Game Review

In what proved to be his last match in charge of the Blues, Carlton coach Mick Malthouse saw his team slump to yet another huge defeat in this Friday night match against Geelong at Docklands. Having lost to the Cats in all 13 previous meetings at the stadium, and with just one win from seven matches in a disastrous start to the season, Malthouse was under steam-cooker pressure before this inept performance provided the curtain-raiser to his sacking.

Prior to this game, Geelong had not been living up to early-season expectations either – sitting thirteenth on the ladder with three wins. On grounds other than Docklands, Carlton had often troubled the Cats over recent years, and the inclusion of Kade Simpson, Pat Cripps, Dylan Buckley and Liam Jones strengthened the team badly beaten by GWS the previous week. Those who missed out through injury or omission were Matthew Dick, David Ellard, Kristian Jaksch and Matthew Watson. A fifth change was required shortly before game time, when Andrew Carrazzo was a late withdrawal, and Rob Warnock took his place.

Despite Carlton’s woes, the club continued to draw reasonable crowds, with 32,000 on hand when the ball was bounced to start the game on a cool Friday night under Docklands’ closed roof. Without injured full-back Michael Jamison in the team, the Blues’ defence was always going to struggle to contain Geelong’s big forwards, and the signs were ominous when their monster spearhead Tom Hawkins opened his account with a goal before three minutes of play. That was quickly followed by majors to five of his team-mates, and although Troy Menzel and Dale Thomas replied for the Blues, Geelong led by 21 points at the first break.

Carlton scrapped hard to contain the Cats in the second quarter, with Ed Curnow outstanding on Geelong captain Joel Selwood, and Sam Rowe blanketing Hawkins. The deficit was 31 points at half-time, and while a victory was already out of the question, Blues fans were hoping that at least their team would go down fighting. Alas, not for the first time in 2015, that was not to be. Geelong demolished Carlton in the third quarter, as their accuracy in front of goal produced seven majors to Carlton’s three. The Blues were dealt a heavy blow when Bryce Gibbs was subbed off at three-quarter time, then the Cats applied the coup de grace with a four-goals to one last term to give them a deserved victory by 77 points.

Curnow, Simpson and Dennis Armfield tried hard for the Blues, and Sam Rowe denied Hawkins another major after the big Cat’s ominous start to the game. However, with Carlton firmly anchored at the foot of the ladder, after one win from eight games and a miserable percentage, the man in the spotlight was Malthouse.Could he possibly survive?

If so, for how long?

Team

Changes

In: Dylan Buckley, Patrick Cripps, Liam Jones, Kade Simpson.
Out: Matthew Dick, David Ellard, Kristian Jaksch, Matthew Watson.
Late Change: Robert Warnock replaced Andrew Carrazzo in the selected side.

Subs: Dylan Buckley replaced Bryce Gibbs at three-quarter time.

Milestones

Last Game (as senior coach) : Mick Malthouse
Last Game : Robert Warnock
First Goal (Carlton) : Jason Tutt
Losing Streaks : This defeat was the last of seven successive losses to Geelong between 2010 and 2016

Brownlow Votes

3. Jordan Murdoch, Geelong
2. Mark Blicavs, Geelong
1. Josh Caddy, Geelong

Best & Fairest Votes

Kade Simpson 9, Dennis Armfield 5, Ed Curnow 5, Marc Murphy 5, Simon White 5, Jason Tutt 2, Chris Yarran 2