Elimination Final, 2026

Carlton 4.3 27 5.7 37 7.8 50 11.8 74 Geelong 1.5 11 4.10 34 10.13 73 14.23 107
Venue:	MCG
Date:	Friday 4th September, 2026 (7.40 pm).
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

Carlton's season comes to a close
Carlton's 2026 season has come to an end at the hands of Geelong. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media.

Carlton's 2026 season has come to an end at the hands of Geelong. Despite a promising start, the Cats ran over the top of the Blues in the second half, seeing the Blues fall 14.23 (107) to 11.8 (74). In front of an incredible crowd of 96,680, Sam Walsh once again led the way with 29 disposals while Francis Evans fought all night against his former side. After last week’s brilliant performance, Walsh had the company of Oisin Mullin at the first bounce, as the rain started to fall at the MCG to open proceedings. Playing against his former side, a customary Francis Evans rundown tackle led to the Blues kicking the first goal of the game. It was a tense opening with both sides wasting opportunities going forward, as Carlton youngsters Jagga Smith and Billy Wilson led the way with nine disposals apiece in the first term. Adam Cerra produced an assured first term, driving the Blues forward from half-back with eight disposals at 100 per cent disposal efficiency, while going at 100 per cent disposal efficiency. Just as it looked like the Blues would take a narrow lead into the opening change, Patrick Cripps came to life, producing a sensational banana from deep inside the forward pocket. When Cooper Lord converted a set shot from the resulting clearance, Carlton had opened up a 16-point lead.

Jacob Weitering was an imposing figure behind the ball in the second term, as the Cats put the foot down and challenged the Blues. The co-vice captain repelled a host of Geelong forward entires, doing so in the absence of Harry Dean, who underwent a head injury assessment and missed the second term. Evans continued his strong work in the front half by finding Ollie Hollands, who hit the scoreboard the third consecutive week to open up what was a game-high 21-point lead. However, Geelong responded once again and found its kicking boots, converting three consecutive goals heading into half time to cut the margin to three points. The Blues’ midfield brigade was dominating around the ball, recording +10 clearances in the first half, but they failed to get bang for buck going forward, with inside 50s level. After losing the lead for the first time in the third term, the Blues were quick to respond, with Evans once again turning provider for Brodie Kemp before Ben Ainsworth found Harry McKay close to goal. However, looking to be full of run on the back of last week’s bye, the Cats surged, piling on five consecutive goals to close the term to open up a 23-point lead at the final change. When Shannon Neale kicked the opening goal of the final term, Geelong had produced 10 of the last 12 goals of the contest.

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.
2. This was the second largest crowd to attend a Carlton-Geelong game since 99,203 attended the Preliminary Final Replay, 1962
3. After hitting the post 4 times last week, Matt Cottrell managed to do it again with his second shot on goal.

Free Kicks

Carlton 14
Geelong 18

Front Runners

1. Gryan Miers (Geelong) 16.0km
2. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong) 15.5km
3. Brad Close (Geelong) 14.7km
4. Oliver Florent 14.5km
5. Oisin Mullin (Geelong) 14.4km

Disposal Efficiency

1. Francis Evans 91%
1. Harry McKay 91%
1. Oliver Florent 91%
2. Adam Cerra 87%
3. Jacob Weitering 83%

Best and Fairest Votes

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First Final | 2026