Much of what you take away from this game will depend on how you rate Carlton with both West Coast and North Melbourne capitulating easily the Adelaide Crows’ win over Carlton in Round Eight is a statement – a dominant performance with winners all over the park but I also have this nagging feeling that Carlton might very well be second-rate with Reilly O’Brien taking Tom De Koning’s space with the dynamic combination of James Peatling moving the footy from inside to outside with both precision and a sense of urgency And then it was a well-structured forward setup which managed to overcome some pretty ordinary inside fifty deliveries With both Nick Murray and Mitch Hinge missing from the backline the Crows were deemed “undermanned” by several in the media Whilst that is great surface-level analysis the fact of the matter is that this Crows teams bats so deep now that they are the best situated team in the game to cover absences and they proved it with Jordon Butts and Brodie Smith bringing experience into the back six to replace those going out and one that they should be able to use as a springboard into the remainder of the season If you had any doubts that they were in this season up to their eyeballs you genuinely believe the Blues are complete pretenders Let’s jump into The Mongrel’s Big Questions REMEMBER WHEN EVERYONE WISHED ADELAIDE HAD TWO JORDAN DAWSONS and flittering between half-back and the midfield with the Crows tossing up where he was best utilised The skill set of the Adelaide captain is so diverse he can basically play anywhere except ruck and even though some will look at his matchup against Patrick Cripps Jordan Dawson was on another level in this game as well as spending time as a deep forward where he was instrumental in creating scoring opportunities with his aerial ability and second efforts With the Crows now building a well-balanced midfield the captain now provides the team with a potent addition to an already-powerful offensive unit It was in defence that Dawson was once deemed necessary His ball use off the back of the square was quite irreplaceable but with a couple of years under their belt the duo of Josh Worrell and Max Michalanney have made Dawson’s presence back there unnecessary Who thought we’d be reading that a couple of seasons ago I had Worrell as the best player on the ground in this one but the impact Worrell had on this contest was profound desperate spoils with the flight of the footy and penetrating delivery from defence made him look like Jordan Dawson Junior Max Michalanney owned the footy in defensive fifty picking up 21 of his 27 touches uncontested as he ran to space and continually left his opponent for dead a fit Wayne Milera has to be a sight for sore eyes for the Crows After years of barely being a presence in this team his return has kind of caught me by surprise Not because I didn’t think he’d make it back His speed when he runs through the guts is elite and his decision-making with the ball is fantastic and his closing speed when he chases is off the charts There is a part of me that waits to see something go “twang” when he takes off but he is stringing together games now and looks like he has put injury worries behind him I am sure the team would still love two Jordan Dawsons but the Crows have now populated their list with players who make life easier for their captain No longer does he have to be everything to everyone even if he is capable of being everything to everyone and trust in his teammates to do the stuff the team used to ask of him one of him is far too much for the opposition to handle WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME PATRICK CRIPPS RAN HARD DEFENSIVELY You probably have to have a good memory to point it out but I reckon we can safely say that this game was not one we’ll peruse again to find evidence that it does happen Remember the footage from a couple of weeks ago of Tom Liberatore saying “screw it” that made people respect the hell out of Libba He probably thought he wasn’t going to catch Hill he did catch him – mowed him down and won the free kick because he did not give up It was the polar opposite from what we saw out of Patrick Cripps in this game Making the effort and demonstrating that hard work is not an elective activity is what builds a great culture within a team I didn’t see that at all from the Blues’ skipper What I saw was a man who threw in the towel on several occasions and a couple more players ran away from him isn’t it good enough for player 22 or 23 on the list to do Isn’t Cripps’ example the one they’re following The stats say that Crippa had 24 touches and kicked two goals for the game – a nice return if the umpires decide he should be rewarded with even consideration for a vote in this game leave their tax-free pay on the table (yes because the one-way running he displayed in this game is the type of play that has a trickle down effect on the team who ran past a teammate to lay a tackle on Cripps in the first quarter Cripps had plenty of conditions on when he put in WHAT TYPE OF LUXURY IS IT TO PLAY RORY LAIRD AS A HALF-BACK Rory Laird laid three tackles in this game but all of them were the type of tackles that see an opposition player wake up tomorrow morning wondering why they’re so sore After years of playing across half-back for the Crows Laird made the move into the midfield to add some experience and stability to the mix but with the Crows ushering in a new era of on-ballers Rory has once again set up shop in defence right time – that’s how I see the current role of Laird He is as steady as a rock down there… or a desk He continually provides that little 30 metre hit up option for the defenders to open up the game nailing both Sam Walsh and George Hewett with bone-jarring hits that the crowd lapped up In most of the columns I’ve written about the Crows in 2025 and when you think about the fact I am talking about Laird in defence and I have not really delved into the impact of Jordon Butts and Brodie Smith as yet – both thought to be back-up defenders it quickly becomes apparent that Adelaide have the cattle to take an injury hit (or a suspension hit in Hinge’s case) and make the necessary adjustments to cover Having someone like Laird back there makes this all the easier HOW MUCH CREDIT DO WE GIVE TO THE BIG FELLA Most of the talk about Tom De Koning in 2025 has revolved around just how much coin he’ll be making from next season A restricted free agent following this season he is likely to be the highest paid player at whatever club he is at If you were watching this game as the first time you’d seen him would you have thought that would be the case De Koning was able to get his hands on 16 ruck taps in this game with Reilly O’Brien playing a very intelligent game against the mobile big man The ruck can be so tricky (also stupid) inasmuch as what is a good block if you manage to get a fingernail on the ball becomes a bad one if you mistime things ROB did a great job of getting things juuuust right in this one holding the space at stoppages to prevent De Koning getting a run at the footy and using his bulk to get first hands on the footy I covered the hit out discrepancy in the intro – O’Brien had forty taps he nullified De Koning in the air around the ground TDK had just one mark for the game – this is where he would usually have such a huge advantage over other rucks That resulted in eight turnovers from his 17 disposals O’Brien had only seven touches for the game and even managed to dish off a running handball assist early in the game This is a game that should hurt the TDK pride Reilly O’Brien gets a lot of heat for stuff that goes wrong – he has hands like stone when it comes to marking the footy and is as clumsy as they come at ground level… but he got the job done in this game and was vital to the Crows setting up this win WAS THIS THE PERFECT OUTPUT FROM IZAK RANKINE Not quite – he still has moments where you wonder what the hell he is doing like when he threw the ball away from the umpire at a stoppage and gave a free kick away always looking for a way to take the game on Rankine’s movement without the footy was just as impressive as it was with it and dared the opposition to try to hold him and contain it – it was the type of play that sets a team alight gave the Crows a dynamic that the Blues couldn’t handle Adam Saad is a me-first player a bit too often It’s like he has an internal struggle every week to make him defend but he is a spaghetti-armed man at the moment This team misses Nic Newman like you wouldn’t believe They are asking the wrong people to do roles on players like Rachele Rankine finished with a couple of goals to go with his 29 touches The bloke has the ability to destroy teams and whilst he was close to being that man in this game I pity the team that stands opposite him on the day he does He is a shadow of the player that he was just 12 months ago I reckon Acres has to be carrying an injury that is a little more than a niggle He looks like he has lost the running power that saw him as one of the hardest working wingmen in the game last season and his efforts to elevate just are not there he had Josh Worrell completely beaten out the back All he had to do was put a knee into him and either draw the free kick for front-on contact and left Acres looking like the bloke who played at St Kilda and Freo for a few years before finally deciding he wanted to be a player in this league Already with some time out of the side this season his season represents Carlton’s in several ways WAS THERE A BETTER WAY TO END THE GAME THAN BRODIE SMITH BANGING A GOAL HOME AND THE ANGELS’ “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” PLAYING OVER THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCE SYSTEM don’t blame me… I am just quoting the crowd his attack on the footy in the air was probably the best aspect of his game He knows what his role is in the team now – he is the experienced man to come in and put his head over the footy (or under it in a couple of cases today) and take a hit if necessary and was not at all out of place in this team despite many thinking we may not see him in the seniors all season Some may see this year as him holding on for one more season trying to eke out a year that may not have been necessary it takes a lot of humility and understanding of your position in the team and the club to take what is an obvious demotion and come into the team ready to deliver when your number is called Much respect for the way he played in this one WOULD YOU RATE SAM BERRY’S STOPPAGE WORK AS BETTER THAN MOST OF THE CARLTON TEAM It’s just that he has been stuck behind so many for so long that we’ve kind of forgotten how good he could be Reading the taps to pick up three clearances in his 37 minutes of game time his presence in the middle added even more toughness to the Adelaide midfield rotation players just need a chance to prove themselves in a good team Everyone wants to see Sam Docherty succeed one more time after so many things have set him back But I fear we are now at the edge of