Round 12 – 7:50pm, Friday, June 6, Etihad Stadium
The ability to rebound will characterise the upcoming contest between Carlton and Geelong. The Blues have experienced a tumultuous year both on and off the field, with last week’s humbling loss to Brisbane the latest disappointment in an unpredictable season. Serious questions are being asked of the entire Carlton football club, placing enormous pressure on the playing group to rally once more in response to this recent set back. Geelong are also a little shaky, returning from a 110 point thrashing at the SCG. Six day breaks and interstate trips may have contributed to the slump, but such excuses will not be accepted at the Cattery. Following their two previous defeats this season Geelong have won in convincing style, first against Richmond and then North Melbourne. To continue this pattern the Cats must reestablish their ability to rebound out of defence and drive their attack from the back half. Sydney dominated Geelong in all facets of the game, but particularly in this area, with back flankers Nick Malceski and Rhys Shaw tallying 68 disposals collectively. Geelong have fallen to sixth place on the ladder but remain six places ahead of the Blues. They will aim to recover some confidence against Carlton, and the return of Corey Enright is bound to help.
KEY MATCH-UP
ANDREW MACKIE vs CHRIS YARREN
Andrew Mackie enjoyed the best form of his career last year, earning selection in the All-Australian team. Standing 192cm tall, he is enormously versatile, able to play on small forwards and key position players. Extremely competent with his defensive skills, it is Mackie’s ability with ball in hand that makes him such a valuable member of Geelong’s back six. He averages more than 20 disposals per game and uses his accurate long kick with devastating effect, finding a team mate 75% of the time. Trialed as a mid-sized forward and wingman early in his career, Mackie has become one of the Cats’ most consistent and reliable defenders.
Chris Yarren was an extremely talented junior, taken with pick six in the 2008 draft. Like Mackie, it took a long time for him to settle in any one position. Used in the forward line a lot last year, Yarren kicked a career-high 26 goals for the season. This year he has played his best football on the half back flank, providing a structurally controlled Carlton team with explosiveness and unpredictability. He averages 17.4 disposals and can effectively break the lines through the middle of the ground. Unlike Mackie, who rebounds with long, aggressive kicking, Yarren achieves this with foot speed, leading the AFL with an average of 3.3 running bounces.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Geelong 18.11 (119)
Carlton 15.13 (103)
The game started in frantic fashion with speedy players from both teams breaking the game open. Taylor Hunt was the pick of the bunch, kicking two goals in the opening term. After trailing at the first break, Carlton kicked four unanswered goals in the second quarter. The Cats returned fire with seven of the next eight goals. Allen Christensen kicked a major after the three quarter time siren to give Geelong their biggest lead of the match. The Blues fought bravely in the final quarter but Geelong held them off to emerge victorious. Mathew Stokes had 30 touches and Taylor Hunt finished the game with three goals, while Andrew Walker was the best of the Blues with 33 disposals.
DID YOU KNOW?
Geelong has an 11-0 win loss record against the Blues at Etihad Stadium. The Docklands venue has hosted AFL matches since 2000 and in all that time Carlton have never beaten the Cats.
