Australian Football

Match Report

As Carlton's season fades, Geelong's appears to be building nicely, with the Cats putting the Blues to the sword at Docklands on Saturday night. After an early flurry of goals from Carlton, the Cats quickly seized control of the match and had jumped to a 19-point lead at the first break, one that would have been much larger if not for inaccuracy in front of goal. From there Geelong went from strength to strengthen winning all four quarters to run away to a victory of more than 10 goals, an excellent response to a disappoint loss to Adelaide in round 18.

The match kicked off with a goal for Tom Hawkins after a mark in the third minute. It was a sign of things to come for the 'Tomahawk', but for the seven-minute period after that goal, the game was dominated by Carlton. The Blues kicked three majors in a row, one to second-gamer Harry McKay and two to Levi Casboult, to take an 11-point lead. That was where the scoring ended for Carlton in the first term, though. From there, the Cats took charge, adding goals through Jordan Murdoch, Mitch Duncan, Zac Smith and Nakia Cockatoo, along with a host of behinds, to lead 5.7 to 3.0 at quarter time.

Hawkins had a chance to kick a second goal early in the second term after he was paid a free kick but missed. Carlton responded with a behind but it was to be eight minutes before the first goal of the quarter was scored. It went to Hawkins, who kicked his second after receiving another free kick. There was to be another seven minutes of teams swapping minor scores before Casboult kicked his third, courtesy of yet another free kick. Hawkins responded almost immediately with his third, and Patrick Dangerfield and Wylie Buzza followed up with further goals as the Cats extended their lead to 37 points at the half.

Charlie Curnow gave Carlton some hope early in the second half, kicking the first goal of the third term at the three-minute mark to cut the margin to 31 points. But that was to be the Blues only bright spot of the quarter. Hawkins undid Curnow's good work, kicking his fourth goal at the four-minute mark. There were only three more majors kicked for the term, relatively evenly spaced over the next 25 minutes, all going the Cats' way, and the three-quarter time siren saw Geelong's lead out to 52 points.

There were only formalities remaining in the final quarter. The Blues showed some fight to kick two of the first three goals of the term, but the next three went Geelong's way, the margin blowing out to 65 points. Harry McKay kicked a late consolation goal for Carlton but the final major of the match fittingly went to Hawkins, and he finished the match with six in a comprehensive 65-point win. 

Hawkins' six goals and 12 marks made him the standout player of the match, while teammate Jordan Murdoch (12 marks, three goals) was also excellent. For Carlton, Casboult (three goals, 11 disposals, eight hitouts) played a solid game, while Sam Docherty (29 touches and eight marks) was also very good.

The win saw the Cats retain second spot, half a game clear of GWS, and they will need to win again when they take on Sydney (sixth, 10 wins) at Kardinia Park on Friday night. The struggling Blues are second last on the ladder, without a win since round 13, and they will face another tough challenge against Essendon at the MCG on Saturday. However, they may take some confidence into the match, having beaten the Dons in the wet at the ground back in round three.

GOALS
Carlton: Casboult 3; McKay 2; Wright, Curnow, Silvagni
Geelong: Hawkins 6; Cockatoo, Murdoch 3; Dangerfield, Smith 2; Buzza, Duncan

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Carlton: Casboult, Murphy, Kerridge, Docherty, Curnow, Petrevski-Seton
Geelong: Hawkins, Duncan, Dangerfield, S.Selwood, Menegola, Murdoch

INJURIES
Carlton: Kreuzer (concussion)
Geelong: Cockatoo (hamstring)

UMPIRES: Haussen, Chamberlain, Mollison 

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Jason Bennett, Luke Darcy, Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling