AFL spherical 2 Carlton vs Geelong: Charlie Curnow 5 objectives in Blues win; Jeremy Cameron six objectives

Voss revealed there have been some “powerful learnings” for his males after final week’s draw towards Richmond — however regardless of Jeremy Cameron’s brilliance the Blues held on by eight factors.

“To have the ability to return after final week and have a little bit of a take a look at it and study off it … and there’s some guys there that had some powerful learnings,” Voss stated.

“However what we have been assured of was that our system was standing up. There was a couple of little choices we needed to make higher to appropriate it, and tonight we have been absorbing a good bit from about seven minutes to go.

“However within the final 3 ½ minutes I believed we executed actually, very well.”

The victory stored the Blues undefeated and their followers within the crowd of 55,861 went berserk for each defensive mark within the closing minutes after enduring a lot ache.

Coleman medallist Harry McKay moved behind the ball within the closing jiffy to take three of these towering grabs whereas Lewis Younger and Ollie Hollands additionally stepped up with the sport on the road.

It was Carlton versus Jeremy Cameron for a lot of the night time because the Cats spearhead slotted 6.0 from set-shots, together with two early within the closing quarter, as a 28-point lead shrunk to lower than 10 factors.

Even Voss stated he needed to admire the category of Cameron — however was thrilled sufficient of his males stood up on what might be a defining night time.

Cameron additionally had a team-high 25 disposals and solely Adam Saad, who had a career-high 29 touches, recorded extra metres gained.

Geelong recorded 18-5 inside 50s within the closing quarter, however Voss’s males absorbed the surge.

“We had a number of guys that had nice nights. There’s a number of love within the air,” Voss stated.

The Blues had misplaced 12 of their previous 14 video games towards Geelong with membership nice Eddie Betts revealing that for a few years they hoped moderately then believed they might beat the premiership big.

They averaged lower than 60 factors previously six of these video games. However solely inaccuracy stopped them turning into the second consecutive crew as well 100 factors towards the winless Cats.

The Blues will now take pleasure in a nine-day break earlier than internet hosting the Giants, who shall be taking part in off a six-day break after a visit to Perth.

The Cats now play Gold Coast (away), Hawthorn and West Coast — with 10 and eight-day breaks getting into their subsequent two.

Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield had a game-high eight clearances — however was criticised by premiership coach Mick Malthouse.

“(He’s) had two shockers,” Malthouse stated on ABC.

“Final week he didn’t play (nicely), this week he’s actually struggled. I don’t know if it’s the expectations or management. He simply doesn’t seem like the identical dynamic participant.”

Dangerfield has performed lower than three quarters in each video games this season.

The Cats have turn out to be the primary premiers since Hawthorn in 2009 to start out the season 0-2, whereas it’s only the second time coach Chris Scott has began a season with that report.

The opposite time was in 2015 — the one season Scott has missed finals.

Hazard struggling, can rivals scent blood within the water with stalled Cats?

– Opinion: Josh Barnes

Chris Scott has work to do.

The grasp tinkerer could also be two solely video games faraway from his second within the solar, however Geelong’s premiership defence has already stalled.

The largest problem irking Scott shall be that Cats have been crushed the identical method in back-to-back weeks and the remainder of the competitors is smelling blood within the water with the reigning premiers.

Simply as in spherical 1 towards Collingwood, Carlton received the midfield struggle and out-spread Geelong for many of Thursday night time’s eight-point win.

Down by a surprising 49 within the disposal depend and 19 in marks on the first change, the Cats spent a lot of the night time holding again the dam wall.

And if it wasn’t for Jeremy Cameron’s efforts, it will have burst a lot sooner than when Charlie Curnow boosted the Blues’ run in a scintillating third time period.

It’s the midfield that shall be of foremost concern for Scott as he spends an extended break earlier than subsequent Sunday’s assembly with Gold Coast asking the arduous questions of his males.

Like Samson, Cam Guthrie’s ball-winning class has disappeared together with his lengthy hair and he was despatched to defence within the second half.

