CATS CALL ON CONSTABLE
GEELONG skipper Eamonn Vines concedes his side’s premiership hopes will rest on performances against topeight teams Essendon and St Kilda after an agonising defeat on Saturday.
The Cats got themselves into a winning position with the ball, bowling Carlton out for 185, only to hand the points to the second-placed Blues with an underwhelming run chase.
Hayden Butterworth produced a “special” innings of 92 to give Geelong a glimmer of hope, but it proved too much as the Blues recorded a 25-run win at Geelong Cricket Ground.
“We fell short and it was disappointing,” Vines said.
“We had favourable conditions — the pitch had quite a bit in it early, so we won the toss and bowled — and we bowled exceptionally well.
“We got three wickets, and while they got a bit of a partnership together, we did well to bring it back. To bowl them out for 185 was a really good effort.
“On the batting side of things it was really disappointing. We were 4-10.
“When you’re chasing a total of 185, a good start almost ices the game, instead we put ourselves under the pump.
“Credit to Carlton — they are the best side in the competition and they always find a way to win — and when they’re behind they scrape and scrap and get themselves back in front.”
Cameron Stevenson did the damage up front for the Blues, claiming the scalps of Tim Ludeman (five from eight balls), Tom Jackson (one from four) and Josh McDonald (first-ball duck) to have the Cats reeling at 3-8.
And when Xavier Crone found the edge of Vines, Geelong was in disarray.
“Hayden Butterworth did a really good job. We needed something special to win the game, and he produced something special and yet we still fell short,” Vines said. “He was exceptional, but it was a disappointing day all up.”
Coming together with No.6 Tyler Larkin, Butterworth began the rescue mission, striking 92 from 119 deliveries.
He was in control at the crease, combining with Larkin (22 from 44) for a 49-run stand and with Dom McGlinchey (14 from 28) for a 52-run partnership to breathe life into the Cats’ innings.
When Butterworth skied one straight up in the air and was caught by Nikhil Pottabathini, Geelong was 8-155 and clinging on.
But the Blues wrapped the game up quickly, taking 3-5, with Stevenson picking up a five-wicket haul.
The loss meant the Cats slipped to ninth on the ladder, setting up two crucial encounters with the Bombers and Saints in the next month.