Geelong’s Tom Neate takes four wickets as the Cats restrict Carlton to 8-237

A young Geelong bowler has been clocking up the kilometres, both on and off the wicket, as the Cats put the clamps on the reigning premiers.

Tom Neate appeals for a wicket against Carlton. Picture: Carey Neate.

A Geelong first grade bowler has been clocking up bulk kilometres, both on and off the track, as the Cats restricted the reigning premiers on their home deck on Saturday.

In Round 4 of the Victorian Premier competition’s top tier, the Cats kept the unbeaten Carlton to just 8-237 on day one at Princes Park from 90 overs.

Geelong put the clamps on the home side’s scoring, with the run rate kept below three runs an over, although the home team can bat on next Saturday for a further 10 overs.

Carlton beat Casey South Melbourne in last summer’s two-day grand final after initially trailing on the first innings.

Geelong were able to restrict Carlton to 8-237 on day one. Picture: Carey Neate.

However, Tom Neate (4-59 off 21 overs) and Callum Stow (3-60 off 25 overs) led from the front as the Carlton batters were tied down, while captain Josh Larkin chipped in with 1-34 off 12.

Neate, 20, has spent plenty of time in transit of late, with the Cats unable to play their home games at Kardinia Park due to wicket table works.

He’s also studying physiotherapy at Vic Uni, which means 5.30am rises for 8am lectures three times a week, while also coaching at Geelong Grammar.

Neate said he was happy with his follow up spells after the Cats struggled to make headway early.

“The wicket was pretty flat and it probably didn’t help that our ball deteriorated probably after 10 overs and the ball wasn’t really swinging,” Neate said.

Tom Neate appeals for a wicket against Carlton. Picture: Carey Neate.

“We had to adjust pretty quickly, just bowl a good line and length and build up some dots and try and get some wickets that way.

“A little bit of luck along the way as well.”

Neate said captain Josh Larkin and coach Eamonn Vines were reasonably satisfied with the result at stumps.

“Carlton are a very strong team winning the premiership last year to restrict them to 237, if you said that at the start of the day we’d be pretty happy with that,” he said.

Harrison Smyth (57) and Andrew Lewis Poppa (50) offered resistance following lengthy stays at the crease.

Currently in fourth place on the table, a win over the third-placed Blues should keep the Cats in the top bracket of teams.

Originally published as Geelong’s Tom Neate takes four wickets as the Cats restrict Carlton to 8-237