Cold conditions down at GMHBA Stadium has done little to deter a heated and spiteful contest between Geelong and Carlton, with the Cats eventually running out as 28-point winners.
In what was the first clash between the two sides at Kardinia Park since 1997, the Blues put together a gallant performance following their 109-thrashing the week before, startling the Cats through their pressure and aggression around the contest.
While Patrick Dangerfield and Patrick Cripps played superb matches for their respective sides, their efforts were overshadowed by a terrible injury to Esava Ratugolea, who was taken to hospital with fears of a broken leg.
The extent of Ratugolea's injury is yet to be determined.
But before the horrors unfolded, the Cats' opening to the match was that of a fairy tale, as Jamaine Jones' week got even better after the debutant kicked the opening goal of the game following a defensive blunder from the Blues.
The perfect start showed no signs of deviation, after Gary Ablett booted his first goal in Geelong colours down at Kardinia Park for the first time since 2010, bringing the packed crowd to a frenzy.
As Jordan Murdoch goal in game 100 added his name to the score sheet, Stewart Crameri followed up soon after to make in four consecutive goals in the space of 10 minutes for the Cats.
With the game poised to be another massive blowout, Charlie Curnow managed to stem the flow with a much-needed goal, before Harry McKay helped to steady the ship with one of his own.
Despite the Cats hitting the scoreboard early and to great effect, it was Carlton who won the battle through the centre of the ground, with six centre clearances to none in the opening term.
While the on-ballers had their fair share of the footy, including the ever-dangerous Dangerfield and Cripps, it was the defenders from both sides who were the most influential.
Tom Stewart's 10 touches and numerous intercepts were crucial, particularly in the wake of Harry Taylor's late withdrawal, while his counterpart in Kade Simpson was just as prolific with his ball use across half-back.
With the margin sitting at 11 points at quarter-time and the stars for each side on song, the stage was set for a high-scoring and explosive second term.
Yet the scoring dried up completely for both sides, with just the one goal from Sam Menegola kicked for the entire quarter.
Geelong's early fairy tale quickly turned into a nightmare just five minutes into the term, with Esava Ratugolea stretchered off the field with a suspected broken leg following a marking contest.
The situation barely improved for the Cats, with the Blues accumulating the first 10 inside 50s for the term and controlling the ball virtually unopposed, with the home side unable to negate their opposition's ascendancy.
Yet Carlton were unable to capitalise on their dominance inside the forward half of the ground, registering a painstaking six behinds from their entries, much to the disappointment of the Blues' faithful.
As pressure built on the Cats to break their scoring drought, a Rhys Stanley behind served as the only reprieve, before Menegola finally gave the Cats a desperately-needed major late in the piece.
With neither side able to stamp their authority on the contest, frustrations began to boil over with behind the play free kicks, scuffles in contests and continual niggles off the ball- in particular between Ablett, Joel Selwood, Ed Curnow and Cripps - ramping up the game's intensity.
As the siren rang to mark the conclusion of the first half, just 14 points separated the two, as both sides left the field mostly disheartened following their lacklustre quarter.
While the aggression and intent remained going into the third term, the goals were again few and far between, with a combined four majors agitating the increasingly restless crowd.
A deliberate out of bounds decision afforded Patrick Kerr his first AFL goal, with his stunning set shot from the right flank putting the Blues within a single kick as the Kardinia Park crowd fell deathly silent.
But the Cats were quick to reply, with Tom Hawkins finally getting in on the action before Jordan Cunico made it back-to-back majors for the Cats, with his snap off the back of the stoppage somehow finding its way through heavy traffic and across the line.
Although the fans were starved of goals following another scoring dry spell, the tempers on the field fed them some entertainment, with numerous niggles and off the ball free kicks heightening the game's physicality and intensity.
It wasn't until a heroic smother from Paddy Dow in the final four seconds of the quarter gifted David Cunningham with a crucial major, bringing the margin to just two straight kicks at the final change.
Desperate to put scoreboard pressure on the home side, the Blues were itching to get the first major of the term to put them just six points behind.
But as Dangerfield put through an emphatic major in an effort to sink the persistent visitors, there was no such sign of surrender as a Matthew Wright long bomb just several minutes later skidded through.
Cripps performed admirably in the term, despite suffering a significant corkie, yet was unable to will his side to score another major.
The young gun himself had an opportunity to bring the Blues within three points following a blistering clearance and massive kick at goal, but unlike Wright's previous major, the ball was intercepted by the Geelong defence.
With a victory potentially within their grasp, Carlton's defence crumbled with just five minutes left on the clock, with Hawkins kicking back-to-back goals to ice the game.
