1. Long-standing Hoodoo broken
Carlton's record against Geelong at Etihad Stadium was terrible – 14 contests for 14 losses, including six defeats by more than 50 points. But on Sunday, after years of trying, the Blues finally broke their hoodoo. The win was built on guts and determination and a resilience to meet every challenge Geelong threw at them. Brendon Bolton's men defended brilliantly, none more so than Sam Rowe who kept Cats spearhead Tom Hawkins to just one goal, which came approaching junk time in the final term. The Blues outmuscled and outworked a flat-looking Geelong who now should have serious questions being asked about its premiership hopes. 

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2. Bolt from the Blue as Carlton pair Kreuze through
Not many believed Matthew Kreuzer and Levi Casboult would actually play, despite being named in Carlton's team on Thursday night, but amazingly both took to the field against Geelong. Kreuzer required keyhole surgery on his left knee following a meniscus tear against Port Adelaide in round eight. Casboult had a depression on his left tibia, rather than a hairline fracture on the bone in his left leg as initially feared following the game against the Power. Casboult showed no ill effects from his injury, launching himself in most of the marking contests he was part of. Kreuzer looked slightly laboured but performed remarkably well given the circumstances. The Blues ruckman won some important clearances in the final quarter as Geelong came home with a rush. 

3. Carlton's unlikely heroes
The Blues have made a habit of playing team-first football under Brendon Bolton this season and that selfless ethos was underlined against Geelong. Carlton received great contributions from three unlikely sources: Andrejs Everitt (four goals), Dennis Armfield (three), and Daniel Gorringe (two). All three equalled their career-highs for goals kicked in a match, and all three were pivotal in Carlton's victory, not only on the scoreboard but also for their pressure around the ball. Geelong's defenders never had a chance to get settled and use the ball smartly coming out of the backline, which these three Blues players carried out superbly. 

4. Public enemy No.1
Lachie Henderson left Carlton in unceremonious terms last season so there's little wonder why he was not very popular with Blues fans on Sunday. The defender told the Blues toward the end of last season that he was not going to be there in 2016 and from then on Carlton cut all ties with him. After an average start to his Geelong career, Henderson has really come on in recent weeks and he has become an important addition to the Cats' backline. Geelong's hope is for Henderson to fill the role that Jared Rivers carried out so well in his three seasons at the Cattery. Henderson was booed for every one of his 18 touches, but he did not let that scrutiny faze him and emerged as one of Geelong's best.

5. Carlton wills itself to win
What made Carlton's win more meritorious was that it lost both Marc Murphy and Liam Sumner to ankle injuries in the first quarter of the match. Murphy limped off at the nine-minute mark of the term after rolling his ankle in a Patrick Dangerfield tackle. The skipper started the game up forward and snagged an early goal before the injury struck. Sumner hobbled off just four minutes after Murphy, with the young forward also succumbing to an ankle injury before half-time. The Blues used eight less rotations than Geelong but still finished the game full of running to hold the Cats off.