IN Round 17 of 2009, the old dark Navy Blues brought merciful end to a losing streak of five matches head-to-head with Geelong, by way of a stirring 35-point victory on the mighty MCG. The win also doubled as their 11th for the season – a mini-milestone given that none of their teams had notched more than 10 through each of the eight previous seasons.

With Simon Wiggins a late inclusion for the injured Mark Austin, Carlton conceded the opening two goals of the match, before Brendan Fevola completed a one-handed goal-line grab over Tom Harley and cheekily goaled around the corner to get the juggernaut into gear.

The pre-eminent Carlton midfielders Chris Judd, Bryce Gibbs and Marc Murphy held sway in midfield, and Setanta O’hAilpin repeatedly presented as a serious foil for ‘Fev’ and his many and varied on-field party tricks. Though the latter’s kicking was somewhat wayward, he remained a constant threat, and his meritorious chase-down tackles earned the plaudits of the Carlton faithful as much as anything else.

With Geelong failing to goal in the final term, the Brett Ratten-coached Carlton increased its margin to the tune of 35 points by the final bell – and duly took sixth placing on the AFL table with a victory over the eventual premier.

CARLTON              3.5 (23)                 7.7 (49)                 10.10 (70)            14.13 (97)
GEELONG              2.4 (16)                 5.6 (36)                 8.11 (59)              8.14 (62)

GOALS 
Carlton: Fevola 4, Simpson 3, Murphy 2, Houlihan, Joseph, Stevens, Kreuzer, Scotland

BESTS
Carlton: Judd, Gibbs, Thornton, Fevola, Russell, Simpson, Joseph, Murphy, Houlihan

Brownlow votes

3. Fevola (Carlton)
2. Selwood (Geelong)
1. Judd (Carlton)

The Carlton team

B:         Wiggins, Thornton, Russell
HB:       Joseph, Bower, Armfield
C:         Scotland, Judd (c), Stevens
HF:       Houlihan, O’hAilpin, Robinson
F:         Hampson, Fevola, Betts
Ruck:    Kreuzer, Gibbs, Murphy
I/c:       Walker, Simpson, Hadley, Carrazzo