A final Menegola major on the run added insult to injury for the Blues, as the margin extended to a game-high 28 points, with the result not truly reflecting the endeavours of the visitors.
Their endeavour unquestionable, yet a win again elusive, Carlton will be taking inspiration from their competitiveness heading into next week, while Geelong meanwhile will be considering themselves lucky to come away with the four points.
It will very much be a Gary Ablett-centred week in the lead-up to Geelong taking on Gold Coast in what will be the first game at Metricon Stadium for the season, while Carlton will have a tough challenge when they take on Sydney on Friday night at the SCG.
GEELONG 4.0 5.3 7.5 11.7 (73)
CARLTON 2.1 2.7 4.11 5.15 (45)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 3, Menegola 2, Dangerfield, Ablett, Murdoch, Jones, Crameri, Cunico
Carlton: Cunningham, McKay, C. Curnow, Wright, Kerr
BEST
Geelong: Dangerfield, Duncan, Stewart, Ablett, Henry, Hawkins
Carlton: Cripps, Simpson, E. Curnow, Kreuzer, Dow
INJURIES
Geelong: Ratugolea (leg)
Carlton: Cripps (corkie)
TALKING POINTS
1. geelong's SPLENDID START TURNS TO DISASTER AFTER RATUGOLEA INJURY
The script was undoubtedly going all Geelong's way after they kicked the first four goals of the game, and from the onset, it looked like the beginning of a back-to-back triple-figure thrashing for Carlton.
Debuntant Jamaine Jones put through the first of the game, before Jordan Murdoch put through a major to make his 100th game that little bit better.
But it was Gary Ablett who stole the show, kicking his first major down at Kardinia Park for the Cats in 2829 days to get the lively crowd up and about.
But they soon died down in the second quarter, after cult hero and crowd favourite, Esava Ratugolea, went down with a suspected broken leg after landing awkwardly in a marking contest.
From there, it seemed to be all downhill for the Cats, who struggled to regain control of the match and ended up escaping with a 28-point victory.
Maybe Cats do have nine lives.
2. BLUES NEARLY GO 2-8
Following their disastrous outing against Melbourne last week, in which the Blues succumbed to a 109-point flogging, the struggling outfit needed only to show some spirit in order to get a pass mark.
Although Geelong were ordinary at the best of times last night, the efforts exerted by Carlton were undeniably commendable.
Hard around the contests, and even leading the centre clearance count 0-6 in the opening term, the Blues gave the stacked Cats' midfield a run for their money, with Patrick Cripps once again best afield.
Trailing by no less than three straight kicks at every change, the visitors were determined to the last, and even had an opportunity to bring the margin back within three points midway through the final term.
But a win once again evaded the Blues, with the final 28-point margin barely indicative of the trouble they put the Cats through for most of the game.
It's a saying Blues fans will be sick of hearing, but while the four points can't be awarded for a win, points nevertheless can be rewarded for effort after tonight.
3. NIGGLES, NIGGLES AND MORE NIGGLES
Whether it be frustration from the Cats or sheer grit from the Blues, tempers boiled numerous times throughout the match, creating a game which got on the nerves of both players and spectators.
Ed Curnow was determined to make Gary Ablett's return to GMHBA Stadium as troublesome as possible, while hard nuts Patrick Cripps and Joel Selwood got stuck into each other on more than one occasion.
As spot-fires broke out throughout the game, Tom Stewart let the Blues' pestering get the better of him, after he threw the football into the back of Jed Lamb's head after the former was tackled over the line.
A heated game, but nevertheless something the Blues needed to show in order to redeem themselves after their deplorable efforts last week.
Nothing wrong with a little bit of niggle.
4. ABLETT HOMECOMING NOT QUITE THE HYPE
Gary Ablett was once again the centre of attention in his return to Kardinia Park, with Saturday night penned as a massive occasion on the footy calendar.
It didn't take the dual-Brownlow medallist to make his impact, finding himself with a shot on goal just minutes into the opening term.
Hushing the crowd as he lined up to take his kick, Ablett slotted the ball through the big sticks as the Geelong faithful roared as loud as when they heard the hero was returning after seven seasons at the Gold Coast.
But the return wasn't quite as spectacular as initially conceived, with goals few and far between them and Geelong struggling against their opposition, who up until tonight had been lacklustre at best all season.
The little master nonetheless pieced together a solid game, with 25 disposals - although not at the greatest efficiency (60 per cent) - going alongside his one major for the evening.
A solid comeback, but not in the style Geelong fans were hoping for.
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