AFL 2021 Carlton v Geelong: Cats consolidate top-four position as blundering Blues come up short

One part of Carlton’s game has clicked since the bye and was on full display against Geelong. But it was more than matched by an inept effort that broke Blues fans’ trust.

Sam Landsberger and Kane Pitman

6 min read

July 11, 2021 - 8:09AM

NCA NewsWire

AFL Round 17. Carlton vs Geelong at the MCG, Melbourne. 10/07/2021. Isaac Smith of the Cats during the 3rd qtr. . Pic: Michael Klein

AFL News

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.

The “Good Carlton” was suffocating. The “Bad Carlton” was exasperating.

At one end of the ground the Blues have clicked. It is in the backline and it has been evident since the bye.

The reliance on halving dangerous one-on-one contests behind the ball has been replaced by a system-based backline which appears far more sustainable.

“There hasn’t been a big shift in our defence other than the ability to get the 18 players on the field to all buy into it at the same time,” coach David Teague said.

“Trust” was the critical word. On Saturday Geelong managed just 70 points from 56 inside 50s after kicking 98 points from 45 entries the week before.

Liam Jones (back) stepped out and Lachie Plowman stepped up. Jacob Weitering, again, did what Jacob Weitering does.

He kept Tom Hawkins goalless for the first time this season and scoreless for the first time in 36 matches.

At the other end “trust” was broken.

Watch The 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Blues players walk from the ground dejected after a loss which leaves them with just six wins and 10 losses.

The offence fell to bits and the final goalkicking accuracy of 22.7 per cent was Carlton’s fourth-worst since the statistic was first recorded in 2002.

Like the Delta variant, Teague said it was contagious.

In the first quarter Jack Newnes, Sam Petrevski-Seton and Ed Curnow botched set-shots while Harry McKay dribbled one to Jack Henry when he had teammates loose.

“There seems to be a bit of a trend for us that if we start missing early whether the next guy feels the weight or the pressure of it,” Teague said.

“You don’t win games kicking at goal like that. At the end we were one less shot than them, but the supply they just had way too much.

“Last week at one stage we were 10.3 so we can do it, but we didn’t.”

The Blues are paying Matthew Pavlich to review their underperforming football department although perhaps the Fremantle legend should be asked to run a goalkicking workshop this week.

Carlton bumbled through 68 minutes of gametime between their first and second goals, stumbling to 1.13 (19) deep in the third term.

Sam Walsh is tackled by Mark O'Connor, but was prominent throughout with a big game.

Their first 13 shots from beyond 15m netted a woeful 0.10. Geelong finished with 7.5 (47) from set-shots compared to Carlton’s 2.7 (19).

What to make of the Blues? Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said they were “very selfish” and labelled goalnseak Matthew Owies the “capital offender”.

But the effort, again, was hard to fault.

The tackle count was 52-each, but the Blues attempted far more only for Geelong’s bigger bodies to stand up strong and dish off handballs.

The positives were obvious.

Concentration king Liam Stocker kept Gary Rohan to one goal after beating Michael Walters (one goal), Shane McAdam (zero) and Bobby Hill (zero).

Sam Walsh’s power running in the fourth quarter once again resembled Brownlow medallist Ben Cousins.

Weitering was wonderful and Tom De Koning’s highlights reel ran longer, this week pulling in three contested marks.

But Teague’s winning percentage has dropped each season — 54.6 per cent (2019), 41.2 per cent (2020) and 37.5 per cent (2021).

Blues coach David Teague admitted his players needed to get better in the next six weeks. Picture: Getty Images

The Blues attempted to move the ball quickly and Teague admitted the ball use “wasn’t up to standard”.

In the first quarter Nic Newman kicked the footy straight to Bradley Close in the defensive corridor while De Koning picked out Isaac Smith at halfback.

In the second term Ed Curnow chipped one straight to Tom Stewart at half-forward. Harry McKay and Eddie Betts both burnt teammates who were in space inside 50m when the Blues were surging forward.

The laconic-looking Will Setterfield has a tendency to fumble, former Cat Lachie Fogarty lacks a bit of zip and

The Blues appear to be the AFL’s experts at taking the third of two options.

Next week they meet the similarly-impotent Collingwood in what might cheekily be billed from some as the Alastair Clarkson Cup.

Carlton’s passionate members dominated the crowd of 31,834, but they sat frozen and frustrated in the MCG stands.

They were desperate to find their voice, but were ultimately given little to cheer outside of Walsh.