the cliff about to topple over into the sea of footy mediocrity picking up 12 touches for two score involvements going unnoticed for the majority of the game Is it time the Blues put their faith in Ollie Hollands to run that wing opposite Acres I would love to see Doc recapture some form and make me eat these words – I am a bit boy I can be okay with being wrong – but having watched Doc on several occasions this season I am no longer sure that keeping him in the team offers anything than won’t be improved by having another in his role AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTS TO SEE MORE BUTTS I have been a big fan of Butts for a while… I’ll stop now His pairing with Nick Murray always had potential and it is unfortunate that we’re now at the stage that it appears as though it might be one of the other in the team at any given time Mark Keane is doing a great job of holding down the other key position role and was fantastic in keeping Charlie Curnow under wraps in this one so that means that Butts has a few weeks to prove his worth before Murray is up and going again Can he do enough to hold down the position and make Murray work to get it back I had him as a clear winner in his duel with Harry McKay to the point that Harry was relegated to an afterthought in terms of impact in this contest Butts didn’t rate a mention in the AFL site’s best players but his role in this game was everything you could wish for from a key defender It just so happens that he is surrounded by a cohort of defenders who were also excellent on the day and that makes it tough for him to stand out I’ve been pretty harsh on the Blues in this review If you can name a winner from them outside Jacob Weitering I would probably give Sam Wlash a pass in this one as he cpped that early corkie and worked through it all game Are we in agreement that Jesse Motlop is not a midfielder Good… let’s never have this discussion again because that’s what he can offer in a high-powered team Another who is excellent overhead and will eventually morph into a powerful presence in the middle for the Crows and I really felt that his timing could not have been better to secure himself a great deal at Adelaide He does bang the footy on the boot a little too readily This was a great win by the Crows – a crushing defeat for the Blues that may have exposed what the last three weeks wallpapered over I am right up for the Blues and Saints next Friday night… should be a banger if the Saints bring the heat like they did this week I hand over to my South Australian colleague who will relish the twice-yearly clash between the game’s biggest rivals massive thanks to those who support this work You can see the amount of care that goes into it You could buy me a coffee – I do like coffee but there is no guarantee I won’t use it to buy a doughnut… I like them more And I am not brought to you by Sportsbet or Ladbrokes… or Bet365 Like seeing U hit the nail on the head without going over board.It’s now 5.41am I kept waiting for Y report to end but couldn’t close until U had said it all and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Super Saturday in AFL Round 8 includes a four-game slate with the second cab off the rank being Adelaide vs Carlton in SA The Crows have cooled off after a hot start while the Blues are starting to build into their season nicely It’s a clash of two contrasting form lines and we’ve provided our analysis and best bets below Also, Before You Bet will be providing free previews and betting tips for EVERY game in the 2025 AFL season, so make sure to head over to out our AFL Tips regularly to keep up to date with all of our free content Odds and lines provided with thanks to Dabble Note that odds and lines can fluctuate throughout the week Adelaide Oval hosts a compelling clash between the Crows and Carlton thriving in contested possessions and clearances Their ability to move the ball quickly from defence into attack has been a key feature translating to plenty of scoring opportunities particularly in clearances and contested ball but they've struggled with disposal efficiency This inconsistency has sometimes led to turnovers the Blues have been better in recent weeks but face a tough test against the Crows’ potent forward line Adelaide’s strength lies in their ability to control the contest capitalising on scoring opportunities when they get into attacking positions Carlton’s inability to maintain clean ball movement and consistency could hurt them against an Adelaide side that thrives on pressure they’ll need to improve their disposal efficiency and ensure they can handle Adelaide’s dangerous small forwards their ability to limit Adelaide’s scoring chances will be critical Adelaide’s home advantage and stronger stats across contested possessions and inside 50s put them in a good position here They have the tools to control the game and generate scoring opportunities and will also be keen to get back onto the winners list Take the Crows to cover the small spread on their home deck Throughout the 2025 AFL season we’ll be putting together a fun same game multi for every match at BoomBet using their BetShare feature just click on the BoomBet BetShare button below and our same game multi selections will be added straight into your bet slip on BoomBet You can then enter how much you wish to wager Adelaide H2H – Got to love the Crows at home here in an important game Josh Rachele 2+ Goals – The Blues small defenders are certainly gettable and Rachele has been in strong form so far this season Izak Rankine Anytime Goal Scorer – As mentioned above the Crows small forwards are in the game here They’ll get plenty of looks and Izak doesn’t need many chances to make you pay SGM Odds: $3.60 at BoomBet Jake has been an avid sports fanatic since he could walk but he's also got a soft spot for countless other sports Besides being a major contributor to our sports and fantasy content since 2017 Jake is our Content Manager & Editor and helps to plan and coordinate our team of writers every week He's also one of the unlucky ones that is a keen Port Adelaide and Phoenix Suns fan Editor’s note: Take care when signing up to new sports betting agencies Be sure to read all terms and conditions of any bonus offers deposit/withdrawal requirements and identification verification on each respective site as some of the information on this page may be outdated Before You Bet will do their best to keep this page up to date but takes no responsibility for any information on this page being incorrect Our team of expert horse racing analysts bring you regular horse racing tips from major horse racing meetings in Australia and internationally The highlight of the Australian horse racing calendar is the Spring Carnival and we'll be there riding every winner home with you with our free racing tips and best bets stay tuned into Before You Bet as we provide previews and AFL betting tips for every match of every round as well as coverage of the AFLW Women's competition Brownlow Medal vote predictions and a rolling Brownlow Medal leaderboard then you'll enjoy following our AFL betting tips NRL tips for every match of the 2025 NRL season The National Rugby League is the biggest rugby competition in Australia and we have previews and NRL betting tips for every game plus best bets for special events like the State of Origin NBA betting is very popular in Australia and we have free NBA betting tips all season long with our best NBA tips for the biggest games every week The Carlton Football Club is proud to reveal its 2025 Indigenous guernsey, designed by Yorta Yorta siblings and founders of Bayadherra The Indigenous guernsey brings to life the story of connection to be worn by the AFL team during the Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds (10 and 11) the 2025 Indigenous guernsey will again be worn across all four of the Club’s football teams in its AFL The Carlton Football Club is proud to reveal its 2025 Indigenous guernsey designed by Yorta Yorta siblings and founders of Bayadherra The artwork pays homage to Luke and Siena’s Yorta Yorta ancestry weaving together cultural patterns and the Club’s connection to community Both Luke and Siena are participants in the Club’s Loorende-Gat Business and Entrepreneur Program which aims to develop skillsets and grow business networks to support First Nations people achieve their business aspirations “Our design reflects our family and identity our community and our connection to Country,” artists Luke and Siena said have the long neck turtle as our animal totem which inspired the shell design and is a symbol of strength and resilience which also depicts the shape of a football features three central journey lines which represent Carlton’s Indigenous players - past present and emerging - as well as Carlton's continuous cultural journey “The yarning circles and outward-flowing dots speak to the expanding impact and unity of Indigenous voices and figures at the Club and beyond.”   An important figure who inspired Luke and Siena’s design and has impacted the wider sporting community is their grandfather Glenn James OAM who is recognised as the first Aboriginal man to umpire Australian rules football in the VFL/AFL The imagery - taken by Indigenous photographer Jacinta Keefe - was shot on location at the Carlton Gardens by the Moreton Bay fig tree an area recognised as a significant gathering place for Aboriginal people Sir Doug Nicholls himself using this location as a gathering place “A big part of the artwork is togetherness and being unified symbolising Carlton’s Stronger Together ethos so it is very fitting to launch the guernsey at a very significant meeting spot for mob,” artists Luke and Siena said "We also have been connecting with the Club over the past year through their Loorende-gat Business and Entrepreneur Program so to now have had the amazing opportunity to design the artwork for the 2025 guernsey feels surreal.”   Carlton forward Jesse Motlop is proud to be able to wear the guernsey across Sir Doug Nicholls Round “I am excited to again wear a guernsey that tells a unique story about our Club Luke and Siena have done an incredible job with the design there are so many intricate details that represent different stories,”Motlop said “To run out in a guernsey that represents Indigenous people that come before us and paved the way whilst also celebrating those who may come after us “The two Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds are really powerful in encouraging us to take intentional time with each other and reflect on your own story and culture I really encourage our fans to take time to read the story behind the guernsey and share their stories with others.”    