Ratten - who left key defenders Jarrad Waite and Bret Thornton out of the side - started the game with Andrew Walker (190cm) taking on Tom Hawkins (197cm) and 21-year old rookie Simon White on the in-form James Podsiadly.
With both Walker and White keeping the Geelong duo goalless, the mobile Blues defenders were able to punish the Cats with their run and carry from the backline to engineer a 36-point win against the reigning premiers.
“I think sometimes coaches roll the dice when playing smaller players on taller players and I suppose sometimes you can be in a world of pain if they start catching it or you can create opportunity to run and counterattack,” Ratten said.
“It’s a flip of the coin - sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Today we got an advantage from it.”
The Blues' defensive pressure and run and carry from defense was a focus throughout the week for the Carlton coach, with the rebounding defenders in Bryce Gibbs, Jordan Russell and Dennis Armfield leading the way.
“Our flexibility down there was pretty much a key and our speed and run from our back 50 was really important to score at the other end of the ground,” he said.
Ratten also paid special tribute to his young indigenous forward trio of Chris Yarran, Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett, who kicked seven goals between them and had the coach’s box jumping with excitement.
“They lifted the box with the excitement they were creating,” he said.
“They create excitement through pressure and opportunity ... their ability to read the play, pick it off the deck, mark the footy and create something out of nothing is really special.”
Ratten’s men face a blockbuster clash against Collingwood next Sunday at the MCG, with the Carlton coach confident his charges can continue to build on their winning form.
“It is another challenge for the group and I think after the response from the Essendon performance to the Adelaide and now Geelong, I think our challenge will be to back up our intensity levels,” he said.
