Geelong Cats vs Carlton Blues: Geelong by 5

Match result:

The Geelong Cats have defeated the Carlton Blues by five points at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

In a low-scoring affair where the Blues went goalless in the first half and the Cats goalless in the second, the pressure was high across the congested oval.

Geelong dominated proceedings early, before the Blues got on top in the third term. Unfortunately some poor shots at goal meant little reward for effort on the scoreboard, where it really matters.

The Cats hold on for the second time at home, in front of another healthy 7000-strong crowd, it wasn’t pretty, but they take top position in Conference B for now and are in a good position going into the back half of the season.

After the exciting display Carlton put together again the Giants last weekend, this was a bit of a step backwards, skills not as accurate and some careless actions making it difficult to find positives.

Maddie Prespakis was able to shake the Garing tag in the second half, to rack up another 19 disposals, while Katie Loynes scored the Blues’ only goal.

Next up for the Cats is a trip north to face the Lions, while the Blues will host Collingwood at Ikon Park.

Final score
Geelong Cats 2.7.19
Carlton Blues 1.8.14

Match preview:

The Carlton Blues will travel down the Princes Highway to face the Geelong Cats at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:45pm AEDT.

After getting off to a winning start in round one, the Geelong Cats have struggled to put together match-winning scores since.

Last Sunday, the Cats went down by 29-points to the Adelaide Crows at Norwood Oval.

Unfortunately for Geelong, six goals and their highest score this season was not enough to topple Adelaide, who were a class above in front of their home crowd.

Carlton had a successful trip to Sydney last weekend, taking a 29-point victory over the GWS Giants on Saturday.

Over a year since their last AFLW victory, the Blues shot to the top of conference B with that victory and will want to stay there with a win in Geelong.

The good news continues for Carlton, with star forward Tayla Harris free to take the field this weekend after having her one-match suspension for rough conduct on Adelaide’s Chelsea Randall downgraded to a reprimand.

There are two changes for the Cats this weekend as Rebecca Webster misses through injury and Kate Darby is omitted.

Aasta O’Connor is back in the side after missing last week with knee soreness, while last weekend’s travelling-emergency Cassie Blakeway has been named on the bench.

History will be made on Saturday when the first father-daughter selection, Abbie McKay debuts in the navy blue.

Rhiannon Watt is also in the Blues’ squad, with Kirby Bentley and Breanna Moody omitted.

Conference A is stronger, but Conference B is just as even, with every result – including this one between Geelong and Carlton, the current Conference B top two – shaping the finals.

Prediction
Carlton’s pace and rapid ball-movement will be too much for Geelong, who don’t have the personnel to play an equally aggressive game-style.

Things are starting to work for the Blues and that’s exciting, they’ll put a second win on the board this weekend and break away at the top of their conference.

Blues by 12 points.

Join The Roar for all the action from 4:45pm AEDT.

Venue: GMHBA Stadium
Time: 4:45pm AEDT
TV: Fox Sports, 7Mate (Eastern states only)
Betting: Geelong $2.60, Carlton $1.50

Geelong Cats
B: Anna Teague, Rebecca Goring, Maddy McMahon
HB: Melissa Hickey, Meghan McDonald, Denby Taylor
C: Richelle Cranston
HF: Danielle Orr, Maddie Boyd, Sophie Van De Heuvel
F: Renee Garing, Phoebe McWilliams, Jordan Ivey
FOL: Aasta O’Connor, Madeline Keryk, Olivia Purcell
I/C: Erin Hoare, Mia-Rae Clifford, Georgia Clarke, Julia Crocket-Grills, Cassie Blakeway

Carlton Blues
B: Jess Edwards, Jayde Van Dyk, Sarah Hosking
HB: Nicola Stevens, Kerryn Harrington, Gab Pound
C: Katie Loynes
HF: Maddie Prespakis, Rhiannon Watt, Tayla Harris
F: Darcy Vescio, Brianna Davey, Georgia Gee
FOL: Alison Downie, Amelia Mullane, Chloe Dalton
I/C: Abbie McKay, Nat Plane, Lauren Brazzale, Jess Hosking, Brooke Walker