CARLTON 10.13 (73) d FREMANTLE 9.9 (63)
The Blues celebrate their win.Credit: Getty Images
KEY POSTS
DOUBLE-GOAL DRAMA
Carlton needed something special when they trailed in the low-scoring thriller by eight points in the dying stages. Charlie Curnow stood up with a powerful one-handed mark against Josh Draper, which he converted, trimming Fremantle’s lead to two points. Then with 40 seconds remaining, Matthew Cottrell goaled after pouching a mark from a kick from George Hewett, which the Dockers were adamant was touched off the boot by James Aish. But Fremantle protested too much in the view of the umpires and were penalised for dissent, allowing Matthew Kennedy to boot a second straight goal and seal Carlton’s epic steal.
DOUR DOCKERS
The vast majority of Saturday’s Gather Round clash was played in unbeaten Fremantle’s image. Stifling, grinding, defensive, attritional. Spearheaded by the relentless Andrew Brayshaw, the Dockers burrowed away at the contest, curbed Carlton’s run off half-back and kept the competition’s premier attacking double-threat – Curnow and Harry McKay – in relative check. But the Dockers’ in-the-trenches, low-scoring approach combined with the undefeated Blues’ gilt-edged forward threats meant the scoreboard gap never got out of hand. Then there was also Carlton’s incredible recent record in close games, which continued in the most dramatic fashion.
Nat Fyfe of the Dockers is taken high by Lachie Fogarty of the Blues.Credit: AFL Photos
FOGARTY FIST FLOORS FYFE
Blues forward Lachie Fogarty faces scrutiny from the MRO after his right fist collected Nat Fyfe in the throat deep into the third quarter. Fyfe, who was wreaking havoc on the half-forward line with his size, class and experience, camped himself under Jacob Weitering’s defensive rebound when he was hit by a clumsy attempted spoil from Fogarty. The incident triggered a melee on the members’ wing, which Fogarty found himself at the bottom of, nursing his sore hand. Fyfe started the fourth term on the bench but returned to play out the match. Carlton’s Elijah Hollands (suspected hip/abductor) and Fremantle’s Michael Frederick (suspected hamstring) finished the game on their respective benches, both with their right leg iced.
KEY STATS
Cats star Gryan Miers says his club’s ability to grind out wins is a promising sign for an attack on the premiership again.
The Cats are undefeated but as Miers noted, none of their wins have been huge so far.
Bailey Williams of the Bulldogs is tackled by Gryan Miers of the Cats.Credit: AFL Photos
“I think, so far, in our four wins, none of them have seen us smash teams, nothing has gone perfect and that is how you win premierships in my opinion, you win when it matters, play the right game when it matters because every week it is so different,” Miers told Channel Seven.
“It might be an outside game one week and next week it is contested, and we have got the job done when it mattered in the contest and it is pleasing that we have the confidence and it is what happened in 2022 as well.”
Miers also said he liked that his side’s fitness was being tested out, just as it was by the Bulldogs tonight.
“That’s the benefit of a long preseason, I am confident in how we are running out of games,” Miers told Channel Seven.
“Maybe last year we had a shorter preseason and may have missed out on some edges like this yet but we are running out the games really well, and last quarters have been pleasing.
“We are hanging in there and doing the job we need and it got closer than we would have liked but pleasing to be able to do what we wanted to do.”
Tyson Stengle’s mark on the goal line, which was decided by a review, might be a talking point given that Stengle kicked a goal after it and the match has only been decided by four points.
The close up replay appeared to show a tiny part of the ball was still behind the line when he marked it but it was very, very close.
It is just the second time in AFL/VFL history that Geelong and Carlton have started 4-0 according to respected sports statistician Swamp.
Geelong have outlasted the Western Bulldogs and kept their undefeated start going but not without a late scare.
The Bulldogs streamed through the middle just as the siren sounded but it was a night when they only led for a little over five minutes.
“We were fatigued late but managed to hang on,” Mark Blicavs told Channel Seven in his 250th game.
Oliver Henry of the Cats marks the ball in between Ed Richards of the Bulldogs and Liam Jones of the Bulldogs.Credit: AFL Photos
Bailey Williams has marked and goaled with a minute to go.
His conversion gives the Dogs one last chance.
Mark O’Connor tagging Marcus Bontempelli. He has one job.
Cats 95, Dogs 91 with 1.04 left.
Adam Treloar has found room and snapped a goal to keep his side right in the game.
It just seemed to be drifting away, now the Dogs are right back in it.
Peter Ryan noted earlier that the Cats have yet to win a last term this season.
Cats 93, Dogs 85 with six mins to go.
Harvey Gallagher.Credit: AFL Photos
The Bulldogs continue to threaten but with both sides showing some heavy legs, turnovers rather than goals have been a feature of this last term.
The Cats are also doing a great job of keeping control of the footy and allowing time to tick down.
Cats 93, Dogs 79 with six mins to go.
Jamarra has bobbed up again with a mark and a goal to keep the Bulldogs within reach.
It continues to open up so centre clearances will be vital from here.
Jhye Clark has been subbed off by Geelong with Mark O’Connor taking his place and going onto Bontempelli, according to Channel Seven.
Cats 93, Dogs 78 with 14 mins to go.
Henry has put away another goal as the Cats, yet again, try to shake off the Bulldogs and cruise home for the win.
Lovely lead from Henry and he’s been strong in his set shots tonight.
Cats 93, Dogs 72 with 16 mins to go.
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