In the background, Teague said Marc Murphy (calf) was unlikely to play next week, which would leave the veteran awkwardly-placed on 296 games with just five remaining this year.

It is a relatively soft run home with games against the Magpies, North Melbourne, St Kilda and Gold Coast in the next month.

Perhaps that only adds to the frustration.

The top-four Cats would’ve been a juicy scalp and Champion Data’s expected scores (73-69 to Geelong) show it was one the Blues certainly could’ve pinched.

Both teams have reported to escape the game without major injuries, with Teague hopeful key forward Charlie Curnow will make a return through the VFL next weekend.

A potential late season senior return would be the unlucky Curnow’s first AFL appearance since June 2019.

“He got through training on Thursday which was his last really big session. As long as he pulls up well and gets through the next week, he’s a chance to play. If not this week, the following week.”

Scott content with forward line output without Cameron

By Kane Pitman

Geelong coach Chris Scott was pleased with the functionality of a forward line missing star Jeremey Cameron despite kicking just 10 goals on the night.

“It was probably going to be a low scoring game as it went on as it got a little more slippery, it was probably harder than it looked,” Scott said.

“I thought (Esava) Ratugolea was pretty good, I thought he looked dangerous right from the start. We didn’t think it was a problem, the functioning of the forward line. It’s a different structure to what we’ve played for most of the year, and we thought there was some encouraging signs.”

Wasteful Blues punished as Cats consolidate top-four spot

By Kane Pitman

Geelong has solidified its spot in the top four, grinding out a 26-point win over a disappointing Carlton at the MCG.

Horrific ball use haunted the Blues throughout the night, finishing with a paltry five goals from 19 scoring shots, which would have looked worse if it wasn’t for a pair of late majors.

The wasteful Carlton outfit failed to capitalise on a strong start to the game, with dominance around the stoppages curtailed by 54 per cent efficiency by foot — including 13 clanger kicks — compared to the Cats 71 per cent.

Isaac Smith hits the accelerator during the third quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

With the trend continuing, repeat inside fifties eventually wore down an undersized Carlton backline missing key tall Liam Jones.

While Tom Hawkins was held goalless on the day by an impressive Jacob Weitering, three consecutive goals to Geelong in the third opened up an 18-point margin with a quarter to play.

Patrick Dangerfield fends off Sam Walsh as he clears from the centre. Picture: Michael Klein

Back-to-back goals to Zach Tuohy to start the fourth quarter opened up the margin to 30 points, with the second coming on an awful turnover from Liam Stocker kicking in from full back.

On a day where the Blues had only themselves to blame, it felt fitting that a skill error provided the final nail in the coffin as the Cats cruised to the final siren.

Zach Tuohy is congratulated after kicking a goal. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Hawkins charges his way past Jacob Weitering. Picture: Michael Klein

The conservative Cats dominated the territory game to lead the inside fifty count 56-38 behind the latest dominant performance from Tom Stewart who finished with 25 disposals and 10 intercepts from half back in a best on ground performance.

Rising superstar Sam Walsh was once again a shining light for Carlton, finishing with 35 disposals and two goals, but it wasn’t enough, as the Cats ability to take care of the footy ultimately proved too much to overcome.

Shaun Higgins (left), with Isaac Smith, celebrates a goal as the small forward returned to form with a solid game. Picture: AFL Photos via Getty Images

TOUGH LOVE FOR OLD FRIENDS

Geelong pair Lachie Henderson and Zach Tuohy hardly felt the love from their old club’s fans, with each hearing loud boos on every touch of the football.

Henderson (102 games) and Tuohy (120) spent a number of years at Carlton before heading to Geelong in separate trades.

Henderson was playing game 200 on the night, making the reaction all the more humorous.

Blues coach David Teague strives to lift his players at quarter time. Picture: Getty Images

ROHAN TAKES A SCREAMER

In a game desperate for some highlights, Gary Rohan took a classic screamer down the city end of the MCG during the second quarter.

Planting his knee on the shoulder of Blues big man Tom De Koning, Rohan hauled in a beauty.

Liam Stocker gets a fist in to cut of the ball directed to Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: Michael Klein

HOLMES REDEEMS HIMSELF

Young Geelong utility Max Holmes blew a golden opportunity to kick his first goal in AFL football, dribbling one right from the top of the goal square in the third quarter.

Making matters worse Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins was waiting for a handball just to his left.

Redeeming himself in the dying minutes, Holmes busted clear from a pack to snap one home to the delight of his teammates.