CARLTON will take momentum into its first finals campaign since 2020 after a gritty 20-point win against West Coast on Friday night that could see the heartbroken Eagles bundled out of the top eight.
The Blues travelled west to Sullivan Logistics Stadium on a five-day break and were pushed most of the way by a desperate Eagles team, but they played with more poise and skill than their young opponents to win 6.6 (42) to 3.4 (22).
West Coast, which needed one win from its final two games to guarantee a maiden finals campaign, must now hope for an upset Essendon win against Sydney on Saturday night.
The Blues will be there in their third season under coach Mathew Buck after finishing 14th last season, with the energetic team coming from behind in the final quarter to overpower their opponents.
West Coast led by six points after Lucia Painter kicked a brilliant long-range goal to open the fourth quarter, but the Blues responded to kick the next four as Abbie McKay, Tara Bohanna and Erone Fitzpatrick sealed the result.
Star Darcy Vescio put the finishing touches on the win with a long-range torpedo goal after the siren, sparking wild celebrations.
Abbie McKay (23 disposals and six clearances) and Mimi Hill (23) were excellent for the Blues, with forward Tara Bohanna a constant threat in the second half with two goals.
It was an incredibly even and disciplined performance from the Blues, however, who now sit in fifth after an 8-4 season.
The importance of West Coast star Ella Roberts was clear from the opening minutes as she racked up a handful of early possessions and quickly established herself as one of the dominant players on the ground.
Influential youngster Charlotte Riggs was also involved early and set up the only goal of the quarter to Lauren Wakfer as heavy rain started to fall, making conditions difficult for two teams that were keen to move the ball quickly.
The Blues were denied a chance in the final seconds when an apparent mark for Tara Bohanna was not paid, with West Coast taking a five-point lead into the first change.
Carlton got on top through the second term, with Harriet Cordner intercepting everything in defence and kickstarting the Blues ball-movement. Their ability to link up through the middle created several chances in an open forward line, with Bohanna able to capitalise.
Riggs hit back for West Coast with a late goal against the flow of play, giving the Eagles a five-point lead at the main break.
That was quickly erased in the opening minute of the third when Keeley Sherar kicked a crafty goal in traffic, setting up a pulsating quarter that saw the pressure go to another level in the slippery conditions.
West Coast built momentum by getting on top in the contest but continued to come unstuck when kicking inside 50, with scores level at the final change.
Painter’s classy long goal generating plenty of excitement among the home crowd, but the Eagles couldn’t win the big contests in the final quarter and were overrun.
The Blue wall
During the periods when West Coast had momentum, there was one Carlton defender standing in their way repeatedly, with Harriet Cordner racking up 10 intercept possessions in the first half alone. Five of those were intercept marks as the 33-year-old repeatedly put herself in position to blunt the Eagles attacks. “It was so critical early, and right throughout the game, but she’s been a brick wall for us all year in combination with Maddie Hendrie, who had some big moments late in the game,” Buck said after the game. “Harriet’s been a super player for us and a real leader in our group.” The late flurry of goals filled the highlights reel for the Blues, but Cornder’s work laid the foundations on Friday night.
A champ’s farewell
West Coast will hope that champion Dana Hooker gets to play at least one last game if luck goes their way, but it is likely the 34-year-old’s inspiring career is over after 66 games. An inaugural Fremantle player in 2017, Hooker joined the Eagles ahead of their introduction to the AFLW, winning the club’s first best and fairest award and having a significant impact on the emergence of a new breed of stars, including co-captains Bella Lewis and Charlie Thomas, who chaired her off the ground to applause. “She was a pro before the competition demanded you to be,” coach Daisy Pearce said on Friday night. “It’s just been a privilege to coach her. To have her around with her resilience and her wisdom, she’s supported me as a rookie coach coming in and I’ve really appreciated having someone like ‘Hooks’ around.”
Next up
The Blues have locked in fifth place and a home final and can now sit back and wait to see who they take on, with Sydney, Adelaide and Fremantle all vying for a finals place and a potential match-up with the Blues. West Coast is no longer in control of its destiny but could sneak in if the Swans lose to Essendon on Saturday night.
WEST COAST 1.0 2.3 2.4 3.4 (22)
CARLTON 0.1 1.3 2.4 6.6 (42)
GOALS
West Coast: Riggs, Painter, L.Wakfer
Carlton: Bohana 2, Fitzpatrick, McKay, Sherar, Vescio
BEST
West Coast: Roberts, Lewis, Thomas, Cleaver, Britton
Carlton: Bohanna, Fitzpatrick, Harrington, McKay, Cordner, Hill, Sherar
INJURIES
West Coast: Gibson (illness)
Carlton: Nil
LATE CHANGES
West Coast: None
Carlton: Amelia Velardo (hamstring awareness) replaced in selected side by Síofra O’Connell
Crowd: 2365 at Sullivan Logistics Stadium
