YOU CAN'T gift Geelong opportunities like that.

Carlton, against an opponent more than capable of beating the best, instead gave the reigning Grand Finalists the perfect chance simply not to lose on Saturday, its woeful skill execution resulting in a forgettable and regrettable 26-point defeat.

The Cats, by no means at the top of their own game, did just enough to survive in a scrappy 10.10 (70) to 5.14 (44) victory at the MCG. Thanks to the profligacy of the Blues, the result was comfortable even if the performance was not perfect.

BLUES v CATS Full match coverage and stats

Carlton kicked 11 straight behinds, had one shot miss the target altogether, and went well over an hour between goals on either side of half-time. It missed chances both routine and extreme, all the while kicking itself out of the contest.

Geelong needed no second invitation to make its wilting foes pay the ultimate price. Close behind Carlton itself, Zach Tuohy (24 disposals, two goals) was the main architect of his former side's demise.

But he had willing help from Tom Stewart (25 disposals, 12 marks) behind the ball and Cam Guthrie (28 disposals, six clearances) in midfield, as the Cats consolidated their position inside the AFL's top-four with victory.

Sam Walsh (35 disposals, two goals) was one of few who couldn't be blamed for Carlton's wastefulness in attack, again the best performer in the Blues engine room. The issues were instead confined to what was happening forward of the ball.

The frustration had started early for Carlton, who spent large periods of the opening stages as the game's better side. But it butchered the ball in attack, registering 1.13 (19) on the scoreboard at one stage, turning it over just as many times off half-back.

The result was a series of routine chances for Geelong to capitalise at the other end, equating in a seven-point lead at the main break. It was an advantage that was only going to grow when the Cats eventually got the game on their terms.

'WE'VE GOT TO GET BETTER' Blues feel the pressure

That, to a certain extent, started in the second term. But an undermanned and undersized Blues backline admirably held firm throughout. Even still, there was always a sense the dam wall would burst and when it did the margin grew steadily with it.

Geelong kicked five unanswered goals, including three straight majors in the third quarter when it finally found its rhythm, crushing any remaining hopes of a Carlton upset that had been lingering after a scrappy first half.

After a series of Carlton shots failed to find the target, Harry McKay finally found his range in front of goal to bring the Blues back to within 18 points at three-quarter time, but it proved a false dawn.

Successive majors from Tuohy sealed the deal, rubbing salt into the wounds of his former side, as the Cats comfortably edged clear to pile on the misery and solidify their top-four standing.

Walsh avoids O'Connor attention
It was anticipated pre-game that Irish stopper Mark O'Connor, returning from another hamstring setback, would be sent directly to Carlton's in-form midfielder Sam Walsh. However, from the first bounce and for the remaining stoppages, it was captain Patrick Cripps who endured O’Connor’s attention. Walsh, held to a season-low for disposals against Matt de Boer and a season-low for clearances against Caleb Serong when tagged this year, was instead allowed to roam free playing both through the midfield and on the wing. Walsh enjoyed the lack of attention, winning 35 disposals and kicking two goals for the night to finish as one of the game's best players. Cripps, marked by O'Connor, finished with 19 touches.

Menegola's journey to the 100 Club
It's been a long road to 100 games for Sam Menegola, a player who spent one season on Hawthorn's rookie list without an AFL debut, three seasons on Fremantle's rookie list without an AFL debut, and one season as a WAFL-listed player at Subiaco before he was finally given a senior chance by Geelong. But, having finally earned his first game at 24 years of age, the midfielder hasn't looked back and celebrated the long-awaited and much-deserved milestone on Saturday evening. One of the Cats' better players, Menegola finished with 24 disposals in a comfortable victory. 

Blues suffer double-blow before Cats clash
Normally, it's Geelong springing the late changes. However, on Saturday, it was Carlton that was forced into a dramatic double-alteration on the eve of the first bounce. Key position pair Liam Jones (back) and Levi Casboult (knee) were both deemed unable to play in the clash, having sustained knocks during last week's victory over Fremantle. It meant the Blues went smaller, with Tom Williamson replacing Jones down back and midfielder Setterfield coming in for ruck-forward Casboult. In the latter's absence, a combination of Patrick Cripps and Jack Silvagni helped Tom De Koning in the ruck, but without Jones the Blues were forced to play undersized duo Lachie Plowman on Esava Ratugolea and Liam Stocker on Gary Rohan.

CARLTON     1.5     1.9      2.13      5.14 (44)
GEELONG     2.1     3.4       6.7      10.10 (70)

GOALS
Carlton: Walsh 2, McKay 2, Petrevski-Seton
Geelong: Tuohy 2, Ratugolea, Bews, Smith, Parfitt, Rohan, Higgins, Stanley, Holmes

BEST
Carlton: Walsh, Weitering, Newnes, Cripps, Saad
Geelong: Tuohy, Stewart, Smith, Guthrie, Henderson, Menegola, Parfitt 

INJURIES
Carlton: Casboult (knee) replaced in selected side by Setterfield, Jones (back) replaced in selected side by Williamson
Geelong: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Cottrell (unused)
Geelong: Narkle (unused)

Crowd: 31,834 at the MCG