Carlton’s finals aspirations have received a massive boost after their incredible unbeaten run under interim coach Josh Fraser continued with a hard-fought victory over the GWS Giants on Saturday.
Blues Triumph in Key Clash
The Blues secured a crucial goal just before three-quarter time and powered on to record a 12.16 (88) to 9.11 (65) win, making it five straight victories since the shock sacking of Michael Voss. Remarkably, Carlton now sits alongside the Giants and St Kilda with a 6-8 record, with only percentage keeping them out of the wildcard positions.
“It’s not a hypothetical any more, it’s a reality — the Blues are on the hunt for the top eight and a final,” Dwayne Russell said on Fox Sports.
Jordan Lewis praised the bold decision to part ways with Voss after just nine games, stating “that’s really why you make the decision early.” He added, “If they had done it at the bye, they would be two or three games behind where they are now.”
Winnable Games Ahead
Upcoming matches against West Coast and Richmond present golden opportunities for Carlton to further improve their standing before a stern test against Hawthorn in Round 18.
Captain Patrick Cripps described the win over GWS as “huge” for the team’s confidence. “Winning on the road is special because you’ve got the next day and a plane trip home to get around each other,” he said.
However, Cripps was quick to temper expectations. “The energy inside the four walls, even when we weren’t winning, was still high,” he explained. “The wins definitely build belief. The external’s going to keep pumping it up but for us, enjoy the next 24 hours and keep enjoying the work.”
