The Geelong Cats have handed the Carlton Blues a heavy 65-point defeat on Saturday night to maintain their position in second on the AFL ladder.
Final score
Carlton Blues 8.10 58
Geelong Cats 18.15 123
It’s a case of the underdogs and one of the premiership aspirants at Etihad Stadium, as the Carlton Blues face the Geelong Cats. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 7:25pm (AEST).
On paper, this looks like a one-sided contest, but this season has turned up stranger results than anything that could happen today.
While it’s a tight race at the top, Geelong have the inside running on a top two finish as we approach the finals.
At the other end of the ladder, Carlton are drifting ever closer to last place after five consecutive losses.
Brendon Bolton said after last week’s loss to Brisbane – arguably their most disappointing performance of the season – that his young side was still having difficulty adjusting to the challenges of travel.
But they’re back in familiar settings this week, so despite the quality of the opposition they should expect at the very least a better performance.
For the Cats, they have a very real chance of a premiership this year, but to give themselves the best chance they need to keep winning the games they should, like this one.
At selection, the Blues regain Marchbank and recall Simon White, while Nick Graham was omitted and Harrison Macreadie managed.
Significantly, gun youngster Patrick Cripps remains out of Carlton’s side with injury.
Geelong have made five changes from the team that lost to Adelaide last week, with Andrew Mackie, Wylie Buzza, Nakia Cockatoo, Brandan Parfitt, and Jackson Thurlow coming into the team, while Rhys Stanley, Daniel Menzel, Mark Blicavs, Steven Motlop and Zach Guthrie are the outs.
It’s a lot of changes for the Cats, but Chris Scott would be content with the depth of his squad at this stage of the season.
Prediction
Although this is the season for any result imaginable, the Cats should be able to get the job done this evening.
Geelong by 30 points.
Join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 7:25pm (AEST).
Don Freo
Guest
It's more than a "slight worry" about Dangerfield. If he is eligible for the Brownlow after Monday night, money is changing hands somewhere. Refer...Cam McCarthy.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I'd like to apologise to Tom for unfortunately not resisting Matty's bait and contributing to this live blog being decimated with this ultimately pointless argument. Sorry dude.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
How are they going backwards when they're probably matching the expectations of just about any reasonable Carlton or footy fan. You've mentioned my articles from the beginning of the year. I said that they'd finish bottom three, with some very competitive games. That's happened. That's not going backwards, that's fulfilling what most expect. They were never going to make finals. They were never going to be aiming for anything massive. If you said to any Carlton fan that they'd have 5 Rising Star nominations, 5 wins and a whole host of optimism, I'm sure they'd take that. You seem to place huge expectations on the Blues; probably so you can attack when the don't accomplish them, like you seem to enjoy doing.
Mattyb
Guest
Slane,maybe you can describe this Carlton improvement that's often talked about? Good chance to actually say something? Cmon,give it a go. I've made a call, and the once mighty blues are going backwards,look at the ladder.
Mattyb
Guest
Rising stars LOLS,let's look at the ladder. The club is going backwards. The rising stars are nominations,bottom clubs get them. Why all the rejects? This once proud is going nowheree
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
What do you mean by New Idea? Btw, I have done history at uni. I'm quite good at it thanks. :)
Mattyb
Guest
Why mention other posters AD? The New Idea thing doesn't cut it. I've addressed my clubs situation and passed blame on players such as Libba and Smith for returning chubby. We are a small club,described as such by John Elliot. Maybe at uni you should look at history. The dogs aren't stationed at the bottom of the ladder and why they are mentioned in a game they didn't even play excites me.
Cat
Roar Guru
methinks the hydra has forgotten which username it is signed in on to be claiming it is a Blues fan.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
"Listen to what I actually say,I’m a Carlrton fan offering solutions," What? Am I that doped up on antibiotics or did you actually just say that? That's absurd. "SOS and McKay have to go" Um, so the guy who has overseen the recruiting of 5 Rising Star winners (so far this year) is doing a bad enough job that he has to go?
