Charlie Curnow has come out on prime of his 11-goal heavyweight shootout with Jeremy Cameron as Carlton received a thriller by eight factors in opposition to Geelong on the MCG on Thursday night time.
Cameron performed among the finest video games of his stellar profession, racking up 25 disposals, eight marks and 6 targets, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to pull his staff over the road.
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Down the opposite finish, Curnow exploited a Geelong backline that was lacking Tom Stewart (knee), Jack Henry (foot), Jake Kolodjashnij (concussion), to complete with 11 touches, 9 marks and 5 majors because the Blues ran out 13.12 (90) to 12.10 (82) winners.
Curnow stamped his authority on the competition within the center two quarters, kicking 4 of six Carlton targets at one stage, to assist propel his staff 28 factors clear late within the third quarter because the Blues’ midfield bought proper on prime of Geelong’s.
Nonetheless, the Cats kicked 4 of the final 5 targets, together with three to Cameron, the second of which got here courtesy of an ill-directed Mitch McGovern kick-in that went straight to the Geelong sharpshooter, to trim the deficit to eight factors late within the last quarter.
Geelong managed to use monumental strain to Carlton who got here to a standstill after dominating a lot of the match.
The Cats had their probabilities to grab the victory, too. Once they have been down by eight factors with 2:20 to go, Tanner Bruhn received a contested ball in opposition to Adam Cerra, span out of site visitors magnificently and had the prospect to identify up Tyson Stengle, however kicked it out on the total.
And with 40 seconds remaining, and Geelong nonetheless down by eight, Jack Bowes kicked it to Cameron at centre-half ahead, nonetheless Lewis Younger strongly outmarked him, sealing the end result. Harry McKay was additionally huge late, taking three contested marks.
After being denied victory of their earlier three video games by targets kicked by the opposition within the final 11, 102 and 17 seconds respectively, the Blues breathed an enormous sigh of reduction once they lastly noticed themselves with an even bigger rating on the ultimate siren, ending a five-game winless run.
Ultimately, the Blues completed nicely on prime in disposals (382-328) and contested possessions (136-120).
Adam Saad (29 disposals) was additionally big for the Blues as he did an important defensive job on the harmful Tyson Stengle, Jacob Weitering stored Tom Hawkins quiet, whereas Patrick Cripps (27 touches), Blake Acres (26) and Matthew Kennedy (26) have been additionally influential.
Worryingly for the Cats, virtually like what occurred of their season opener in opposition to Collingwood, for big elements of the center two quarters, Carlton’s leg pace and strain overwhelmed them they usually have been made to look drained and gradual earlier than their final-quarter resurgence.
And Hawkins might discover himself in MRO hassle after whacking Weitering in a marking contest within the first quarter, momentarily dazing the Carlton defender and forcing him from the sphere with a bloodied nostril. Weitering resumed his spot shortly after.
HOLLANDS STAND TALL
Within the last quarter with the Cats down by 16 factors, Cameron charged out and tried to take a chest mark 25m out from objective, however Carlton teen Ollie Hollands in his second sport put his physique on the road, went within the gap and spoiled Cameron.
MCGOVERN MAKES AMENDS
After gifting Cameron his fifth objective, McGovern went some approach to making amends 5 minutes later when he ran down Cameron on the prime of the goalsquare and prevented a sure objective because the Blue’s strain act ensured the Geelong ahead missed to the suitable
BOWES BLOWS IT
New Geelong recruit Bowes had the prospect to trim the margin to 9 factors with six minutes left, however his set shot from 30m out barely snuck in for a behind, letting the Blues off the hook.
DURDIN DAZZLER
The Blues knew it was their night time halfway by means of the third quarter when small ahead Corey Durdin’s checkside punt from 35m out on the boundary line, whereas being tackled by Patrick Dangerfield, miraculously floated by means of the massive sticks to place his staff 28 factors to the nice.
