Blues draw with Dogs to clinch AFL wildcard final berth
Anna Harrington |
Carlton have sealed a once unthinkable AFL finals berth with a draw against the Western Bulldogs completing the Blues’ extraordinary turnaround under interim coach Josh Fraser.
The Blues were 1-8 when Michael Voss was sacked and Fraser took the reins in May – and the interim coach has overseen 10 wins, a draw and just one loss to save Carlton’s season.
Fraser entered the race for the fulltime role this week and his appointment appears inevitable after Francis Evans’ late goal sealed Sunday’s 12.10 (82) to 12.10 (82) draw and a wildcard berth in front of 44,106 fans at Marvel Stadium.
Carlton (46 points) eliminated St Kilda (40) and GWS (40) from wildcard contention with a week to go, and sit 10th behind the Bulldogs (50), who can no longer finish higher than eighth.
It means the Blues will be in this year’s new-look finals system and can use next Saturday’s clash with leaders Fremantle as a dress rehearsal.
“I just spoke to the group then. I’m really proud of the work that they’ve put in,” Fraser said.
“And it’s been a collective. It’s the 23 that represent the club today, but it’s the entire playing list and their willingness and want to grow and improve certain parts of our game and drive standards.
“It’s been an incredible 14 weeks or 13 weeks at this point. But tonight gave us more feedback. Like there’s a lot more work in front of us.
“But I think the players deserve an enormous amount of credit for the resilience they’ve shown and the appetite to want to keep getting better.”
Fraser insisted he didn’t know whether, with finals secured, Carlton’s decision on the coach would be brought forward.
“Respectfully you’re probably asking the wrong person,” he said.
“I don’t know. Once I presented, all my attention went into tonight, and haven’t really thought about it since.
“Obviously, acknowledging that there’s a process happening.”
After Evans’ equaliser – which teammate Wade Derksen bizarrely marked over the line before almost claiming the goal – the Blues played for a draw.
“A draw was enough,” Fraser said, before praising his players for being able to execute that.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said: “It was weird though, obviously usually when there’s a draw, the team with the ball in their hands is usually trying to win it.”
The Bulldogs rested superstar skipper Marcus Bontempelli, and were without ruckman Tim English (knee).
Beveridge confirmed Bontempelli had been dealing with a “grumbly Achilles” and is no guarantee to face Melbourne next Saturday, with a temptation to freshen him up for wildcard round.
Carlton’s midfield led by Patrick Cripps (26 disposals, 12 clearances), ruckman Marc Pittonet (31 hitouts, nine clearances), Sam Walsh (33 disposals) and Jagga Smith (25 touches) were superb.
Returning defender Jacob Weitering was a powerhouse, keeping a wayward-kicking Aaron Naughton goalless while Nick Haynes and Oliver Florent were influential.
In Bontempelli’s absence, Ed Richards (31 disposals, two goals) was immense, with support from Tom Liberatore (12 clearances, 33 disposals).
Beveridge labelled defenders Buku Khamis and James O’Donnell “exceptional”.
Blues forward Will Hayward snagged three goals but injured his right ankle in the third term after landing awkwardly from taking a huge hanger just before kicking his third major.
The “sore” recruit will be assessed.
The game was an arm wrestle, with neither team leading by more than 20.
Blues defender Harry Dean and Bulldogs forward Arty Jones started an all-in melee just before halftime that will attract plenty of fines.
Carlton led by five points at the final change and Evans snapped the Blues out to a 12-point lead early in the quarter.
The Bulldogs responded and Richards’ second goal delivered a seven-point lead.
But the Blues wouldn’t go away with Evans the hero.
AAP