A full range of merchandise - including replica guernseys - is now available for purchase via The Carlton Shop in-store or online. The Carlton Reserves went down to a surging Coburg Lions outfit Michael Voss reviews a disappointing day in Adelaide Carlton has fallen to Adelaide by 60 points Sam Walsh speaks on how his support for Liverpool is part of his release from life in the AFL Hudson O'Keeffe had his most commanding performance of his VFL career to date in the Carlton Reserves' Round 6 clash with coburg Watch the best of the Carlton Reserves in the VFL Round 6 clash with Coburg AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss joined media following the Round 8 clash with Adelaide See what Michael Voss had to say ahead of Carlton's Round 8 clash with Adelaide Carlton Football Club acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which IKON Park is located The Club also acknowledges and pays its respects to their Elders past and present and the Traditional Owners of the many lands on which we play our great game CAPTAIN Jordan Dawson has booted three goals to inspire Adelaide to a 60-point thrashing of a lacklustre Carlton Dawson was instrumental in the Crows' 16.14 (110) to 7.8 (50) victory at Adelaide Oval on Saturday with 22 disposals CROWS v BLUES Full match coverage and stats Adelaide (5-3) climbed to fourth on the ladder as the Blues' bubble burst – after three consecutive wins they nurse a 3-5 win-loss record in 13th spot Dawson set Adelaide's tone with a dominant 11-disposal opening quarter while Josh Worrell produced an outstanding defensive display Extended highlights of the Crows and Blues clash in round eight of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Watch Carlton’s press conference after round eight’s match against Adelaide Watch Adelaide’s press conference after round eight’s match against Carlton Jordan Dawson boots three majors as his impressive outing both in the air and at ground level leads Adelaide to a big win The Crows and Blues clash in round eight of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Brodie Smith caps off a huge Adelaide win with a superb strike in his first match of the season Josh Rachele turns his opponent inside out with a super snap before Izak Rankine pops up with a brilliant running banana Jordan Dawson sticks a superb overhead mark and works the angle to perfection to cap off a dominant first half Ben Keays continues his hot run of form against Carlton with a classy finish as Adelaide gets busy Charlie Curnow goes long from outside 50 and receives a fortuitous bounce on the goal line for a fantastic first major Darcy Fogarty drills his first major of the afternoon after Adelaide bursts away from centre Patrick Cripps bends through Carlton's first major after Adelaide left him alone at the stoppage Worrell collected 23 disposals and took seven marks while Adelaide's attackers flourished with Darcy Fogarty Izak Rankine and Alex Neal-Bullen slotting two goals each never in the hunt after conceding five goals to two in the opening term were well-served by skipper Patrick Cripps (24 touches) and George Hewett (25) in the midfield But with Adelaide's Worrell ruling in defence the Blues' attack was smothered – the visitors couldn't manage consecutive goals until the dying stages of the game Charlie Curnow and Corey Durdin booted two apiece overall booting 5.2 to 2.4 in an opening term propelled by Dawson's ball-gathering Adelaide forward Neal-Bullen converted two set shots and the home side cashed in on having 32 more disposals than the Blues for the quarter Carlton reduced its deficit to 13 points one minute into the second term with a trademark Curnow strike from long range But the Crows then resumed control by kicking the next three goals – the last in the burst with Carlton minus 59 in uncontested possessions at the break – their worst first half differential in the statistic since 2019 And while Carlton's Durdin booted two majors in the third term the Crows added five more – three in an eye-catching three minutes late in the quarter capped by classy finishes from Rachele and Rankine Adelaide held a commanding 52-point break at three-quarter time before closing out victory and kicking 100 or more points for the fifth time in eight games Crows livewire shines in the midfieldInjury interrupted a bright start to the year for Adelaide gun Josh Rachele but more responsibility led to a fine performance on Saturday Rachele was given more time in the midfield against the Blues and made the most of it Rachele and James Peatling (22 disposals and five clearances) stepped up to support captain Jordan Dawson Izak Rankine and Jake Soligo in the engine room Captain's stunnerJordan Dawson had already enjoyed a dominant first half at the Adelaide Oval when he delivered a massive moment on half-time he took a great mark on the stretch in the pocket before slotting a brilliant goal from the boundary as the siren sounded three clearances and six score involvements in the first half ADELAIDE          5.3     8.7     13.10     16.14 (110)CARLTON           2.2     3.4       5.6          7.8 (50)   SUBSTITUTESAdelaide: Sam Berry (replaced Luke Nankervis in the third quarter)Carlton: Lachlan Cowan (replaced Lachie Fogarty at three-quarter time) Gold Coast Academy’s Usher on her ACL injury rehab battles and best friend Havana Harris incredible misses and more in our look back on the April action of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership season Three-time premiership coach Mick Malthouse gives host Bharat Sundaresan the rundown on how Australian football began and how it became such a significant part of Australian culture With a challenging month of away clashes ahead Fremantle needs to find a way to win on the road if it's to seriously contend in 2025 One of footy's famous rivalries will kick off the AFLW season to mark the 10th season of the competition Check out all the action from the state leagues around the country Damian Barrett and Matthew Lloyd with the latest news and opinions from Round 8 Follow all the action from Saturday's round eight games Footy Feed: Sarah Olle and Riley Beveridge with the latest news Check out the Rising Star for AFL’s Round 8 Will a hard tag from Jack Viney be the reason Harley Reid leaves the Eagles Vote now on your favourite marks from Round 8 of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season The Match Review findings for Sunday's round eight games are in In the spirit of reconciliation the AFL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. Stay on current site or go to US version Round 9 of the AFL season gets underway Thursday night with a blockbuster clash between Fremantle and Collingwood at Optus Stadium before the Saints host the Blues on Friday night Join ESPN's footy team for some of the best AFL and AFLW analysis and insight on the ESPN Footy Podcast Veterans Max Gawn and Patrick Dangerfield showed they can still star but finals hopefuls Carlton and Fremantle got a massive reality check Here's whose stocks are up and down after Round 8 The Western Bulldogs have navigated injuries and drama in the early part of the season but now sitting 5-3 with stars back on the park Jesse Hogan ended Charlie Curnow's Coleman Medal reign in 2024 by booting 69 majors to claim the award The Brownlow Medal is the highest individual honour in the AFL ESPN is giving you an advantage with our one-of-a-kind predictor CARLTON has gone down to Adelaide by 60 points at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon The Crows led from start to finish in front of an animated home crowd as the Blues were comprehensively outplayed on the road Carlton midfielders George Hewett (25 disposals) Patrick Cripps (24 disposals) and Adam Cerra (22 disposals) worked hard all day but the Blues couldn't make inroads on the host side who was fast out of the blocks with five first-quarter goals Adam Cerra spoke to Carlton Media following the Round 8 loss to Adelaide The Blues slotted their first of the day through captain Cripps following Tom De Koning's handiwork in the ruck but the Crows swiftly responded through Darcy Fogarty This pattern continued throughout the clash with Carlton unable to boot consecutive goals until the final moments of the game Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson gave the Blues headaches with three goals in the win to go with 22 touches while his team's defence was equally impressive in thwarting Carlton's attempts forward The Crows owned the territory from the get-go their speed and pressure leaving the Blues chasing as they repeatedly burst from centre bounces to score Watch the highlights of the Round 8 clash with Adelaide The away side did have chances in the first term with numerous inside-50 entries as Adelaide skipped to a 19-point lead at the first break Charlie Curnow came out firing in the second quarter with a long-range goal from outside 50 to cut the deficit to just 13 points as the Blues lifted their intensity but the Crows again took back ascendancy with the next three Facing a 33-point margin at the main break Carlton again opened proceedings in the third term through Corey Durdin as the visitors increased their control on the ball they again struggled to capitalise on their opportunities and another three late Crows goals were costly with the home side's swift ball movement on full display Adelaide's lead had dragged out to 52 points before extending that out to the eventual 60-point margin at the final siren Backline duo Jacob Weitering and Nick Haynes worked tirelessly in defence but the Crows proved too strong all over the ground who both booted their second majors late in the game A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. This is also known as Online Behavioural Advertising. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. THE CARLTON Football Club has signed exciting young ruck Maddison Torpey in a boost to the side’s key position stocks. With just over a week until the start of pre-season, Torpey has arrived at IKON Park as an inactive replacement player. At 184cm and possessing strong aerial ability, she has been part of the elite talent pathways throughout her junior career and now has earned her place at the elite level. Torpey’s development has been eye-catching, with her most impressive traits coming through in her competitive character and elite professionalism, qualities that saw her named captain of the Sandringham Dragons. Also at 20 years of age she fits the age profile of what is a Carlton midfield group that is set to emerge together in the coming years, including the likes of Abbie McKay (24), Mimi Hill (22), Keeley Sherar (21) and Sophie McKay (19). Torpey arrives at IKON Park after commencing the current VFLW season with the Box Hill Hawks. She was also named in the Victorian State Team earlier this year, which was another significant step in what has been a rapid growth in Torpey’s development over the last few years. “We are really pleased to be able to add Maddison to our playing group on the eve of the pre-season,” Head of AFLW Ash Naulty said. “Having tracked Maddison’s development closely, we feel her ceiling is only going to continue to grow, especially as she translates her high work ethic, competitiveness and infectious energy into an elite environment and under the tutelage of two experienced rucks in Breann Harrington and Jess Good. “Maddison adds to our emerging midfield group who are set to grow together, which is really exciting for our members and supporters as we look to take the next step heading into the 2025 season.” The Carlton Reserves went down to a surging Coburg Lions outfit. Michael Voss reviews a disappointing day in Adelaide. Carlton has fallen to Adelaide by 60 points. See what Michael Voss had to say ahead of Carlton's Round 8 clash with Adelaide. The Carlton Football Club is proud to reveal its 2025 Indigenous guernsey, designed by Yorta Yorta siblings and founders of Bayadherra, Luke and Siena Tieri. Hudson O'Keeffe had his most commanding performance of his VFL career to date in the Carlton Reserves' Round 6 clash with coburg, Watch the best of the Carlton Reserves in the VFL Round 6 clash with Coburg, AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss joined media following the Round 8 clash with Adelaide. Carlton Football Club acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which IKON Park is located, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. The Club also acknowledges and pays its respects to their Elders past and present and the Traditional Owners of the many lands on which we play our great game. THE CARLTON Football Club is excited to announce the AFL playing group have raised an incredible $16,785 for the Good Friday Appeal in this year’s player-led Good Friday Appeal auction.   