Carlton To Can Cats In Colonial Clash

Carlton tackle Geelong in our final backs to the wall confrontation.  Lose this one and there will be no more speculation about the wooden spoon
destination.  Furthermore, there can be no more excuses.  We have most of our team available and back in some sort of touch, our youngsters have come along in leaps and bounds and will respond if shown the way.  The Cats are not in great form away from Skilled stadium.  We simply must capitalise.

Discussion during the week centred around Brett Ratten escaping the tribunal's eye over an altercation with Jeff Farmer last week and whether Adrian Hickmott would be back or not.  The former eventuated and the latter is likely barring any last minute changes which let's face it, happens almost every week.  Also hotly discussed were the merits of again including Michael Mansfield in the side and whether somebody should sacrifice themselves to 'take out' Darren Milburn early in the game.  In all my time as a Blues supporter, I had hoped that I would never see Carlton stoop so low but I have to concede that there is a very real chance that the speculation is true ....... I think they might play Michael Mansfield!!

The last time these two sides clashed for points was round 22 last year and the fallout from that encounter stills  overshadows this game.  I'll be watching with interest any clash involving Milburn and Justin Murphy whose names are a dirty word to the respective opposition.

The Cats are in the midst of a youth based rebuilding period themselves and it seems that their young players are more advanced in their development than Carlton's young players who have for the most part, only debuted this year.  The motivating factor in the fortunes of each side's youth will be the assistance and the example set by the experienced players in the side.  We now have our captain. vice captain and deputy vice captain back in harness, some pace in the midfield and some in form forward targets in Whitnall and McKernan.

In the Ansett Cup, the Blues defence was carved up by Ben Graham.  His opponent that day was Glenn Manton who won't be appearing this week and Graham himself has been in anything but good form so far this year.  The Blues have a habit of playing others back into form (Chris Grant anyone?), so will need to be aware of the danger the big Cat presents.  Kent Kingsley is the Cats man of the moment to date so our first priority will be controlling him.  Bret Thornton looks mobile enough to get that key role while Luke Livingston is sure to man up on Graham if he forays forward.

One thing we can be sure about here is that the Blues will be brimming with enthusiasm.  If we can somehow harness that enthusiasm and convert it into confidence, our job will be almost done.  Once more into the breach!

When last they met: Round 22, 2001 - Carlton 13.19.97 d Geelong 3.9.27.

Goals Carlton: Fevola 3, Whitnall 3, Prendergast 2, Koutoufides 2, Houlihan, Hulme, Lappin

Goals Geelong: Kilpatrick, Kingsley, Spriggs

Carlton:
Koutoufides 32 possessions, 7 marks, 2 goals, 7 clearances, 7 inside 50's.
Bradley 32 possessions, 5 marks, 6 clearances.
Hickmott 26 possessions, 5 marks
Plunkett 24 possessions, 6 marks, 6 inside 50's

Geelong: