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Carlton captain Cripps kicks late winner as Blues edge Geelong in dramatic Round 12 AFL clash
Patrick Cripps took a towering mark and converted with less than two minutes remaining to seal Carlton's 88-84 victory over Geelong at the MCG, extending the Blues' winning run to three matches under interim coach Craig Fraser.
The MCG provided the stage for one of the most gripping finishes of the AFL season as Carlton captain Patrick Cripps rose above a pack of defenders, hauled in a towering mark and calmly slotted the goal that would decide the contest with barely two minutes left on the clock. His composure under the most intense pressure sealed an 88 to 84 victory for the Blues over a Geelong side that had fought tooth and nail to stay in the contest throughout a pulsating four quarters.
The result extended Carlton's remarkable resurgence under interim coach Craig Fraser to three consecutive victories, a run that has breathed new life into a season that appeared to be slipping away before the coaching change. The Blues climbed to fourteenth on the ladder with the win, while the Cats, who had entered the round occupying a position inside the top four, dropped to fourth as the defeat exposed vulnerabilities that their coach Chris Scott will be keen to address before the run home.
Scott was left frustrated by what he described as an early umpiring error that could have altered the complexion of the match. A goal by Geelong's Oli Dempsey in the opening term was incorrectly ruled a behind without being sent for a score review, despite replays clearly showing the ball had crossed the line between the tall posts. The six-point swing at the start of a match decided by just four points was not lost on the Cats' coach in his post-match media conference.
Beyond the controversy, the match was a genuine spectacle of Australian football at its competitive best. Both sides traded blows throughout, with neither able to establish a comfortable buffer at any stage. Carlton's forward line showed improved cohesion under Fraser's tactical adjustments, while Geelong's midfield engine room worked tirelessly to keep the Cats in contention despite being outscored when it mattered most in the final minutes.
For Cripps, the match-winning moment adds another chapter to his growing legacy as one of the competition's premier big-game players. His ability to seize the decisive moment in front of a packed MCG crowd underlined why he wears the captain's armband, and why the Blues' supporters are beginning to believe that a late-season charge under their new coaching setup might not be beyond the realm of possibility after all.