Initiated once again by defender Mitch McGovern, Carlton players auctioned off their own items - including match-day guernseys, signed boots, a golf experience and a private tour of IKON Park - with all proceeds going to the Good Friday Appeal.   This is the second year the playing group have come together to donate items, last year raising just over $10,000 for the appeal.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFL (@afl) McGovern said it has been such a privilege to play in this game ever since the Blues’ first SuperClash back in 2023.   “It’s always special to play in the Good Friday SuperClash, but knowing we could make a real difference for the kids and families at the Royal Children’s Hospital makes it even more meaningful.” McGovern said.  "Both clubs came together for something much bigger than the game itself and we’re really proud of how much we were able to raise alongside North Melbourne.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Football Club (@carlton_fc) "Footy is about more than what happens on the field, it’s about making an impact and giving back. The support we saw for the Good Friday Appeal was incredible, and we are proud to have been part of something that will hopefully help so many young lives.  "I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated, supported and got involved on Good Friday. It’s something we as players are honoured to be part of, and the impact you made was massive."  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Football Club (@carlton_fc) The Carlton Cheersquad also raised $13,000 through their Good Friday Appeal raffle on their own accord, which saw a team-signed guernsey up for grabs.  All the money raised will go towards the Royal Children’s Hospital, helping to better their already world-class care for patients and their families. It will also contribute to their ground-breaking research, state-of-the-art equipment and technology.  *Please note the final donation figure will be determined following the completion of Carlton’s online auction.  AFL development coach Torin Baker sums up the Carlton Reserves' last-gasp win. It’s fair to say it all went to script for members of the all-conquering Carlton Premiership team of 1995 on Sunday, as today’s senior players completed a meritorious victory over Geelong at the MCG. Watching on from the Miller Room was the 1995 Premiership Captain Stephen Kernahan and fellow members of that all-conquering outfit, who had gathered with Coach David Parkin and fellow officials and staff members to mark the 30th anniversary of that famous victory – its 16th victory on the trot - to land the 16th Premiership. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Football Club (@carlton_fc) Earlier, the players – amongst them the 1995 Norm Smith Medallist Greg Williams and the club’s games record holder Craig Bradley, together with Earl Spalding and Matt Clape who jetted in from Perth – had gathered on the ground pre-match to be presented to the 67,000-strong audience and rub shoulders with members of the Carlton cheersquad. Some were a tad dusty, having celebrated long and hard at a Melbourne watering hole the previous evening. Williams’ assessment of the team’s performance on Grand Final day 1995, could so easily apply to Sunday’s victory. As he said: “It was a great win, everyone played well”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Football Club (@carlton_fc) The great Australian game has lost a little of its lustre today, with the untimely passing of Peter Bosustow. Catch up on this week's latest scores and AFL stories with ABC Sport. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) LOOKING for a scalp after two close losses from their opening three games, the Carlton Reserves got their first win of the 2025 VFL season, beating Geelong by four points at IKON Park. In a contest that saw a number of lead changes throughout the day, the Blues came away victorious against the Cats, with a last-minute goal to unlikely matchwinner Harry O’Farrell securing the 13.10 (88) to 12.12 (84) victory. It was another good start for the Blues, with plenty of players getting their hands on it early. Lachy Cowan (four disposals) was quick to get involved in his return from injury, as was veteran Sam Docherty (5 disposals). Billy Wilson imposed himself in the opening minutes, winning multiple crucial contests in defence, while alongside him, Jordan Boyd (six disposals) once again showed his class early. Watch all the highlights from the VFL win over Geelong. Looking increasingly threatening in their forward half, it was Luke Nelson who kicked the opener for the Blues. He finished with a classy snap on his right following a nice transition of play from half back. With the majority of the quarter being a tussle, it wasn’t long until a centre clearance from Marc Pittonet gave co-captain Liam McMahon a look inside 50, who kicked one around his body to level the scores. A squaring ball from Francis Evans granted Darcy Hogg a set shot from a slight angle late in the first, finishing to once again tie the game at the first change. A tight first quarter concluded with the scores level heading into the first break, as both sides had the right to feel as though they’d left goals on the table in the first term. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Reserves (@carlton_reserves) The Reserves started the second term off with a bang, as Jaxon Binns (14 first-half disposals) found Marc Pittonet who went back and slotted his first major of the day. With Ben Camporeale turning up the heat in the middle (14 disposals to half time), the Reserves were able to get repeat inside 50s, with Hudson O’Keeffe able to convert. Francis Evans also had an energetic start to the quarter, along with Heath Ramshaw (11 disposal) who began to get busy. With a classy kick inside from a sprinting Docherty (who played largely across half-back), Ashton Moir launched one with set shot beyond the arc to give the Blues a third consecutive goal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Reserves (@carlton_reserves) Although it was a strong period from the Reserves, a late fightback in the second half of the quarter from the Cats restricted the Blues, heading into the major break with only a five-point lead. Looking to get back on top following half time, Cooper Vickery found O’Keeffe in the pocket. With a set shot from a tight angle, he was able to slot his second of the day and give the Reserves the ideal start. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Reserves (@carlton_reserves) Only a minute later, Ashton Moir followed suit, snaring his second with a set shot from 40 metres out. After the Cats responded, Harry Lemmey - who was pitted against Geelong veteran Jake Kolodjashnij - was on the receiving end of some good play from Ollie Poole. Following the same trend as the second quarter, another fightback from the Cats saw scores level once again heading into the final quarter, with the stage once again set for another nail-biting finish. After the Cats got the jump early in the last, a clever play from Moir to get out the back and provide a handball to a streaming Heath Ramshaw (19 disposals) led to him opening his account running into an open goal. Shortly after, McMahon was awarded a free kick for his second, with a snap around the body from the boundary. After an answering Geelong goal, Rob Monahan found his co-captain with a precision kick to the top of the square as the Blues stayed within touching distance, bringing McMahon’s tally to three for the game. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Reserves (@carlton_reserves) a blistering clearance from the ever-reliable Docherty (27 disposals) went by hand to Evans (16 disposals) and eventually found youngster Harry O’Farrell With a set shot directly in front just inside 50 the first-year player kept his cool under pressure kicking a clutch goal in the dying stages to put the Blues up by four points and prove to be the unlikely match-winner the Reserves finally got the win they had been chasing The Carlton Reserves will face off against the Coburg Lions next Sunday 4 May at 1:05pm at Barry Plant Park GEELONG                         3.3      5.6     9.7    12.12 (84) CARLTON RESERVES     3.3      6.5      9.7   13.10 (88)  The Blues fended off a resilient Cats outfit on Sunday afternoon at the MCG The Crows host the Blues on Saturday afternoon with the visitors looking for a fourth straight win The under continues to deliver in Carlton games and we’re backing it in again here Twelve of their last 13 have gone under the total including six of seven this year with an average of just 171 points The only Blues game that went over came against North Melbourne a side whose games are averaging 202 points in 2025 Adelaide games started high-scoring but have slowed down They had a 152-point total against Freo last week and an unusual 86-point game against GWS in their last match at Adelaide Oval The Crows lose playmaker Mitch Hinge to suspension Nick Murray will miss some time with a knee injury which further impacts Adelaide’s already thin key back stocks Harry McKay looked great on return last week and is averaging two goals per game in his last five against Adelaide Ben Keays is averaging 1.7 goals per game this year George Hewitt’s brilliant season should continue he’s averaging 30 touches a game this year Carlton franked their form with a win over Geelong last week following a pair of easy kills They’ve also won their last three games at Adelaide Oval Mitch Hinge and Nick Murray are big defensive outs for the home side Betseeker’s expert tipsters have you covered for the best AFL tips The weekend concludes with the biggest Q-Clash yet with Brisbane