AFL round 15 LIVE updates: Dangerfield pinged for a dangerous tackle as Blues get on top in opening half

Make that four in a row now to Carlton, the last two from Blake Acres and Matthew Owies.

The Blues are running hard and the Cats can’t keep pace with them.

That last major came from a clearance through Patrick Cripps.

Cripps and Sam Walsh have a combined 12 of the Blues’ 24 clearances, to the Cats’ 12.

Blues by 31

Now it’s Charlie Curnow who kicked the goal while Harry McKay received some care on the boundary.

McKay ran straight off the grounds following some friendly fire from teammate Nic Newman, who caused some blood from the mouth. He needs to be checked but looked ok.

It’s Curnow’s third goal of the evening, the Blues’ seventh (to the Cats’ four).

Blues by 19

While Charlie Curnow was getting some work done to his right leg on the sidelines, Harry McKay stepped up.

The tall timber kicked his first of the night with a classy finish on a set shot.

The kick to him came from Tom De Koning, who’s having a great nice playing against his brother.

It gives the Blues some buffer room back.

Blues by 13

Elliot Yeo is set to stay at West Coast for the rest of his career after resisting the lure of free agency to re-sign with the Eagles for the next three years.

Yeo, who was due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, had been heavily courted by a number of rival clubs, with North Melbourne, Geelong and Adelaide all reportedly among the mix.

West Coast were only initially willing to offer Yeo a two-year deal, given his run of injuries in recent seasons.

But with Yeo proving to be more durable this year and rival clubs keen to swoop, West Coast eventually upped their offer, signing the 2018 premiership star until 2027.

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That’s a sight Cats fans like to see. Jeremy Cameron is on the board.

The ball in came from Patrick Dangerfield. Oliver Dempsey went up for the mark, didn’t take it, but Cameron stayed low and waited for it to spill from the contest.

He then put it on his boot and watched it dribble through. Cats have the last two.

Blues by 6

That was a slick goal from Cat Oliver Dempsey.

He found space in the forward 50 to give his teammates an option out of contest. He then played on after taking the mark (it looked potentially touched) and didn’t hesitate for a second before putting it through the goals.

Tyson Stengle then had an opportunity to back it up, but his kick went through for a minor score. Still, it cuts the margin back down to two kicks.

Blues by 12

Carlton stormed out of the blocks, Geelong hit back, but it’s the Blues going to quarter-time with a 19-point buffer.

There’s plenty of interesting storylines already.

The De Konings going head-to-head in the ruck (with plenty of shoving back and forth already, and a thrown Sherrin at quarter-time).

Alex Cincotta tagging Tom Stewart down back after taking down a number of star midfielders in the past month. Fourteen free kicks.

Twenty-one disposals between Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps. Two Charlie Curnow goals.

Now let’s see what unfolds in the second term…

And pretty easily.

Carlton booted 5.3 to 2.2 in the opening term to take a 19-point lead into the first break.

While the Blues have only had three more inside 50 entries than the Cats (13 to 10), they have been far more efficient in there.

Charlie Curnow has already earned two free kicks, which resulted in goals, while Alex Cincotta, Tom De Koning and Matthew Owies all made the most of opportunities when presented.

They’ll be some attention on Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield for a dangerous tackle on Sam Walsh, but he also deserves credit for having an immediate impact in his return game for a hamstring injury.

Blues by 19 at QT

Charlie Curnow earned another free kick, getting the better of Mitch Duncan.

Sam Walsh had a clever kick that put the ball in front of Curnow, who was the bigger of his match-up.

Duncan sweated and chopped one of Curnow’s arms, resulting in holding called.

It’s the Blues fifth goal tonight, Curnow’s second. Every time Carlton have gone forward, they’ve looked dangerous.

Blues by 20