Cats zero from two

Carlton Blues v Geelong Cats, AFL 2023 round 2 Ben Jensen GEELONG was outclassed by Carlton on Thursday night, holding a narrow lead for part of the first half but from then on well-beaten, the final margin of eight points flattering the Cats. Jack Bowes made his club debut and Cooper Whyte his AFL debut – the latter as a substitute, coming on for injured ruckman Rhys Stanley in the last quarter.

Jeremy Cameron top scored with six goals but picked up a rib injury, while at the other end Charlie Curnow booted five. Ollie Henry in game number two booted two goals, the Cats’ only other multiple goal kicker. The two big forwards Cameron and Curnow were named best afield while brother Ed also made the Carlton best players.

The loss while not a complete shock given the round one result did provoke some disturbing brazen behaviour on Geelong streets; even cyclists donning Carlton jumpers (see photo below), hitherto not seen for at least two decades if not the Ross Oakley era. After a ten day break to lick their wounds the Cats travel to the Gold Coast to face the Suns this Sunday, a side also winless.

AFL 2023 ROUND TWO
CARLTON BLUES V GEELONG CATS
THURSDAY 23 MARCH 2023, 19:30 AEST
MCG

CARLTON BLUES: 2.6, 6.8, 12.11, 13.12 (90) DEFEATED
GEELONG CATS: 2.1, 5.6, 9.6, 12.10 (82)

GOALS
CARLTON BLUES: Charlie Curnow 5, Owies 3, Motlop, McKay, Fisher, Durdin, Ed Curnow
GEELONG CATS: Cameron 6, Henry 2, Rohan, Hawkins, Close, Blicavs

BEST
CARLTON BLUES: Charlie Curnow, Saad, Acres, Ed Curnow, Weitering, Kennedy, Owies, Cripps
GEELONG CATS: Cameron, Smith, Cameron Guthrie, Holmes

INJURIES
CARLTON BLUES: Nil reported (though Jack Silvagni was substituted off)
GEELONG CATS: Rhys Stanley (ribs)

CHANGES
CARLTON BLUES: Jack Martin (calf) replaced in selected side by Marc Pittonet
GEELONG CATS: –

SUBSTITUTES
CARLTON BLUES: Lochie O’Brien, replaced Jack Silvagni in final quarter
GEELONG CATS: Cooper Whyte, replaced Rhys Stanley in final quarter

REPORTS
CARLTON BLUES: –
GEELONG CATS: –

CROWD: 55,861 at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne

UMPIRES
FIELD Justin Power, Brett Rosebury, Robert O’Gorman, Nathan Williamson
BOUNDARY Damien Main, Nicholas Phillips, Michael Marantelli, Josh Mather
GOAL Steven Piperno, Matthew Dervan EMER: Callum Leonard 

PREDICTIONS
Ben – Cats 23 points
Oscar – Blues 18 points
Cassie – Blues 37 points

GEELONG CATS – SELECTED SIDE
IN: Bowes (AFL debut)
OUT: Stewart (knee), Parfitt (substitute)

B: O’Connor, Sam De Koning, Tuohy
HB: Smith, Ratugolea, Z.Guthrie
C: Bruhn, Bowes, Holmes
HF: Stengle, Cameron, Close
F: O.Henry, Hawkins, Rohan
FOLL: Stanley, C.Guthrie, Dangerfield
INT: Bews, Blicavs, Atkins, Miers
EMER: Whyte, Simpson, Ceglar, Parfitt

CARLTON BLUES – SELECTED SIDE
IN: Durdin
OUT: Hewett (injured), O’Brien (sub)

B: Newman, Young, Cowan
HB: Docherty, Weitering, McGovern
C: Acres, Cripps, Ed Curnow
HF: Martin, Fisher, Silvagni
F: Durdin, Charlie Curnow, McKay
FOLL: Tom De Koning, Cerra, Kennedy
INT: Saad, Hollands, Owies, Motlop
EMER: O’Brien, Honey, Plowman, Pittonet