taking on Gold Coast at the Gabba In between two ripping derbies on Sunday sits this stinker between fourth-placed Hawthorn and 16th placed Richmond The first Sydney derby of 2025 sees the Giants comfortable favourites to beat the Swans at the SCG Our expert team is made up of experienced professional punters we have more than three decades of industry experience with major bookies including TAB Learn more about Betseeker If gambling is a problem for you, call Gambling Help on 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au Betseeker is strongly committed to responsible gambling and wants gambling to be a fun recreational activity Read our practical tips to keep your gambling safe here Betseeker content is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only No responsibility is taken for the accuracy of betting information provided You are encouraged to do your own research prior to placing any bets All odds and information provided are subject to change Betseeker has no relationship with any of the sporting bodies listed on this website or any other platforms THE GREAT Australian game has lost a little of its lustre today with the untimely passing of one of its most spectacular exponents the two-time Carlton premiership forward Peter Bosustow died in Perth early this morning after a long illness son Brent and daughter Brooke who were all with him to say their goodbyes The son of Carlton’s 20-game ruck-rover of the mid-1950s Bob Bosustow ‘The Buzz’ set Princes Park alight when on the cusp of the 1981 season the Perth forward joined Claremont’s Ken Hunter in crossing the Nullarbor to follow his football dream Both were instant football sensations – Hunter with his caution-free high-flying Bosustow with his spectacular acrobatics and canny goal sense Under David Parkin’s watch as Senior Coach and Mike Fitzpatrick’s on-field leadership as Captain the fellow Western Australians Hunter and Bosustow featured in the Blues’ famous back-to-back triumphs of 1981 and ’82 – and their names are forever associated with those coveted all-conquering teams Carlton’s Best and Fairest winner in his maiden season of ’81 “I think of what a character ‘Buzz’ was and how much he took to the big stage” Look back at the moments and memories of high-flying Peter "Buzz" Bosustow Goal of the Year and a Grand Final – him being a half forward “He used to joke that I was the extrovert and him the introvert when it was obviously the other way around He was a unique character and a rare football talent in equal measure That talent was obvious in Perth but it went to another level when he came to Melbourne “The Carlton people loved ‘Buzz’ and he loved Carlton.” Bosustow’s Carlton career lasted just 65 senior matches through three seasons – his father’s illness requiring him to return to his native Western Australia – and yet few players across the competition made such an impact through such a short tenure ‘The Buzz’ effectively exploded onto the scene As a truly energised competitor with the capacity to turn a match with a quarter or two of football magic Bosustow’s impact was both dramatic and immediate Blessed with a precocious football talent and a healthy ego to match ‘The Buzz’ was a football showman who unhesitatingly walked the talk That his passing should follow Sunday’s meritorious victory over Geelong would not be lost on Carlton supporters with long memories for it was against the Cats that he completed that extraordinary Mark of the Year/Goal of the Year double in his maiden season – the huge grab over John Mossop in the shadows of the Heatley Stand in Round 18 at Princes Park; and the instinctive snap over the shoulder after smothering Ian Nankervis’ kick from the pocket in the Semi-Final at VFL Park in paying tribute to an enigmatic player “who took me to the ends of the earth in both directions” recounted that goal at Waverley to in part tell the whole of Bosustow the footballer I’ve coached some outstandingly talented players but on his day Peter could do things on a footy field few could emulate – a case in point that smother “Peter had remarkable capacities in  the air and on the ground and was probably as exciting a player to watch as we ever had “What was really good was that despite the ups and downs of a coach/player relationship we remained really good mates and shared so much over the journey particularly through the course of his illness which began 18 months ago but he was always quick to apologise to me and the players and it was just a bit sad that he decided to go home Bosustow would again top the Western Australian Demons’ goalkicking table and represent his home state in contests with both Victoria and South Australia but neither Perth nor Carlton could come to terms on a clearance fee and his ’84 year was brought to unfortunate finality when he put his fist through a sheet of plate glass The lure of returning to his Princes Park playground did however remain robust and in the summer of late ’85 he gave it another crack at the time the Blues completed the recruiting coup of Bradley But the comeback was short-lived and by the time season ’86 had rolled around Kernahan had claimed his old no.4 guernsey Notwithstanding his extraordinary achievements as a Carlton footballer Bosustow also excelled with Perth from 1975-1980 There he put 375 over the goal umpire’s hat and earned the Redlegs’ goalkicking honours three-times He was also named in Perth’s Team of the Century 1982Night premiership player 1983Club Leading Goalkicker 1981 (59 goals)  The Carlton Reserves held strong in a close win on Sunday This article features Stats Insider's prediction and tips for the St Kilda vs Carlton game Based on advanced computer power and data, Stats Insider has simulated the outcome of Friday's St Kilda vs Carlton AFL match 10,000 times Our proven predictive analytics model currently gives the Blues a 65% chance of beating the Saints in Round 9 of the 2025 AFL season The current Bet365 betting odds for Friday's AFL clash at Marvel Stadium are shown here: Odds are correct at the time of publication and subject to change Bet365 currently has St Kilda at $2.25 and Carlton at $1.65 The Saints are listed as 7.5-point underdogs against the Blues For the favourite Blues (-7.5) to cover the line The over/under for total points scored is set at 167.5 with Bet365 which has odds of $1.91 for the over and $1.91 for the under the Blues (-7.5) are predicted to cover the line 54% of the time while the 167.5-point over/under is expected to go over 65% of the time If you see a 🔥, that means you've found one of our best tips of the day across all sports Stats Insider's St Kilda vs Carlton predictions are based on world-class modelling and gambling intelligence to help you place smarter bets with your chosen online bookie Stats Insider's predicted final score for St Kilda vs Carlton at Marvel Stadium this Friday is Carlton winning 93-82 This prediction is based on each team's average score from 10,000 game simulations Stats Insider provides full coverage of the St Kilda vs Carlton match on Friday including data-driven predictions and live win probabilitiestips so refresh this article for the latest betting predictions before the St Kilda vs Carlton game As always, see our Best Bets to get betting tips on every AFL match as well as predictions for a wide range of other sports The AFL Round 9 clash between the Saints and Blues at Marvel Stadium is scheduled to begin at 7:40pm AEST on Friday All dates and times mentioned in this article are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Our St Kilda vs Carlton predictions have been made after running 10,000 data-driven simulations of the game, all curated by our team of expert data scientists and analysts. We use cutting-edge technology and machine learning to ensure our AFL tips are trustworthy and reliable giving you the confidence to make informed decisions If you choose to use our predictions for betting purposes, it's vital that you gamble responsibly and keep track of your money. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au Stats Insider is your home for betting on the AFL, with the latest AFL betting news, tips for every AFL game, and futures probabilities for the AFL. Australia's leading predictive analytics website offers Australian sports fans innovative tools and content to enhance their enjoyment of major sporting events both domestically and internationally Our goal is to transform the sports fan experience by providing readily accessible data-driven content for sports enthusiasts like us © 2015-2025 Hypometer Technologies Pty Ltd (ABN 78 609 507 744) Proudly part of Cipher Sports Technology Group CARLTON has held on to win a Sunday afternoon thriller against Geelong at the MCG by 18 points The Blues couldn't shake the courageous Cats but Carlton were able to hold on to their lead to win 14.10.94 to 12.4.76 BLUES v CATS Full match coverage and stats It is the most significant win for Carlton this season who have now won three games in a row following wins over West Coast and North Melbourne in previous weeks Key forward Harry McKay was outstanding for Carlton kicking three goals and taking a game-high 12 marks in his first game back since suffering a concussion in round five Extended highlights of the Blues and Cats clash in round seven of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Watch Carlton’s press conference after round seven’s match against Geelong Watch Geelong’s press conference after round seven’s match against Carlton The Blues and Cats clash in round seven of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Harry McKay returns in some fashion to help will Carlton home with a sensational performance that included 12 marks and three goals Bailey Smith sends Cats fans into a frenzy after an epic goal following Patrick Dangerfield’s inspirational work Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra may face a nervous wait from the Match Review after appearing to collect Jack Bowes high in the third term Jeremy Cameron snaps his fourth goal in the first 11 seconds of the last quarter to get his teammates fired up Corey Durdin uses Sam De Koning as a stepladder before popping through a well-deserved goal equal to the moment Elijah Hollands snags one home from the pocket in front of the Blues faithful Tyson Stengle shows Jacob Weitering a clean set of heels by waltzing into an open goal George Hewett steps into the path of the umpire gifting a free kick to Geelong to begin the game it was their spearhead Jeremy Cameron (four goals) who kept his side in touch along with Bailey Smith (29 disposals who continued his strong start to the season A calf injury to Zac Williams in the first quarter was a major downer for the Blues with the 30-year-old subbed out before quarter time It's another blow for the injury-prone small forward who has had a number of soft tissue injuries across his career The Cats had an injury scare of their own when star defender Tom Stewart came up worse for wear following a chase-down tackle in the back pocket but he turned out the assistance of Geelong's