Mattyb
Guest
Five wins? Look at the ladder. Listen to what I actually say,I'm a Carlrton fan offering solutions,SOS and McKay have to go,I don't blame Bolton his hands are tied. The wheels are once again falling off, This once mighty club needs a proper rebuild,the false hope rejects is what's keeping them down. Read your article again,I was also critical of the Saints,google wooden spoons,Carltons AFL era compares tragically to the entire VFL history. The up and about needs to eventually be called out. Carlton are going nowhere.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Couldn't agree more. Also, I'm not sure Macca and co will agree with the "real Carlton fans deserve better" statement from Matty. I'm sure real Doggies fans deserve better than missing finals a year after a premiership ;)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Haha, my apologies, didn't mean to say this wasn't a relevant article. There's certainly sometimes where you bring them up on non-Carlton articles, though. I'm not sure what "New Idea" type chat means, but I certainly don't remember criticising you on my ladder predictor article. If I did, I will certainly apologise :) Oh, and, "wait until they actually win a game." You mean, like the 5 or so games that they won this year and you strangely disappeared from the forum after? I completely understand you have thoughts on Carlton - that's fine, it is a footy opinion website after all - but you've gotta realise that when you post the same stuff after every loss and go silent completely after they win or perform well, it becomes a bit tiresome. Anyway, I'm doped up on meds at the moment so I can't be bothered arguing. Good luck for your Doggies tomorrow :)
Cat
Roar Guru
Actually growing teams tend to fall off as the season drags on. Young players don't have the conditioning and experience for a season long grind yet.
Mattyb
Guest
This is a Carlton game AD. I've said many times this was a once proud club,they are now finishing like I said they would in your ladder prediction article in which you again critiscised me,I was right,admit that other than your New Idea type chat. Carlton need to rebuild,the rejects are a mistake. SOS was a champion footballer,the best fullback in the games history,but it's Sticks all over again.Carlton are now a tragic club that needs outside help. If you want to defend them wait until they actually win a game. I certainly simpathise with the Bolton situation,he needs proper support and not this false hope policy.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I'm not sure what Carlton have to do with a helluva lot of the articles you mention them on, but carry on Matty.
Slane
Guest
Gold.
Mattyb
Guest
Another horrible defeat for the blues,as predicted the wheels are again completely falling off. Plenty of sympathy for Bolten but his gameplan needs to be looked at. Growing clubs tend to finish seasons off well,Carlton are going nowhere,it should be a huge concern....again. The selling of false hope was never going to work,the real Carlton fans deserve so much better.
Mattyb
Guest
Not sure what the dogs have to do with a Geelong v Carlton clash but carry on Gene.
TomC
Roar Guru
Match report Geelong have recorded a comfortable win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium, in a match that was a real reflection of the two teams' ladder positions and stages of development. There were some promising signs early for the Blues, who kicked three quick goals in the first quarter. But it didn't take long for the second placed Cats to assert themselves, thoroughly dominating the remainder of the first quarter. While Geelong's inaccuracy kept the margin from blowing out early, the tale was told in the quarter time stats – 111 possessions for the Cats to 66, and 22 inside 50s to 6. The 19 point margin flattered the Blues. But while Carlton clawed back some possession and territory in the second term, eventually Geelong's class and professionalism was always going to tell, and they kept on adding to the margin as the game progressed. Particularly influential was full forward Tom Hawkins, who out-thought his less experienced Carlton opponents, running between the middle of the ground and the forwardline at will. In the first half he had sixteen possessions and three goals, finishing the night with 27 and six respectively, and clearly the best player on the ground. As the margin steadily grew to 37 points at half time, 46 at ¾ time, and then finally 65 by game's end, the Cats appeared largely untroubled, rarely needing to get out of second gear against a young Carlton team who appear to be struggling to run out the season. Duncan. Menegola, and Murdoch were all busy. Zac Smith played a superb game in the ruck. Nakia Cockatoo was at his effervescent best, but appeared to strain a hamstring near the very end. There might be a slight worry for Geelong about an incident where Kreuzer suffered a concussion in a Dangerfield tackle, but in this blogger's opinion he should be fine. For Carlton, most of their highlights were individual moments, rather than game-wide performances. Youngsters Curnow, McKay Petrevski-Seton and Silvagni had occasional sparks of brilliance, but certainly nowhere enough to threaten the Cats. Geelong get everything they wanted from this game, and continue to glide towards a possible top two finish. Carlton should count themselves lucky to have avoided a bigger drubbing. They have a few difficult weeks remaining to stay positive as their performances seem to be fading.
Rasty
Guest
Anybody join this club?