Match

Carlton vs Geelong Cats

Commentary / 23 Mar 2023

Pre Game

00:00
Carlton has lost 12 of its last 14 matches against Geelong and is averaging less than 60 points across its last six games in opposition to the Cats.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:01
The first goal of the game to Carlton was sourced from a defensive half intercept. The Blues averaged 24.3 points per game from this source in 2022 but kicked six of their eight goals last week from such intercepts.
03:57
The first score for the Cats followed a forward half intercept. Geelong has an early 3-0 lead in such intercepts, and last week scored from 64 percent of these intercepts (AFL average was 29 percent).
05:41
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Gary Rohan)
05:53
Cats Interchange - Zach Tuohy off due to an injury.
06:01
An excellent long-range goal from Gary Rohan followed another midfield intercept by the Cats and some good defensive pressure. Geelong has an early 4-1 lead in tackles and a 7-4 lead in midfield intercepts.
07:18
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
08:27
The Blues lost the time in forward half differential by 20 minutes and 51 seconds last week (ranked 17th), which is their worst differential under Michael Voss. Geelong has had the early territorial advantage tonight with seven of the first eight inside 50 entries.
08:59
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Harry McKay)
10:49
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Matthew Kennedy)
12:48
The Cats launched a score from 19.3 percent of their defensive midfield chains in 2022 (ranked No.1). Their first two goals tonight have come from such chains with fast counterattacks to an open forward line.
13:38
Blues Interchange - Jacob Weitering off due to the blood rule.
17:01
While Geelong has an early 11-4 lead in inside 50 entries, Carlton leads 6-3 in forward 50 disposals and 3-1 in forward 50 marks (and has had a free kick in a marking contest from another entry).
17:26
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
19:12
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)
20:49
The Blues have a 28-21 lead in contested possessions. Last season, Carlton was ranked second in this measure (averaging 13 more contested possessions than its opposition), but last week it lost this count to Richmond by one.
23:15
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Jesse Motlop)
23:27
Carlton had generated the last six inside 50 entries leading to the goal for Jesse Motlop. The goal was the first of the game for either team to follow a forward half intercept.
25:23
In addition to winning the contested possession count, Carlton has recorded more than double the number of uncontested possessions (75-37) and marks (30-10).
27:55
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Corey Durdin)
28:49
In the last ten minutes, Carlton leads the inside 50 count 9-0, uncontested possession 37-11, and recorded time in forward half of 91 percent.
29:49
After a couple of early goals for the Cats, the Blues had the better of the opening term, both at stoppages (leading 15-4 in first possession wins) and in general play (leading 31-12 in marks). Carlton also had a 16-3 advantage in forward 50 disposals, but both teams finished the quarter with two goals.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:26
In his first game for the Cats, Jack Bowes was the highest-ranked player on the ground in the opening quarter. Bowes recorded six kicks at 100 percent efficiency and a team-high 197 metres gained playing across half back.
01:06
A fast start to the second quarter for the Cats with the goal to Mark Blicavs coming from a stoppage. This was the first goal of the game to come from a stoppage. Carlton scored only nine points from this source last week (ranked last).
03:42
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
04:35
Geelong has dominated the early minutes of this quarter with disposals 18-2, the first four inside 50 entries and 100 percent time in forward half.
05:00
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Gryan Miers)
06:37
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
07:47
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Jack Silvagni)
08:20
Carlton has now scored 0.5.5 from shots beyond 30 metres from the goal following the last miss from Jack Silvagni. Geelong has returned 2.2.14 from its equivalent shots at goal.
09:18
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Oliver Henry)
09:40
The goal to Ollie Henry capped some good ball movement from a kick-in chain. Geelong kicked three goals from kick-ins last week (AFL average is 3.2 points per game), but this was its first inside 50 entry from a defensive 50 chain tonight.
11:55
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)
12:55
Carlton took a mark and immediately played on from only 20.7 percent of marks in Round 1, which was the lowest percentage of any team, while Geelong recorded the highest such percentage last week (37.7). The Cats have played on from only four percent of their marks tonight.
13:22
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
16:01
While Carlton leads 18-8 in first possession wins at stoppages, the clearance count is even at 12 each and Geelong has scored the only goal of the game from this source.
16:21
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
16:51
The Blues now lead 14-2 in points scored from forward half intercepts following the goal to Charlie Curnow. Carlton also leads 11-9 in such intercepts with its last two goals following repeat inside 50 entries from these intercepts.
19:10
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Matthew Owies)
19:46
The goal to Matt Owies followed a loose ball get and score assist from Jack Silvagni. Carlton now leads 8-2 for ground balls in the forward 50 and Owies has won three of these.
21:56
Cats Interchange - Sam De Koning off due to an injury.
22:08
Cats Interchange - Jeremy Cameron off due to the blood rule.
22:45
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Oliver Henry)
24:29
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
24:51
Charlie Curnow continues to be a threat for the Cats with three goals from his four forward 50 marks, the last following a long kick from Adam Saad who has already been involved in five scores from his game-high 19 disposals.
26:41
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Harry McKay)
27:16
Carlton is again finishing the quarter strongly after Geelong had the earlier ascendancy. The Cats outscored their opponents in the time-on period of quarters by 14.5 points per game during 2022 (ranked No.1), but trails 1-20 tonight during time-on.
29:30
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
29:51
A terrific snap at goal from Jeremy Cameron ends a run of four goals to the Blues. Cameron has been involved in a game-high six scores for the Cats while also recording a game-high 359 metres gained.
30:44
Carlton has edged Geelong in most measures in the first half, with a significant lead in both uncontested possessions (139-98) and forward half ground ball gets (24-8).

