The resurgent Carlton Blues have stunned Geelong and the football world, beating the Cats for the first time ever at Etihad Stadium by 19 points. The Blues were the better team all day in what was surely their best win of the past few years.
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Carlton played brilliant team football all day, with a willingness to do the little things their foundation for victory. To make the win even more impressive, the Blues were two men down practically all day, losing captain Marc Murphy and new recruit Liam Sumner to injury early.
It was Bryce Gibbs who stepped up in Murphy’s absence with a colossal game, finishing with 34 disposals, eight tackles and two goals. Other heroes for the Blues included Andrejs Everitt who kicked four and Dennis Armfield with three.
It was the backline however that was most impressive, with Sam Docherty and Kade Simpson steadfast all day, halting many Geelong attacks and beginning even more. Tom Hawkins began on fire, but was totally beaten after quarter time thanks to a sensational effort from Sam Rowe.
For Geelong, it was once again a woeful display of inaccuracy in front of goal that cost them, an area of the game in which they sit last. Too many players failed to fire when it counted, including the usually reliable Joel Selwood and star midfielder Josh Caddy.
Steven Motlop was once again held quiet, today via a remarkably disciplined performance from Zach Tuohy – and may face suspension for giving Tuohy a whack to the groin when his frustration spilled over.
In other worrying signs, the Cats seemed to continually make poor decisions and execute their skills at a level we don’t usually see from the premiership favourites. With two shock losses in succession, more questions will be asked of this team and their credentials – and rightly so.
They will now face the Giants in a must-win clash at Simonds Stadium, while Carlton will take great confidence into their game against the Lions, looking to shockingly go 6-5.
It was a win the Carlton faithful will enjoy – and should enjoy – for a long time.
Final score
Carlton Blues 16.8.104
Geelong Cats 12.13.85
The Roar’s AFL MVP votes
3 – Bryce Gibbs
2 – Ed Curnow
1 – Sam Docherty
geoff
Guest
I agree 100% with your summary of the blues performance. Was at the game. (Cats supporter ). I hate the deliberate out of bounds rule though. (Harry taylor). Its such a lottery.
true blue
Guest
A lot of folks hate K.B
Macca
Guest
Yeah Kreuzer always goes better when he gets to ruck the majority of the day, we need a back up who can more naturally play as a forward. I haven't seen Gorringe play to date but he is very athletic, has been able to hit the scoreboard and collect double figure possessions - it makes him worth persisting with at this stage for mine.
Macca
Guest
TomC - I'd agree that to this point Sumner appears to be the least likely to make it but he was injured for a majority of the pre-season. On the glimpses, his chase down tackle of Karl Amon and subsequent goal against Port Adelaide was one that springs to mind, but again the glimpses are only enough to make me curious to see how he will go after a full preseason not to make me think he is a certainty for 100 games.
Wilson
Roar Guru
I think with Kreuzer up and running you need Gorringe playing and scoring more and playing a backup roll for the Ruck more. and as you say if he can contuiue to get 1-2 goals a game it gives them that extra tall option up front
TomC
Roar Guru
For mine, Sumner is the least likely of the four former Giants to cement a place in Carlton's team. I haven't seen the glimpses you have seen.
Macca
Guest
A lot of people simply looked at the trade they blues made with GWS and thought it was too good to be true so the players must be duds - if they bothered to look past that they would have seen 3 players drafted very highly who had suffered injury set backs in their bid to cement their spot in a very talented list combined with GWS's need to reduce their list. Plowman has been exceptional while Lamb has shown enough to make you think he has a solid career in front of him while Sumner has had enough glimpses to make me curious to see him after a full pre-season. I liked Andrew Phillips early season effort but I doubt he will regain his spot after Gorringe's performances in the last couple of weeks - yes he is well down in the hit out stakes but he is averaging almost 8 more possessions, 1 more goal, 1.5 more clearance an 1.7 more contested possessions.
Wilson
Roar Guru
who do you class as there Bottom SIX?
Neil from Warrandyte
Guest
You've really got to get over it Hal. Most others see it, why not you? KB is a stirrer and an entertainer. He is hardly serious with his comments ie/ the Tigers to win by 148 points. People like you who allow yourself to be sucked in are also the entertainment to those who understand his genius.
ken
Guest
Cats cannot win the premiership.. Their bottom 6 are hopeless
hal
Guest
I owe Plowman an apology for calling him a dud. Carlton have come a long way. They played as a well oiled machine and forced us to make mistakes. Even when we started to get on top in the third term we could not capitalize as our kicking was woeful. This is a new Carlton: one that sticks to its guns when challenged. The better team won on the day.
Macca
Guest
Great Effort from the blues with effort being the key word - it has been a cornerstone of this year. Gibbs is in sensational form, Kreuzer is building to something big but I think it is no coincidence that the blues wins started coming after Plowman came in to the side - solid defender that offers much more offensively than Jamison and he has really gelled with Rowe, Weitering, Docherty (AA half back flank for sure), Simpson and Tuohy.
Macca
Guest
I think you mean "Darth Vader" Jack given the comments from last weeks Sun.
Jack
Guest
Malthouse clearly didn't have the players behind him say what u want. And don't expect him to come out and say anything ni enabout playing group turn around
bobburra
Guest
Jack Dyer once said "that football is played 90% above the shoulders", this is so evident in Carltons' case when you look at the different way this team is playing now compared to the last 2-3 seasons under different coaching methods. Pretty much the same senior players and a group of younger players with some "get & go". Don't know if they are good enough to play finals this year, I can't see see it anyway, I doubt if West Coast or Adelaide will drop out to let othe teams in any way. That of course that other aspirants probably will not get in. especially the likes of Richmond & Collingwood.
Darren L
Roar Rookie
Free wifi on the train from St.Petersburg to Helsinki meant I got to listen to the last 3 quarters. Didn't expect this result. Bolt from the Blue indeed - he has transformed the place. All this talk of worst list ever - there is talent at the club and for the first time in awhile players are performing at VFL level and needing to bide their time. Of course more changes are needed this off season. I've got great confidence in SOS after the last trade period which is looking like one of the great trade/draft periods of recent times.
John
Guest
New drinking game. Selwood ducks his head - take a drink. I challenge anyone to get to quarter time and still be awake.
big four sticks
Guest
Geelong are in decline while Richmond are coming. This must be true because K.B told me so. It's Tiger time.
true blue
Guest
This was our best win since we beat Geelong and St Kilda back in the Ratten years. Our pressure was relentless and we forced Geelong to make errors. Even though we were down in rotations, sans Murphy and Sumner, we never yielded. All Blues fans should be proud of the effort today. Docherty was best on ground. Gibbs was great and it was Armfield's best game ever. It was good to see courageous efforts from Thomas and Docherty. It was a unified effort, something we never had in the Malthouse years. I rate Geelong and in no way shape or form do I think we are at their level and that's what made this victory so sweet. I still think Geelong will win the premiership. I went to the game today expecting to see a competitive effort where we would fall short, but I was pleasantly surprised.
paul
Guest
22 to 10 clearly not just my imagination (and yes that was the frees). However as written BLUES clearly too good and cats have much bigger issues than umpiring to worry about.