Australian Football

Match Report

Two weeks ago Geelong was the bookies' favourite to win the 2016 premiership but on Sunday at Docklands, Carlton caused a major upset by beating the Cats, making it two losses in a row against unfancied opponents and that flag favouritism has rightly been taken away. The Blues defeated the Cats by 19 points. The win was well deserved, and Brendon Bolton has transformed this team magnificently in a short space of time, but Geelong will rue its poor kicking for goal, a problem that has plagued the Cats this season. The Blues' win was all the more heroic for the fact that skipper Marc Murphy left the field only a few minutes in the match with an ankle injury, not to be seen again.

It was Murphy himself who kicked off proceedings on the scoreboard, goaling at the three-minute mark after a good pass from Andrew Walker. Murphy had only one more possession before leaving the field, by which time Geelong's problems in front of goal had started, Tom Hawkins having missed twice. A poor kick from Corey Enright in defence was marked by Daniel Gorringe and kicked his first major to give the Blues a 10-point lead after nine minutes. Enright made up for his error with a goal at the 12-minute mark but Andrejs Everitt's first goal had the Blues back out to a 10-point lead midway through the term. The Cats recovered after that and goals to Rhys Stanley and Steven Motlop along with several behinds had them five points ahead in time-on. But a Carlton goal to Ed Curnow and another miss to Geelong via Andrew Mackie saw scores level, 4.0 to 3.6, at quarter time.

Jimmy Bartel put the Cats ahead with a goal at the five-minute mark of the second term but Carlton hit back through Bryce Gibbs and Dennis Armfield and led by eight points half way through the quarter. A goal to Cam Guthrie had Geelong back within two points but the Blues kept coming, and further majors to Levi Casboult and Everitt had them ahead by 14 after 24 minutes. Billie Smedts pulled one back for the Cats but Armfield and Gibbs goaled again to put Carlton 20 points clear at half time and an upset was brewing. 

The margin was extended to 26 when Armfield again goaled to start the third quarter. Geelong made inroads with majors to Motlop and Zac Smith but Everitt and Gorringe responded to make it 26 points once more and it began to feel as though the Cats might not be able to bridge the gap. They did slightly with a late goal to Corey Gregson but Carlton still held sway by 19 at the last change.

Needing the first goal of the final term, Geelong had a chance through Shane Kersten but his long kick missed to the left, after which the Blues added majors via Walker and Jed Lamb and the margin was out to a game-high 30 points. Hawkins and Gregson kicked two in succession to spare thoughts of a come-from behind win for the Cats but Carlton settled, and each side added just one further goal each as the Blues held on for a famous win, their fifth in sixth matches after starting the year with four losses, and a finals berth is no longer just a pipe dream for them.

Gibbs led from the front and was a magnificent player for the Blues with 34 disposals and seven tackles. Patrick Dangerfield (31 touches, seven marks) was a fine contributor for the Cats.

With a 5-5 record and now up to 11th on the ladder, Carlton will now have a huge change of getting ahead of the ledger when they take on the lowly Lions at Docklands on Saturday. Geelong is now back in a ruck of five teams with a 7-3 record, and one of those teams - GWS - will be the Cats' opponent at Kardinia Park, also on Saturday.

GOALS
Carlton: Everitt 4; Armfield 3; Gibbs, Gorringe 2; Murphy, Curnow, Casboult, Walker, Lamb
Geelong: Motlop, Gregson, Guthrie 2; Enright, Stanley, Bartel, Smedts, Smith, Hawkins

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Carlton: Gibbs, Docherty, Armfield, Curnow, Rowe, Cripps, Simpson
Geelong: Guthrie, Dangerfield, Duncan, Bartel, Stanley, Henderson

BEST - THEAGE.COM.AU
Carlton: Gibbs, Docherty, Cripps, Curnow, Kreuzer, Everitt, Armfield, Simpson
Geelong: Enright, Bartel, Guthrie, Dangerfield, Henderson

INJURIES
Carlton: Murphy (ankle), Sumner (ankle), Weitering (knee), Armfield (leg)
Geelong: Stanley (foot)

UMPIRES: Foot, Pannell, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Sandy Roberts, Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Danny Frawley, David King