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:43
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Jack Silvagni)
01:59
Another forward 50 ground ball win for the Blues led to the last score to Jack Silvagni. Carlton now leads 9-2 in forward 50 ground balls and continues to look dangerous both in the air and on the ground in this zone.
03:14
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Corey Durdin)
03:51
The Blues have had the first three inside 50 entries of the third quarter and three shots at goal, but have returned only 0.2.2 and one shot that failed to score.
04:59
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
05:11
Repeat forward 50 entries have again led to a Carlton goal. The Blues now lead 16-10 in forward half intercepts and 21-2 in points scored from this source.
07:40
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
07:51
Jeremy Cameron has now been involved in 7 of the 12 scores for the Cats and also leads the Cats for disposals (17), metres gained (410) and inside 50 entries (5).
10:32
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
10:41
Some good forward 50 pressure from Harry McKay and another ground ball win by Matt Owies led to the last goal for Charlie Curnow. Owies has won more forward 50 ground balls (4) than Geelong (3).
11:04
Cats Interchange - Esava Ratugolea off due to an injury.
12:28
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Matthew Owies)
12:51
Geelong has a narrow 7-6 lead in centre bounce clearances, but Carlton leads 13-0 in points scored from this source. The Blues were the No.1 ranked last season in scoring differential from centre bounces.
15:22
Carlton leads the contested possession count 18-9 this quarter and with a 4-0 lead in forward half intercepts has done most of the attacking during this term.
16:48
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Corey Durdin)
17:21
A brilliant goal from Corey Durdin gives the Blues a game-high 28 point lead. Carlton leads 8-0 in forward half intercepts this quarter and has converted this into a 19-0 advantage in points scored from this source.
20:08
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Oliver Henry)
20:21
A clever piece of play and assist from Tyson Stengle led to the goal for Ollie Henry. Geelong has relied on counter attack for much of its scoring and leads 33-16 in points scored from defensive half chains.
23:09
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Zac Fisher)
23:21
Geelong conceded 16 marks in its defensive 50 last week against Collingwood, which was its most in any game since the 2021 preliminary final against Melbourne. Carlton leads 13-9 in forward 50 marks with Zac Fisher finding a lot of space in this zone leading to the last goal.
24:23
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Brad Close)
25:07
Geelong has won the last three centre bounce clearances with the final one leading to the goal to Brad Close following another score assist from Tyson Stengle.
27:59
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Ed Curnow)
28:12
Carlton continues to dominate the forward half numbers. The Blues now lead forward half intercepts 23-10 and points scored from this source 39-2.
29:41
Cats Interchange - Rhys Stanley off due to an injury.
29:43
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
30:02
A centre bounce goal for Tom Hawkins and the Cats who lead 11-6 in centre bounce clearances. Tom Hawkins had kicked only 29 goals in his 18 games against Carlton before tonight, which is his lowest return against any opponent.
32:28
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Oliver Hollands)
32:47
A strong third quarter from the Blues who won the inside 50 count 16-9 on the back of a 10-1 dominance in forward half intercepts and they kicked four of their goals from this source.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:57
Another centre bounce goal to the Cats to start the final quarter. Since half-time Geelong leads 6-1 in centre bounce clearances and has kicked three goals from this source. Tyson Stengle now has an equal career-high four score assists.
02:53
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
03:43
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
03:51
An intercept mark and goal to Jeremy Cameron makes it three goals in a row for the Cats and 5.0 from set shots for Cameron. This was the first goal of the game to Geelong from a forward half intercept.
07:30
Geelong has had the first five inside 50 entries of the final quarter and recorded 88 percent time in forward half.
08:14
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
08:55
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
10:40
Jeremy Cameron has had a career-high 21 kicks tonight and recorded game-highs for both score involvements (10) and metres gained (561). He has had 20 disposals in the forward half which is double that of any other Cat.
12:54
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Matthew Owies)
13:26
Matt Owies has had an equal game-high eight disposals in the forward 50 tonight and his seven score involvements include three assists and three goals. All four of his groundball wins have been in the forward 50.
15:39
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Gryan Miers)
16:09
Carlton was outscored by 39 points from intercept possessions when these sides met in Round 18 last year, which was its worst differential for 2022. Tonight the Blues lead 63-29 in points scored from this source.
19:29
Carlton leads 39-28 in first possession wins at stoppages, but Geelong leads 32-29 in clearances, 30-22 for effective clearances, and 39-27 in points scored from stoppages.
20:26
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Jack Bowes)
20:48
Both teams have now scored 9.5.59 from set shots at goal tonight following the last miss from Tom Hawkins. Geelong has scored 3.0.18 from set shots beyond 50 metres.
21:52
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
22:07
Jeremy Cameron continues to keep the Cats in the game with a return of 6.0 from set shots at goal. Cameron is the No.1 ranked player on the ground for all of kicks, score involvements, metres gained and ranking points.
26:15
Blues Interchange - Adam Cerra off due to the blood rule.
26:22
In the final quarter, the Ctas lead the inside 50 count 17-4 with a 9-1 advantage in forward half intercepts and a 7-2 lead in shots at goal but have recorded forward half kicking efficiency of only 47 percent.
29:20
A hard-fought win for the Blues who withstood a final-quarter surge from the Cats (inside 50 entries were 18-5 in the last term). Carlton finished with a 39-9 lead in points scored from forward half intercepts. Adam Saad (career-high 29 disposals) and Charlie Curnow (five goals) were prominent all game for the winners.