PATRICK Dangerfield's still got it.

Five goals in his 32nd final in front of 96,680 fans broke the hearts of the Carlton faithful across the country, keeping Geelong's chances alive in the process.

CATS V BLUES Full match details and stats

The Cats shook off an early challenge to finish 14.23 (107) to 11.8 (74) victors, playing their best footy in a wet second half at the MCG on Friday evening.

A 44-point turnaround either side of the half time break put a full stop on Carlton's remarkable season. Ultimately, the fresh legs, and immense finals experience of the Cats was simply too much for the Blues' momentum to compete with.

Early in the piece, Carlton's dominance around stoppage allowed it to get on top. By quarter-time it led the clearance count 11-4, growing to 24-14 by half time.  

There was a genuine ruthlessness about how Carlton approached every single contest. They worked to swarm the ball carrier and make their physicality known, and it unsettled the ball movement of the hardened Cats.

It asked some questions of Geelong's much vaunted onball group, but it was one of the side's quiet achievers that helped shift the momentum.

Shaun Mannagh's work through the midfield changed the game for the Cats. Where teammates were sloppy with the ball, or susceptible to pressure, it was Mannagh (25 disposals, six clearances, one goal) who expertly took the ball off the line to open up the ground for Geelong.

And for Carlton it was Jagga Smith's speed on attack through the middle of the ground that repeatedly caught the Cats out. Tagger Oisin Mullin was first sent to Sam Walsh – whose form last week was crucial to Carlton's wildcard win – but it didn't take long for the directive to shift to Smith (21 disposals, five score involvements) to come via the runner.

Off the back of Carlton's speed on rebound, it was regularly able to find players standing alone in the forward 50, despite Geelong's desire to generate a spare behind the ball.

But with rain teeming down and the Cats with the benefit of a week's rest, the Blues' heavy legs started to show in that transition game.

Ollie Wiltshire was a crucial conduit up forward in his first final, Max Holmes was clean and powerful on his return despite being on managed minutes, and the young key forward pair of Shannon Neale and Jay Pollkinghorne started to find space inside 50.

For much of the game, Jeremy Cameron covered the ground from the wing, trying hard to establish a mismatch and then drag his direct opponent deep inside 50. While it didn't necessarily result in scoring opportunities for Cameron, it created some worry for the Blues

Geelong's experience increasingly shone through as the game wore on. On the eve of half time the Cats were in control of the game, peppering the attacking 50, but just unable to do bulk damage, with just three goals from 11 scores across the quarter. And it was always going to be a problem for the Blues once the radar straightened up.

So, a second-half return of 10 goals to Carlton's six became more indicative of that control, mounting the impressive turnaround.

Holmes' return to the top
Geelong coach Chris Scott made the bold call to bring star midfielder Max Holmes back for his first game since round 19 after suffering an ankle injury. The plan was always to manage his minutes – short, powerful bursts for pinch-hitting impact – and it was working to great effect, especially through the side's third-quarter comeback. But as with most players returning to the top level after a layoff, Holmes required plenty of attention from the Geelong trainers at the final break due to some heavy cramping. Thankfully for Cats fans, that's all it was, given Holmes' rough run in September in recent years.

Start the clock
Midway through the second term, defensive revelation Harry Dean copped from friendly fire to the face, causing him to be helped off the ground for some attention. Initially the concern was his nose – which was on the receiving end of an accidental Marc Pittonet boot – but then he was forced to the rooms to undergo a Head Injury Assessment (HIA). He passed the assessment and was deemed fine to return to the ground, but the mandatory 15-minute break hadn't been started by the AFL steward until Dean was taken into the rooms. Although the Blues' countdown clock meant he was ready to come back on late in the quarter, the AFL kept him on the bench for the remainder of the quarter to complete the required 15 minutes.

Captain Cripps
The Blues started well. But as Geelong started to find its feet late in the first quarter, thanks to a goal from captain Patrick Dangerfield, Carlton's leader Patrick Cripps went one better. Starting in the hands of Sam Walsh on the forward flank, he hit up Rising Star Jagga Smith. A kick into the 50 skimmed some Geelong fingertips, ultimately landing in Cripps' hands deep in the pocket. A recent master of the checkside around the body, Cripps calmly looked goalward and curved it through to the roar of the crowd.

GEELONG         1.5    4.10    10.13    14.23 (107)
CARLTON          4.3    5.7     7.8        11.8 (74)

GOALS 
Geelong: Dangerfield 5, Miers 2, Neale 2, Close, Holmes, Mannagh, O.Henry, Polkinghorne
Carlton: Evans 2, Kemp 2, Lord 2, Cottrell, Cripps, Hollands, McKay, Ainsworth

BEST 
Geelong: Mannagh, Dangerfield, Smith, Wiltshire, Stewart, J.Henry
Carlton: Smith, Walsh, Cripps, Wilson, Pittonet, Cowan

INJURIES 
Geelong: Nil
Carlton: Dean (face)

Crowd: 96,680 at the MCG