medical team to play out the remainder of the game After kicking three goals apiece in a tightly fought first quarter where they kicked five goals to Geelong's two Carlton began to gain ascendancy in the middle where they started to dominate clearances The Blues kicked the first four goals of the second term with the first coming through McKay who took a strong mark and converted from the goal square The Cats finally broke Carlton's run of goals 21 minutes into the second quarter when an errant Tom De Koning kick landed in the arms of Mark O'Connor who converted and it was followed shortly after by spearhead Cameron who kicked his first of the game to reduce Carlton's lead to 19 points at half-time The Cats came out from the main break and scored the first two of the second half with Cameron and Dempsey adding a goal each to their tallies But every time Geelong looked like they were getting back into the match Curnow and McKay continued their strong presence up forward while small forwards Corey Durdin and Will White hit the scoreboard with goals of their own The Blues went into the final break with a game-high lead of 28 points Again the Cats came out firing in the final term with the first three goals who had been held reasonably quiet for the day But Carlton's leaders stood up under pressure and McKay Curnow and captain Patrick Cripps held onto possession in the final minutes to wind down the clock who has been exceptional so far this season kicked the sealer in the final minutes and put the win out of reach and gave Carlton its third win of the season The Blues will now face the Crows in Adelaide next week while the Cats will have to re-group against Collingwood at the MCG The only downer on the day for the Blues was an injury to Zac Williams who was subbed off early in the game with a calf issue Carlton's keys are backSunday's match against the Cats was the first full game that Blues key forwards Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay have played together this season And both spearheads caused major headaches kicking three goals each and taking 21 marks between them Carlton look like a much better side when they have their two tall targets inside 50 and these two will be instrumental to turning around the Blues' slow start to the season Jack shuts down Geelong's Danger manHeading into Sunday's game Patrick Dangerfield was leading the Cats' goal kicking tally with 14 from his side's first six games Dangerfield has been spending a lot more time forward this season and has used his explosiveness and game sense to score the 35-year-old was held reasonably quiet by his lofty standards Blue Jack Silvagni was an interesting match-up for the Cats' skipper but the Carlton utility did an excellent job to keep him to a goal CARLTON       3.3    8.5    12.8    14.10 (94)GEELONG      3.2    5.4    8.4    12.4 (76) INJURIESCarlton: Zac Williams (calf)Geelong: Nil SUBSTITUTESCarlton: Cooper Lord (replaced Zac Williams in the first quarter)Geelong: Oliver Henry (replaced Oliver Wiltshire in the third quarter) The Swans will get to work to turn around their slow start to the season Geelong head back to the MCG for a second straight week as they prepare to take on Carlton in a Sunday afternoon blockbuster The Cats enter the match carrying plenty of momentum after defeating Hawthorn in a nail-biter on Easter Monday their third consecutive win following victories against Melbourne and Adelaide This challenge ahead is not an easy one for Geelong taking on a resurgent Carlton team that has recorded back to back wins over the past fortnight Check out all the key details you need to know ahead of Sunday's clash at the MCG 2025 AFL Season - Round 7Carlton v Geelong CatsMCG The two teams have squared off in some memorable matches over the past few years particularly the first clash last year and the meeting in 2023 which were both decided by two kicks Carlton got the better of the Cats in the most recent meeting but Geelong have held the ascendancy dating back to 2010 winning 13 of the past 17 matches against the Blues Geelong improved their winning record at the MCG defeating Hawthorn by seven points on Easter Monday in their first game at the venue for the 2025 season The Cats have now won three of their last four games at the 'G while also splitting their past two contests against Carlton Geelong have squared off with the Blues in 22 matches at the MCG and hold a narrow advantage winning 11 times against 10 losses and one draw One impressive statistic is Geelong's scoring power at the venue finishing with 100 points or more on seven occasions over the past two years Since returning to the Cats AFL side in Round 4 Rhys Stanley has not put a foot wrong having a big impact in Geelong's three consecutive wins Averaging 10 disposals and 25 hit-outs per game the veteran ruck has been able to nullify some of the competition's most dangerous big men while also pushing forward to kick a couple of goals This week will present Stanley with another big challenge as he goes toe to toe with Tom De Koning in a battle that could be crucial to giving either team an advantage through the midfield Tickets are available through Ticketek for Sunday's match follow the link provided to secure your seat: Carlton v Geelong | Round 7 Tickets Access this game is with a Geelong Cats membership! Buy a Melbourne Flexi Membership for $49 to get General Admission access (subject to capacity):Melbourne Flexi Membership Geelong's Round 7 match will be broadcast live and free on Channel 7 from 3.00pm AEST The game will also be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo from 3.00pm For those tuning into the radio, K rock will be covering all the action from 2.00pm on 95.5FM, krockfootball.live and the AFL app Cats fans looking to catch all the action at home this year can secure a 2025 Digital Plus Membership which includes a 12 month subscription to Kayo Premium Cats Membership: 2025 Digital Plus  Broadcast Details: 2025 AFL Broadcast Guide Ollie Dempsey continues to go from strength to strength after another stellar display at MCG on Saturday night The AFL coaches votes are in for Geelong's thrilling win over Collingwood on Saturday night at the MCG Check out everything you can expect to see on the Cats channels in the build up to Sunday's clash with the GWS Giants Take an early glance ahead to Sunday's big clash with the GWS Giants at GMHBA Stadium Geelong Cats defender Lawson Humphries has entered the AFL concussion protocol following Saturday's game against Collingwood Jack Bowes joined 3AW on Sunday morning to chat through the big win over Collingwood at the MCG Following his sensational outing against the Magpies Patrick Dangerfield joined ABC Sport to talk through the incredible win on Saturday night Chris Scott praised the performance of Geelong's captain on Saturday night helping to steer the Cats to a brilliant victory The VFL Cats are back in action on Sunday afternoon as they head to IKON Park for a clash with Carlton Look back at some behind the scenes access after a huge win against the Pies at the 'G Ollie Dempsey spoke to Cats Media after a thrilling finish against the Pies After an importance performance down back in a thrilling win Watch Geelong’s press conference after round eight’s match against Collingwood Geelong Football Club acknowledges Wadawurrung as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Land on which our club our families and our communities work and play and those that will lead their collective future in Wadawurrung language is the place of the morning sun a place of deep cultural connection and significance a meeting place since the beginning of time We are honoured to walk with the Wadawurrung People respect and talk together on our journey on Wadawurrung Country CARLTON midfielder Adam Cerra is available to play in Round 8 after having his striking charge downgraded by the AFL Tribunal today Cerra was originally charged for an alleged incident that occurred in the Blues’ Round 7 win over Geelong However on Wednesday the AFL Tribunal downgraded the conduct of the contact from intentional to careless resulting in a fine instead being handed to Cerra The 25-year-old is now free to play on Saturday against Adelaide Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra has been offered a one-week suspension after being charged with striking by the Match Review Officer The incident occurred in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over Geelong The Club has until 11am tomorrow to respond to the charge The year was 1995 and I was stuck in Lygon Street on the very night the Carlton Football won their 16th Premiership The air smelled of burning rubber as car after car performed ritual burnouts and total strangers were embracing each other I tried hard not to indulge in the euphoria as I had truly hated the Carlton Football Club since my Mum first dropped me on my head at birth but then this feeling came “across me like a tidal wave” and I had one of the best nights ever – fully sick bro solitary moment I knew what it felt like to barrack for one of the big four clubs and I would “till the end of my time… I swore I would hate Carlton to the end of my time” the Carlton Football Club were arguably the most successful club in the land since the 1960s With their success came a sense of invincibility and arrogance as the Blues bathed freely in their never-ending sense of destiny and immortality and the accusations about brown paper bags were more than just an urban myth Carlton’s stars of yesteryear were larger than life The stories of mischief and trouble were legendary and they were bloody fortunate nobody was filming everything they did when it was time to party If you played for the Blues or supported the Blues you strutted around town like you owned the joint and it was expected you were treated as royalty Monday nights at Eddies Tavern or Bobby Magees or any of the other nightclubs along King Street witnessed many an incident from the Lygon Street Mob which over time have gained more and more notoriety over the years the Blues never pretended to be the people’s club They despised anything and anybody that wasn’t Carlton Blues players and supporters wore the scorn of opposing clubs and for supporters it was a badge of honour to be worn with pride Success was their birthright and nothing less would do – go away peasants and they would garotte anybody who would even question their power and authority favourite son Alex Jesaulenko was the Captain and Coach of the team that won the Premiership that year there was a dispute between Jezza and club officials that saw the club great leave the Blues and join St Kilda the following year Imagine that for a moment; a Premiership Captain and Coach was forced into a deadlock with the Board the same year as he won the flag and he had no alternative but to leave the club it seemed Carlton still seemed destined to have unbated success Success being measured by being ability to win at least one Premiership every decade Nobody could have predicted the demise of the Blues’ dominance as a