Elimination Final, 2026: Difference between revisions
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===Game Review=== | ===Game Review=== | ||
<br> | '''Cats end Blues' miracle season as Danger winds back the clock.''' <br> | ||
'''Geelong has put an end to Carlton's season, defeating the Blues in front of a massive MCG crowd.''' - By Gemma Bastiani. | |||
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. 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. | |||
'''Start the clock''' <br> | |||
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''' <br> | |||
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. | |||
Best: J. Smith, S. Walsh, P. Cripps, B. Wilson, M. Pittonet, L. Cowan. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
===Team=== | ===Team=== | ||
Revision as of 14:32, 4 September 2026
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| Venue: | MCG |
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| Date: | Friday 4th September, 2026 (7.40 pm). |
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| Result: | Lost by 33 points. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 96,680 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | B. Kemp 2.1, C. Lord 2.0, F. Evans 2.0, B. Ainsworth 1.2, M. Cottrell 1.1, H. McKay 1.0, O. Hollands 1.0, P. Cripps 1.0, B. Acres 0.2, S. Walsh 0.1, Rushed 0.1. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | Nick Foot, Jamie Broadbent, Jacob Mollison, Martin Rodger. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | H. Dean (face). | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Cats end Blues' miracle season as Danger winds back the clock.
Geelong has put an end to Carlton's season, defeating the Blues in front of a massive MCG crowd. - By Gemma Bastiani.
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. 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.
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.
Best: J. Smith, S. Walsh, P. Cripps, B. Wilson, M. Pittonet, L. Cowan.
Team
| B: | 4 Oliver Hollands | 23 Jacob Weitering | 2 Lachlan Cowan |
| HB: | 14 Oliver Florent | 35 Harry Dean | 47 Wade Derksen |
| C: | 13 Blake Acres | 9 Patrick Cripps (c) | 5 Adam Cerra |
| HF: | 12 Ben Ainsworth | 11 Mitch McGovern | 17 Brodie Kemp |
| F: | 36 Cooper Lord | 10 Harry McKay | 39 Talor Byrne |
| Ruck: | 27 Marc Pittonet | 18 Sam Walsh | 7 Jagga Smith |
| Interchange: | 15 Billy Wilson | 29 George Hewett | 33 Lewis Young |
| 46 Matt Cottrell | 44 Francis Evans | ||
| Coach: | Josh Fraser | ||
| Emergencies: | 37 Jordan Boyd | 25 Liam Reidy | 30 Jack Ison |
In: Wade Derksen
Out: Nick Haynes (ankle)
Milestones
First Final: Wade Derksen
.
Interesting Facts
1. This is the first final that Carlton has played against Geelong since its premiership win in 1995.
Free Kicks
Carlton 14
Geelong 18
Front Runners
1. G. Miers (Geelong) 16.0km
2. O. Dempsey (Geelong) 15.5km
3. B. Close (Geelong) 14.7km
4. Oliver Florent 14.5km
5. O. Mullin (Geelong) 14.4km
Disposal Efficiency
Best and Fairest Votes
