Blog log from P1 of 2026: Carlton vs Geelong

Hayward kicks the opening goal of the game for his new club off the ground after being first to a long Hollands ball over the head of McKay next to the behind post. (Q1 1:37)
Hollands hits McKay this time with a pass to 45m on the flank but the big Haitch misses near side left. (Q1 5:55)
Evans picks off a sideways pass by Stewart to CHF, the bespectacled one goes back for the set shot and dobs it from downtown like Kareem! (Q1 20:03)
Smith marks a poke kick from heavy traffic on the wing by Hewett over Atkins 40m out on the flank for his first goal of the balmy evening. (Q1 22:08)
Stephens floats through his first goal with a snap from CHF. (Q1 24:34)
Kemp gets a set shot on the same line a few yards closer and repeats the dose with another nice drop punt drawing right to left. (Q1 25:54)
Reidy catches his opposing ruck De Koning HTB 40m out on a slight angle, but hooks his free kick to the right. (Q2 1:24)
Worpel roves a fumble by Walsh and has a lash off a step from the pocket 20m off his right, but it’s narrow to the left. (Q2 4:10)
Worpel bounces a quick pass to the pocket for Dempsey after Martin misses a target by foot at half back, but the banana is narrow from 20m. (Q2 7:05)
Cripps props on outer wing and passes inboard to Elijah Hollands 45m out on a slight angle, whose kick is short for no score. (Q2 9:07)
Holmes is involved in a rebound around outer wing that ends with Oliver Henry who kicks long from the boundary 45m out and watches the ball sail through. Pass or shot? Goal! (Q2 10:11)
O’Connor passes very short to Neale 40m out on the flank who is paid the dubious mark but shoots OOTF near side left. (Q2 14:09)
Pittonet grabs the footy from a throw-in but his wobbling snap from 20m snicks the right goalpost. (Q2 18:07)
Frontal pressure forces a rare Geelong turnover in D50 by Holmes, but Williams is on the end of the handball chain and sprays it from the hotspot. (Q2 19:11)
Martin gets a holding free on Saad after a ball up 15m out on a slight angle, he curls that one through with no problem in the shadows of HT. (Q2 25:55)
Jack Henry has been supreme in defence but he is beaten with a leap from McKay for a mark 30m out in front just on the HT siren… the kick is into the left goalpost. (Q2 28:10)
Neale gathers a long ball by Dangerfield to the pocket and tries a low-percentage snap that skews OOTF near side right. (Q3 1:28)
Young Dean is whistled for an arm around old man Dangerfield to concede a cheap free 40m out on a slight angle, which results in a poster to the right. (Q3 1:28)
O’Connor also blazes OOTF from the other pocket after a feed by Dangerfield. (Q3 1:28)
The crumb from a rather aimless Smith kick to a big pack 35m out favours Elijah Hollands who snaps truly off the right from 40m on a slight angle. (Q3 1:28)
Holmes bounces away from the next centre bounce after sharking Pittonet’s tap, and strokes through a lovely finish from CHF. (Q3 7:50)
Jack Henry darts in front of Reidy to intercept Young’s rebound kick on outer wing, goes quickly inboard for Dangerfield 45m out on a slight angle, goal Geelong. (Q3 10:58)
Kemp marks an intelligent pass over congestion from half forward by Hewett after he had lost the leg rope from Blicavs, he goals from 10m out. (Q3 14:44)
Stewart is pinged for an arm around Moir near the hotspot trying to defend a quick, long ball from the wing by Walsh. Moir pops through the goal. (Q3 16:44)
McGovern’s clanger rebound kick under Neal chase pressure is straight to Humphries who passes to Knevitt 40m out on a slight angle, goal Cats. (Q3 19:00)
Smith handballs to grass at half forward, but Dempsey comes in hot to catch Elijah Hollands over the shoulder 40m out on a slight angle. He converts with class. (Q3 21:46)
Cripps hooks horribly from a set shot from 40m on a slight angle, doesn’t even score. (Q3 24:51)
Smith receives from Hewett after a stoppage on the HFF and passes inboard to Evans 45m out on a slight angle with good vision. 3QT siren goes, Frankie misses near side left. (Q3 29:43)
Evans roves Pittonet at a throw-in 20m out but is in heavy traffic and can’t get the hurried snap on line. (Q4 1:27)
Guthrie bombs long to the square, big pack forms with several tall Blues there but Polkinghorne marks and goals. (Q4 3:56)
Walsh bursts away after breaking an Edwards tackle in the centre and kicks much the same goal as Holmes had in the previous quarter. (Q4 4:57)
Chesser gathers a centring bounce pass by Elijah Hollands, baulks around the onrushing Oliver Henry and slots the goal from the hotspot. (Q4 7:36)
Oliver Hollands snaps a nice goal from 25m in the pocket after the Blues boss a stoppage through Evans and Hewett, with the goal assist handball by Florent. (Q4 10:37)
Martin converts an high contact free on Cripps from 35m in front. (Q4 11:57)
Mannagh marks 45m out on a slight angle and hoofs through a typically high-quality drop punt. (Q4 14:42)
Walsh zooms onto a crumb on outer wing and feeds outside to Byrne who slots a nice goal from 40m on the flank. (Q4 16:39)
Edwards’ loopy handball in defence is fingertipped by Cripps, Reidy roves and feeds back to Cripps for the turnover goal from 25m on a slight angle. (Q4 19:42)
O’Connor tumbles in a nice right-foot snap across the body from 30m on the flank for his first of the night. (Q4 19:42)
Smith runs around outer wing and hits the lead of Cripps in front of Jack Henry 45m out on the flank. Cripps’ kick is short and off hands for no score. (Q4 19:42)
Young leaps on the goal line but misses a quick snap by Martin from the hotspot for his third goal. (Q4 32:39)