A common theme for Geelong in its unbeaten start to 2024 has been its strength in numbers mindset.
That was particularly noticeable in the Cats’ 13-point victory against the Blues at the MCG on Saturday night.
Geelong had contributors across every line. That started in the backline where Jake Kolodjashnij, Jack Henry and Sam De Koning combined for 19 spoils and 21 one percenters, working together to nullify the offensive threats of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay in particular, deep in Carlton’s attacking 50.
Kolodjashnij also had a game-high five contested defensive one-on-one wins. A catalyst for the Cats opposed to the game’s reigning Coleman Medallist for large periods of the game.
Guthrie brothers, Zach and the returning Cam, Max Holmes and Henry combined for 30 intercept possessions and capitalised on the turnover rebounding the ball forward to great effect generating scores from half back.
Their fast ball movement brought Geelong’s outside players in Mitch Duncan and Oliver Dempsey into the game, giving them space to execute and hit their teammates forward of the ball, with Duncan’s 19 effective disposals the most of any player on the ground.
Carlton’s star midfield duo of Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh may have dominated the statistics, but Geelong’s weight of numbers won out, with the Cats again not having a player reach 30 disposals for the seventh consecutive game.
Tanner Bruhn (19 disposals, 4 centre clearances), Brandan Parfitt (17 disposals, 6 score involvements) and Jack Bowes (14 disposals, 10 tackles) all played their role again. As did Ruck Rhys Stanley who demonstrated his athleticism and work rate late in the game, outworking his opponent to push forward and provide a contest in the air which brought the ball to ground and led to the match sealer.
Cam Guthrie (27 disposals) and Patrick Dangerfield (16 disposals, 3 clearances) also spent time on ball, as did Geelong’s high half forwards who were crucial again.
Gryan Miers was the number one ranked player on the ground and along with Brad Close brought the heat combining for 52 pressure acts.
Miers and Tyson Stengle were damaging with the ball in hand with 10 score involvements each, Stengle coming up with a couple of big plays in big moments to setup Jeremy Cameron in attack during crucial periods of the game with precise ball use.
Cameron was sensational for the Cats with five majors, his second bringing up his 600th career goal.
Cameron was sell supported in attack by the returning Zach Tuohy who kicked three goals against his former side and Ollie Henry marked everything that came his way with three goals to his name too.
The Cats had a total of nine individual goal kickers.
The victory against Carlton saw Tom Hawkins reach 250 career wins. Joining Michael Tuck (302), Shaun Burgoyne (263), Kevin Bartlett (260) and former teammate Joel Selwood (259).
Geelong will next face another in-form team in Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday 4 May at 7.30pm AEST.
