Geelong v Carlton, Friday Night 7:40, Etihad Stadium
Where Melbourne imploded often into the pay TV void on Sunday, Carlton remain in the bright lights and copping the harshest of scrutinies. Their performance against the Giants was pretty soft to be frank. Whilst they tried against Collingwood and were just poor finishers against the Lions, the effort of Carlton’s players was the most dismal it’s been since the dark days of Pagan.
Whilst every idiot and his dog has a view on which way the club needs to go next and what exactly the problem is, but perhaps the wisest of responses came from Socceroos manager Ange Postecoglou. Postecoglou on the ABC on Sunday was discussing the tenure of Mick Malthouse and the uncertainty of his re-signing.
Ange hit the nail on the head: “you can’t waste a year in the AFL. You can’t waste a year in any sport, or it will take you three years to catch up”.
Carlton are wasting this season. Choices and hard truths have to come now. Wait too long or it’s even further back for the Blues.
Geelong on the other hand, are still impossible to gauge form wise. Despite really battling against one of the league’s top teams for three quarters, there are still signs of weakness. This compounded by the injury to midfielder Mitch Duncan, will only put stress on a midfield already Selwood and Caddy reliant.
Geelong’s fringe midfielders have to start finding their own or finding their way into finals may just become a stretch too far.
Key Match Ups
Mitch Clark v Sam Rowe
Rowe was given the unfortunate job of marking the absolute jet in Jeremy Cameron, and was unfortunately well beaten despite having a fair go. Clark may be a fairer fight agility wise, but still a mammoth task.
Steven Motlop v Chris Yarran
Interesting to see if Yarran can exploit Motlop’s ability to roam off his opponent and pick up the footy in midfield. One of the few Carlton players left taking the game on.
Result
Carlton will look to have a strong retaliation to last week’s performance, but will probably just be outgunned in the end by a Cats outfit looking for consistency.
Cats by 37
AFL Round 8 Preview: Geelong v Carlton