force on Grand Final day of 1995 The Blues one ‘Last Night of the Proms’ came in 1999 The Baggers got close again when they made the dance but it was a false dawn as a Carlton slipped into that dystopian existence At the end of 1999 we all partied like it was 1999 (because it was) ushering in a new millennium a millennium which promised hope and new beginnings except for the Y2K hoax which had people believing planes would fall from the skies and had everyone checking their computers one minute into the new century but the 2000s would prove to be the beginning of the end Investigations about brown paper bags had begun with player payments under scrutiny and it would all culminate in the near collapse of the famous Navy Blues by the start of the 2002 season one important variable left over from the last century was John Elliott He left the Blues in disarray at the end of the 2001 season There were allegations of serious salary cap breaches under the table payments (insert brown paper bag) Carlton was fined $930,000 in 2001 and the Blues were stripped of early draft picks for the 2002 and 2003 seasons The sanctions had an immediate impact when Carlton won their first ever wooden spoon in 2002 to be followed up with wooden spoons again in 2005 from 1896 to 1999 the Carlton Football was arguably the most successful football in the VFL/AFL and they had never had the dishonour of a wooden spoon during that period Presidente Elliott was forced out the door in 2002 after 20 years at the helm of the Carlton Football Club no players were ever sanctioned or penalised concerning these payments the Presidency of the Carlton Football has been a poisoned chalice have come and gone with little to no on-field or off-field success every coup since Jack in 2002 has been controversial and much blood has been spilled on the carpet in the Boardroom Off-field instability has rocked the Blues since the demise of John Elliott 2002 and it doesn’t look like stabilising too soon with Robert Priestley taking over from Luke (I nearly typed Leo) Sayers earlier this year in bizarre and controversial circumstances What had become of this once mighty and powerful club Leaving the Gold Coast Suns out of the equation which two clubs have not played in a Grand Final in the 2000s the two participants in the 1999 Grand Final a cursed Grand Final for both clubs to end the century the demise of the Shinboners has been just as dramatic since 1999 and it is food for thought for another article Here is something to make a true Blue’s supporter blood boil Fifteen different clubs have made a Grand Final since 2000 with eleven different clubs collecting the silverware Geelong and Brisbane have hogged the spotlight with four cups each West Coast and Collingwood with two apiece Western Bulldogs and Melbourne have all held the trophy aloft once in the new millennium St Kilda and GWS have all made it to the dance Carlton made the Preliminary Final in 2000 and 2023 the lack of even a modicum of success since 1999 cuts right to the very core of their being and existence such as the penalties for the salary cap breaches but beyond that it is inexcusable that such a powerful club could fall so low after so long of being immune to bottoming out have the record for the most wooden spoons since 2000 – five in total Five lousy wooden spoons in 25 years and only two Preliminary Finals for a club that dominated the last century with arrogance and an absolute singled minded desire to succeed what happened to Carlton’s ruthless culture and given how strong and dominant the 1995 Carlton team was it had many pundits believing it was the start of another Carlton dynasty could have foreseen the bleak future ahead for Carlton In 2000 David Parkin coached the Blues to a Preliminary Final Parkin’s legacy to the Carlton and Hawthorn Football Clubs is often understated Wayne Brittain took over the coaching duties at the Blues in 2001 but poor old Brittain was thrown to the wolves as during his tenure as the Carlton Football Club was forensically torn to shreds both internally and externally for Brits he will be remembered as the first coach to coach the Blues to a wooden spoon dried and quartered at the end of 2002 as he was booted out the door with his wooden spoon in hand Brittain was replaced by the then-super-coach Denis Pagan for the start of the 2003 season There was a renewed hope at the start of the 2003 season that the successful Premiership Coach of North Melbourne would be the Blues’ salvation as there were ongoing internal issues at the club and the legacy of the salary cap breaches still lingering Pagan’s coaching career at Princess Park was in tatters and well and truly over Pagan was stabbed squarely in the back in July 2007 as coach and a win/loss ratio of 50 percent between 2007 to 2012 Brett Ratten turned the fortunes of the Blues around from a wooden spoon in 2006 to a formable and competitive club during his tenure but the Baggers looked on the course to be in contention under Rats What Ratten didn’t know was the Board were courting Mick Malthouse (insert Daisy Thomas in here as well) to take the Blues to the next level – whatever that means Didn’t the Carlton Board learn from the Denis Pagan experiment that as good as these coaches both had been it may not translate into success at Princess Park Why did the Board ignore the coaching record of Brett Ratten Why the need to replace Ratten with a shiny new toy The excommunication of Brett Ratten from the Blues still cuts deep to the core for many Carlton fans to this day The prodigal son left Carlton with a hatchet stuck in his back between his shoulder blades put there by Stephen Kernahan and his desire to bring Mick Malthouse to the club There is a difference between ruthlessness and pure stupidity During his tenure,fresh new allegations emerged about Chris Judd receiving third party payments by being on the books of Visy Board What impact the third-party investigations had on the playing group is debatable Mick Malthouse lasted two and bit seasons at the helm of the Blues and under his stewardship the on-field performances rapidly declined lost 32 and drawn another for win/loss ratio of 38 percent The beginning of the end for Mick Malthouse was during the Essendon supplement scandal when the Blues made the finals from ninth position they were slaughtered by the Swans the following week and the club’s heart and soul was torn asunder when Eddie Betts departed the club for the Crows that year players started abandoning the Club like rats on the Titanic and the club reached its lowest ebb since the turn of the century in late 2014 the friction between the Board and Malthouse was playing out in the public arena and Malthouse basically forced the Board to the point of no return His services were terminated by then CEO Steven Trigg after Round 9 2015 The departure of Mick Malthouse from the Princes Park was a full-on public spectacle plunging the troubled club further down the mire John Barker coached out the 2015 season as an interim coach for the last 14 games of the season the Blues won only three more games for the year and he got out of there as quickly as possible Carlton was in total disarray post the Malthouse years Brendon Bolton was not the right choice as Coach somebody who could breathe life back into the club and provide a strong I believe a couple of the aforementioned names were approached by the club and Carlton were left with the inexperienced Brendon Bolton Chris Judd retired midseason the year before as well as a fistful of other players seeking a more stable workplace and it came as no surprise Bolton was sacked by the Board A mere 16 wins out of 77 games was never going to cut it at senior level and sadly he will be remembered as the coach who has the worst win/loss record in the club’s history When David Teague took over from Brendon Bolton in 2019 the Blues were sitting last on the ladder and staring another wooden spoon square in the face David Teague lifted the Blues off the bottom of the ladder – it was a miracle of sorts David Teague’s reward for avoiding the wooden spoon was to be appointed senior coach in 2020 Teague coached the Blues through the Covid years and under his tenure the Baggers started winning a few games and climbing up the ladder but apparently not at a rate acceptable to the Board and considering where the club was at when he took over but the Teague Train was brought to sudden halt at the end of the 2021 season but Teague brought the faithful back to the club and he was invested in giving the club and its fanbase hope Teague left the club in a better condition than when he took over In 2022 a late Collingwood resurgence broke the hearts of the Carlton fans when they lost the last home and away game of the year by a solitary point It was heartbreak for new Coach Michael Voss but it did bring a genuine hope that the future was looking good Come 2023 and the Carlton resurgence was in full swing as the Carlton army plundered their way to a Preliminary Final (their first since 2000) only to be beaten by the Lions at the Gabbatoir Most Baggers anticipated the next step to the big dance in 2024 was in the cards the Blues were well on the way to another serious crack at the big time only to lose form in the second half of the home and away season and just fall into the finals knocked the Baggers out of contention in the Elimination Final Michael Voss has been the most successful coach of Carlton since the halcyon days of David Parkin and John Elliott and his win/loss ratio is still well over 50 percent even allowing for the four losses to start the 2025 season Those four-straight losses to start the 2025 season has Voss’ job under the pump Carlton must stay the course with Voss and not sack him as a kneejerk reaction to the club’s current position Damien Hardwick were both nearly sacked for subpar years and the public outcry at the time was strongly suggesting they be sacked Both Geelong and Richmond stayed the course and backed their coached in and a tinker there and the Blues may still be on track under Voss to get to the promised land whereas a change of coach now would just be replicating the past 25 years of failed decisions and delusional thinking David Teague gave the Blues it’s current foundations and Voss now has nearly all the tools at his disposal to finish the job I want to make this clear – Chris Judd is one of the greatest players of the modern era and in no way am I suggesting he was anything but Carlton sold the farm (and then some cardboard) to get Judd to the club and from day one he became the face and voice of reason for the Blues the Blues rose up the ladder for a couple of seasons but they were locked into a Judd contract that didn’t leave much wiggle room for other players and for the second time in a short span of time Carlton’s salary cap was again challenged Visy Board were paying Chris Judd $250,000 in extra income alongside his contract with the Blues and in 2012 it came to a head when the AFL ruled this payment should be included within the Club’s salary cap as they had known about the