell

Ladder