New skipper Patrick Dangerfield hasn’t been an element within the first fortnight, Tom Atkins’ 2022 hasn’t carried into the brand new 12 months and Tanner Bruhn continues to be looking for his toes.

The Cats have been unable to get their arms on the ball and the Blues — similar to the Pies — ran everywhere in the reigning premiers and moved the ball by the center of the MCG with ease.

Scott’s one-wood of all-ground defence was filled with holes and the hall was open season for the Michael Voss operating sport.

Geelong conceded 100 factors simply as soon as in 2022 and has let by a median of 107.5 within the opening fortnight.

The excellent news for Cats followers is {that a} gentle draw and lengthy breaks — 10 days earlier than the Suns conflict and an additional eight earlier than going through Hawthorn — offers Scott his time to tinker.

The dangerous information is historical past.

The one different 12 months during which the Cats have began 0-2 within the Scott period was 2015.

That was additionally the one 12 months his crew missed the finals.

Defiant Blues survive thriller eventually

Charlie Curnow has come out on high of his 11-goal heavyweight shootout with Jeremy Cameron as Carlton received a thriller by eight factors towards Geelong on the MCG on Thursday night time.

Cameron performed among the best video games of his stellar profession, racking up 25 disposals, eight marks and 6 objectives, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to pull his crew over the road.

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 objectives at one stage, to assist propel his crew 28 factors clear late within the third quarter because the Blues’ midfield obtained proper on high of Geelong’s.

Nonetheless, the Cats kicked 4 of the final 5 objectives, 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 closing quarter.

Geelong managed to use monumental strain to Carlton, which got here to a standstill after dominating a lot of the match.

The Cats had their probabilities to grab the victory, too. After they have been down by eight factors with 2min20sec to go, Tanner Bruhn received a contested ball towards Adam Cerra, span out of site visitors magnificently and had the prospect to identify up Tyson Stengle, however kicked it out on the complete.

And with 40 seconds remaining, and Geelong nonetheless down by eight, Jack Bowes kicked it to Cameron at centre-half ahead, nevertheless Lewis Younger strongly outmarked him, sealing the outcome. Harry McKay was additionally huge late, taking three contested marks.

After being denied victory of their earlier three video games by objectives 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.

In the long run, the Blues completed nicely on high in disposals (382-328) and contested possessions (136-120).

Adam Saad (29 disposals) was additionally large for the Blues as he did a terrific defensive job on the damaging 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 towards Collingwood, for big elements of the center two quarters, Carlton’s leg pace and strain overwhelmed them and so they have been made to look drained and sluggish 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 closing quarter with the Cats down by 16 factors, Cameron charged out and tried to take a chest mark 25m out from objective, however Carlton teenager 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 technique to making amends 5 minutes later when he ran down Cameron on the high of the objective sq. and prevented a sure objective because the Blue’s strain act ensured the Geelong ahead missed to the precise.

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 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 the large sticks to place his crew 28 factors to the great.

SCOREBOARD

BLUES 2.6 6.8 12.11 13.12 (90)

CATS 2.1 5.6 9.6 12.10 (82)

LERNER’S BEST

Blues: C.Curnow, Saad, Cripps, Weitering, Kennedy, Owies, Acres.

Cats: Cameron, De Koning, C.Guthrie, Holmes, Smith.

GOALS

Blues: C.Curnow 5, Owies 3, Motlop, McKay, C.Durdin, Fisher, E.Curnow.

Cats: Cameron 6, O.Henry 2, Rohan, Blicavs, Shut, Hawkins.

LATE CHANGE

Jack Martin (calf) changed in Carlton’s chosen aspect by Marc Pittonet.

UMPIRES

Energy, Rosebury, O’Gorman, Williamson

VENUE

MCG

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LERNER’S VOTES

3 Jeremy Cameron (Geel)

2 Charlie Curnow (Carl)

1 Adam Saad (Carl)

Initially printed as AFL Carlton vs Geelong: Perception rising for Carlton as Cats stumble to consecutive defeats