THE CARLTON Reserves have recorded a last-gasp one-point win in a VFL practice match… without even realising it.
A late rushed behind from Flynn Young saw the Blues hit the lead with 30 seconds to go, despite the IKON Park scoreboard suggesting that it only levelled the scores.
However, the two goal umpires came together in the middle of the ground to confirm that the Blues had in fact won by a point, overturning a 38-point deficit in the second term.
Young was the catalyst for the comeback with four goals, while draftee Jack Ison showcased his flair and veteran defender Nic Newman got through his second match back unscathed.
It marked the Blues’ second consecutive narrow win from their practice matches, after a one-goal win against Coburg seven days ago.
Carlton had to overcome a slow start, with Geelong kicking a goal from the opening centre clearance and recording three unanswered goals before the Blues even looked like troubling the scorers.
The best moment of the opening quarter and a half from a Carlton perspective came from the boot of Irishman Matt Duffy, who received a 50-metre penalty and kicked truly for a goal.
But it was otherwise a rough beginning to the game for the Blues, trailing by 38 points halfway through the second term with errors coming out of the back half proving costly.
It was an exciting patch of form in the final 10 minutes of the second game which swung the momentum, with draftee Ison having some key moments - including a spectacular mark sitting on the shoulders of his Geelong opponent.
A pair of former Werribee premiership teammates in Sam Paea and Flynn Young had two goals apiece in the first half, while Rob Monahan was finding plenty of the ball in the opening stages.
The Blues had got themselves back within 14 points at the main break, before a pair of goals to Hudson O’Keeffe after some strong contested marking narrowed the gap even further.
When Lucas Camporeale kicked a running goal from 50, Carlton hit the front, but the Cats responded with four consecutive majors of their own to reopen a 20-point gap.
Newman got through his allotted game time as he run laps of the boundary in the final term, and Ben Camporeale (cork) came from the ground with 10 minutes to play.
It was quite the cameo from Young, who kicked two goals of his own with expert finishes before turning the provider for Alwyn Davey.
It had actually levelled the scores, but with the scoreboard suggesting otherwise that the Cats were still up by a point, neither team was to know. Young rushed through a late behind to ‘level’ the scores after a goalmouth scramble, and it was only after the siren sounded at IKON Park that the Blues realised they had triumphed by the narrowest of margins as preparations continue for the season proper.
CARLTON 2.0 6.1 10.1 13.4 (82)
GEELONG 5.0 8.3 10.3 13.3 (81)
GOALS
CARLTON: Young 4, O’Keeffe 2, Paea 2, L.Camporeale, Davey, Duffy, Howard, Tucker
