Round 12 – Carlton v Geelong: An amazing upset

June 1, 2026 by Matty Leave a Comment

Round 12
Carlton v Geelong
Friday 29 May 2026
MCG, Melbourne

AN AMAZING UPSET: CARLTON V GEELONG

by Matty (Harvey)

For a dedicated Carlton supporter, it is surprising that this was my first match for the year, but Round Zero was in Sydney and Richmond was on a Thursday night! Then the defeats just kept coming and poor Voss was gone. I was in Adelaide when we beat the Bulldogs in Melbourne, then back in Melbourne when we beat Port in Adelaide.

I just had to get to the Geelong game. I reserved a couple of seats on Level 4 Q45 but my Geelong-supporting mate couldn’t make it so I ended up being able to spread across two seats!

Although I always tip the Blues, I did not have high expectations. Sure we had beaten some struggling teams, but Geelong – they’re not struggling, they’re in the Top 8.

Blues were in the orange socks with orange numbers for awareness of domestic violence. We got the first goal through Will Hayward, who is looking like good value in part exchange for Charlie Curnow. But that was our only goal for the quarter and trailing 1.3.9 to Geelong’s 4.4.28 at quarter time did not bode well.

In the second, two of our new boys Flynn Young and Jack Ison scored goals in quick succession but Cameron struck back for Geelong. Young then bagged his second and looked like a third but it was overturned on review.

Harry McKay had a bad miss to the right, but Adam Cerra made amends soon afterwards with a goal. At half Carlton trailed 5.9.39 to Geelong 6.8.44, neither side kicking particularly well.

The second half began brilliantly when George Hewett caught high and goaled and we were in front!. Ainsworth hit the post but Henry goaled while falling to ground to put Geelong back in front. Mitch McGovern baulked and – missed! Cameron also missed but Mannagh’s high quality running goal took Geelong’s lead to 10 points.

Then another new boy Talor Byrne stepped up for Carlton and goaled, quickly followed by Brodie Kemp and suddenly the Blues were back in front. Straight back down from the restart, new boy Jack Ison to that man Hayward again and we were up by 8. A Carlton turnover made its way to Cameron who made no mistake. At three quarter time, Carlton led by a point! 9.11.65 to 9.10.64.

Carlton supporters began to believe that we might do it!

Early in the last, Acres, back in the side, speared it to Hayward who bagged his third. But down the other end, lace out to Danger who calmly slotted it from 50. The old Geelong guy sitting next to me said Danger couldn’t do that when he was younger!

Then yet another of our new boys Jagga Smith did a blind turn and got it to Kemp who goaled, bringing Carlton to a 7 point lead. There was nearly an instant replay, but it was found to be touched! Hayward missed, Walsh burst through and – missed, but then Geelong missed too.

Harry McKay took a beaut mark and missed to the left. Henry got another goal while being slung. Geelong back in front by 2! Past the 30 minute mark and McGovern kicked it in for a fantastic hanger by Patty Cripps, our captain and hero! He converted, giving us a 4 point lead. SIREN! An amazing win Carlton 12.16.88 to Geelong 12.12.84. Not great kicking but a great match and a great result for Carlton. Three in a row for interim coach Josh Fraser. Why doesn’t he want the job?! With Essendon next week, hope to extend it to four!

CARLTON 1.3 5.9 9.11 12.16 (88)
GEELONG 4.4 6.8 9.10 12.12 (84)

GOALS
Carlton: Hayward 3, Young 2, Kemp 2, Ison, Cerra, Hewett, Byrne, Cripps
Geelong: Cameron 4, Dempsey 2, O.Henry 2, J.Henry 2, Mannagh, Dangerfield

BEST
Carlton: Walsh, Weitering, Smith, Hayward, Cripps, Dean
Geelong: Smith, Cameron, Humphries, Holmes, Dempsey, Guthrie

INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Geelong: Humphries (leg)

Crowd: 61,081 at the MCG

More Round 12 Reports Here