Carlton have resisted a Jeremy Cameron-inspired Geelong fightback to finish a horror run in tight contests with an eight-point victory, leaving the AFL premiers winless after two rounds.
Charlie Curnow kicked 5 objectives because the Blues surged clear in the course of the third quarter on Thursday earlier than hanging on for a nervy 13.12 (90) to 12.10 (82) triumph on the MCG.
The Cats trailed by 28 factors late within the third time period however reduce it again to a single-figure margin with loads of time left as Cameron booted three final-quarter majors.
Cameron completed with 6.1 from 25 disposals and took eight marks in an excellent efficiency, however could not drag Geelong over the road.
Carlton’s first win of 2023 got here after they’d coughed up leads by conceding late objectives in every of their earlier three matches, together with a pair of heartbreaking defeats that price them a finals berth final 12 months.
“It wasn’t the monkey on our back, that’s for sure. We never looked at it that way whatsoever,” Blues coach Michael Voss stated.
“But it had to be that way, didn’t it? It just had to be that way.
“We needed to win actually robust in the long run and we received the correction we have been after.
“You’d like to be able to put the foot down but I don’t think we can be too fixated with how the finish was.
“We’re happy that we have been capable of soak up and in a reasonably crucial second we have been capable of do the appropriate issues on the proper time.”
Key forward Curnow caused the Cats headaches for most of the night, kicking goals in each of the first three quarters.
At the other end, Cameron fired but was one of several Geelong players in the wars.
The spearhead had a nasty gash above his right eye patched up and was hit in the ribs in a final-quarter contest, while teammate Sam De Koning was left sore from multiple collisions.
Rhys Stanley also took a blow to the ribs in a ruck duel, and was substituted out at the final change.
The Cats were left licking their wounds, nursing a 0-2 record for the first time since 2015.
“We’ve come into this 12 months with a view that we’re going to be totally different and there are going to be teething issues with a couple of issues,” coach Chris Scott stated.
“We’ve misplaced a few shut video games however there’s nonetheless quite a bit to love, so there is a quiet confidence about us.”
The Blues’ midfield were already missing Sam Walsh (back) and George Hewett (hand) before Patrick Cripps had his influence limited by Mark Blicavs in the second term.
But Cripps (27 disposals), Matthew Kennedy, Ed Curnow and Blake Acres (all 26) stood up, with dashing defender Adam Saad (29) also influential.
Small forwards Matthew Owies (three goals), Jesse Motlop and Zac Fisher (one each) all complemented Curnow.
Owies held his nerve to kick the Blues’ final goal of the night from a set shot, holding off Geelong’s surge.
Cameron Guthrie (25 disposals), Isaac Smith (23), Max Holmes (23) and Patrick Dangerfield (22) have been among the many Cats’ chief ball-winners and Ollie Henry kicked two objectives.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
