The New Blues Shine, But an Injury Cloud Hangs Over the Cats
The Carlton Blues are on fire, with a potential lineup of up to nine debutants set to take on Sydney in the Opening Round. The young squad, led by the impressive Jagga Smith, dominated the AAMI Community Series, securing a 15-point victory over Geelong. However, the match was marred by an injury scare for Geelong's star forward, Shannon Neale, who suffered a shin injury during a ruck contest with Marc Pittonet.
Neale, a prolific goal-scorer with 44 goals last season, was involved in a ruck contest as per the new AFL rules. Unfortunately, a collision with Pittonet resulted in a slow limp from the field, and he did not return. This injury could significantly impact Geelong's attacking options, especially with existing fitness concerns over Jeremy Cameron and Gryan Miers.
Carlton's new recruits are making waves, with Will Hayward, Ben Ainsworth, Ollie Florent, Campbell Chesser, and Liam Reidy showcasing their skills. Even Talor Byrne, fresh off a stellar performance in the last quarter against Brisbane, put himself in the running for a debut with a brilliant goal on the run. Elijah Hollands and Sam Walsh also celebrated their returns to the squad, with Hollands contributing two goals and Walsh displaying his prowess with 29 disposals and a long goal.
Geelong, despite a slow start, found positives in the performances of Max Holmes and Lawson Humphries. New recruit James Worpel and the returning Tanner Bruhn also impressed, ensuring their places in the Cats' midfield. However, the injury to Neale casts a shadow over the team's prospects.
The Blues' new players could see up to nine debutants in the Opening Round, with Jagga Smith, Harry Dean, and Wade Derksen among the standouts. The team's depth and talent are evident, but the injury to Neale is a concern for Geelong's upcoming clash with the Gold Coast.
Injury updates: Carlton's Nick Haynes, Adam Cerra, and Matt Cottrell will miss the opening weeks, while Jacob Weitering is doubtful with a rib injury. Geelong's Neale, Cameron, Bailey Smith, and Gryan Miers are also under fitness clouds.
Fantasy players to watch: Jagga Smith and Wade Derksen are top picks, with Smith leading the scoring with 118 points and Derksen taking eight marks. Tanner Bruhn's strong showing in the first half makes him a mid-priced midfielder option. The match also saw the return of Sam Walsh, who left the field early but returned, and the emergence of Talor Byrne, who kicked a crucial goal in the final term.
Final Scores: Carlton 13.8 (86) vs. Geelong 11.5 (71)
Goals: Carlton (Kemp, E.Hollands, Hayward, Evans, Smith, Moir, Walsh, Chesser, O.Hollands, Byrne, Cripps); Geelong (Martin, Stevens, O.Henry, Holmes, Dangerfield, Knevitt, Polkinghorne, Mannagh, O'Connor)
Best: Carlton (Smith, Walsh, Cripps, O.Hollands, Williams, E.Hollands); Geelong (Holmes, Humphries, Bruhn, Atkins, Martin, Clark)
Injury Report: Carlton - Nil; Geelong - Shannon Neale (shin)