third-party payments for the first five years of Judd’s six-year contract the Blues gave up a more than handy forward while Kennedy won a couple of Coleman Medals The Blues made the finals a couple of times under Judd’s captaincy but they were never really close to making the big dance and it is not just about the Judd era – Carlton’s modus operandi since 1999 has been to have a lot of nice glittering players at the top end of the Club while ignoring the bottom end – the engine room players who make up the starting 22 players It is as true now as it was when Judd came to the club Chris Judd was the captain of a very successful but troubled West Coast Eagles team with the ramifications of that culture being felt to this very day so it has always troubled me how or if Judd was oblivious to what was happening around at the Eagles both clubs spiralled downwards after his departure Chris Judd suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee and subsequently retired shortly thereafter Carlton won the wooden spoon the same year The Carlton Judd era was an exciting time for Blues fans and it is open to conjecture as to whether the Judd experience was successful and how with 18 teams (soon to be 19) is success actually measured The mere presence of Judd in the Navy Blue brought a renewed hope to Princes Park and a spike in membership so if success can be measured by tangibles other than just a Premiership Cup Current Carlton Captain and dual Brownlow Medallist heads astar-studded list of very talented players who have played for the mighty navy blue since 2000 Corey McKernan and Brett Ratten who have also won the John Nicholls Medal since 2000 not one of them has worn the famous navy blue at the MCG on the last day of September this millennium Carlton has never really been short of top end talent and it has used its early draft picks to secure the big names and just stars who win a John Nicholls Medal in their career and herein is one of the Blues major problems as he pointed it out to me that Carlton have great top end homegrown stars but they haven’t struck much gold with later picks in the draft They haven’t really grabbed a late draft gem since Ed Curnow back in 2012 this is particularly evident with the current group They have not traded for an A-Grader in a fair while all these players started their careers at Carlton and they are Carlton through and through – blue blood runs through their veins The next eight players would be automatic selections (most weeks) Matthew Cottrell (homegrown SSP) and possibly Adam Cerra and Jack Silvagni (father/son rule) They are a mixture of B grade and C grade players and they all tend to perform their tasks week in and week out It can be argued that Hewett and co are very consistent but they don’t seem to have another gear in them to take over a match if Cripps or Walsh are having a bad day Jagga Smith and Ashton Moir make up a good list of young players who are being nursed along nicely as they get games under their belts (or recover from injury) but they will drift in and out of the team depending on how quickly they develop and form Having a few kids coming through is always healthy and not something the Blues have necessarily concentrated on since 2000 So where do the rest of the players come from (since 2000 this has been a historical problem at Carlton – their mid list players) Carlton’s recruiting of players to fill the void between has been woeful but whoever or whatever is retarding Carlton’s list growth needs prompt attention a Grand Final appearance is within range for the Baggers but lessons need to be learned and amended accordingly and quickly In the 1980s and 1990s Carlton fielded teams with stars on ever line as well as backup players who had it drummed into their heads when it was their time to go and players who failed the test were quickly moved on The 1980s and 1990s Blue Baggers were utterly ruthless at every level of the club the external incentives meant Carlton attracted the best players to their club Nothing about Carlton from the 1960s to 1999 could ever be described as soft you played hard and partied even harder – arrogantly and utterly ruthless to the core Adrian Whitehead and Ang Christou from the 1995 Premiership winning team as examples of how Carlton’s underbelly was rock hard In a team that had stars all over the field the above four players are now part of Carlton folklore but because they would literally die on the field for their club All four had a moment in the Grand Final which gained recognition from their more illustrious teammates because they played the Carlton brand of football I forget how good the 1995 Carlton side was but I’m sure every supporter who was born then would have that team etched in their memory for life and now they yearn for more of the same 30 years later What happened to the mystique of the Carlton culture (being in a bottom team does not necessitate softness) it is interesting to compare four modern day players to the four named players from 1995 Saad is comparable in ability to Milham Hanna in talent Hanna milked every ounce of ability and poured it into the team while I am still waiting for the day Saad puts his team on his shoulders and leads the way If only Mitch McGovern were Jeremy McGovern or even had the heart of Ang Christou Mitch McGovern probably has more ability Ang had but Ang extended his talents to the limit and by the end of his career there was nobody saying he can almost stick a pass on the chest of his teammates Jacob Weitering at times is a lone wolf up back for the Blues and he should be demanding more from McGovern Former Carlton greats were never backward in telling a teammate directly what was expected from them Weitering he needs to take a firm control of the back six and just demand more but I want to see a fired up Weitering demanding more Last year I reviewed a Dockers game the same week Matt Taberner retired and while I acknowledged he had a good career I further acknowledged he never hit the upper limits of his potential (except for one stellar year) I’m throwing two Carlton recruits into this category of players who may end their careers without realising their full potential Zac Williams and Nick Haynes (who just doesn’t look comfortable in a Carlton jumper) but the extraverted Glen (the Bolt) Manton got more out of his career and then some for the ability he possessed He was a real grunt player with a bit of flair Manton left it all out on the field by the time he retired Zac Williams and Nick Haynes are both potentially very talented players but the vibes they put out on the field have many questioning where their heads are at this point of their careers I have cited Williams and Haynes on purpose as they have the ability to be the missing links that help harden up Carlton’s soft underbelly but he could be to this team what Glen Manton was to the 1995 Carlton team Ask me about Haynes after the midseason bye and he has a chance to settle into the club Adrian Whitehead is probably a name almost forgotten over time by most except for the diehard Carlton supports and his 1995 Premiership teammates For Orazio Fantasia and Lachie Fogarty I will repeat that Adrian Whitehead is a Carlton Premiership player look up to your leaders on the field and follow them in action and deed and off the field follow them around more and just keep learning from them This article is taking on a life of its own while talking about Carlton’s soft underbelly it became apparent that there is a divide between the Carlton’s stars and the rest of the team however since 2000 the focus had been on the star players of the team but something became apparent when I was talking about Jacob Weitering I have never seen Weitering demand effort and results from his back six in a similar manner that Kernahan The last of the true on-field Mohicans was probably Brett Ratten but at lot has changed in society since then No Carlton team since David Parkins’ team of 2000 has commanded the level of respect both within the club and of the wider footballing public in general and the exploits of John Elliott were exposed and I get the feeling he just expected others to follow the same way the players did at West Coast he played over 300 games for the Blues during its darkest years and to be honest he held that team together pretty well all things considered Sam Docherty and Charlie Curnow are all recognised champion individuals of the Carlton Football Club but they would feel like they have carried the team on their shoulders for a considerable period of time Patrick Cripps is the ultimate team player to the extent he puts his hand up for ruck duties but the only thing that can come from Cripps rucking is injury he is more use to the team being at the fall of the ball If Tom De Koning is not on the field at the time then it is up to Cripps to call a player in to ruck I would love to see Cripps demonstratively demand more from his midfield group on the field one day The same goes for Jacob Weitering in defence and Sam Docherty while the time has come for Charlie Curnow to have a Wayne Carey-like presence in the forward half and be the General of that group Carlton cannot afford to lose Tom De Koning as he is rapidly becoming the most important player in the team In the intro I expressed a hatred of the Carlton Football Club but it was based on the strength and arrogance and the kill or be killed attitude of the Blues Over the years I have come to have sympathy for the Blue Baggers That’s not what you want – a side that exacting pity is the precise place a club nevr wants to be I have more than one friend or a hundred who are Carlton to the core and I have watched over the years as they have seen hope come the radio switchboards cannot cope with the number of Baggers just wanting to vent their anger By 2000 Carlton had become a casualty of its own success and they deserved their time in the wilderness for some of the underhanded trickery that took place The Judd years help raise hope for a while but even that was tinged with another salary gap investigation and should be well in the distance in the rearview mirror There is a word that I cannot use in this article and become the arrogant ruthless beast that made Carlton so easy to hate recently said Patrick Cripps deserves a Premiership medallion but a lot has to go right for that to occur Phil J and the many Carlton supporters I know enjoy the reunion of the 1995 Premiership team I hope there is more joy for you than celebrating something that happened 30 years ago What Carlton’s no one ticket holder and prime minister on the day Malcom Fraser said the demise of Carlton happened for the following reasons 1) Carlton has never been able to get its head around the modern era of AFL operations We were used to splashing money around to entice star players One bizarre example of a faux big fish was Mark Athorn who carved up Carlton in a 1991 match against Sydney The board went hell for leather to lure this player but it didn’t matter because they were able to catch real big fish The attitude that we can land whoever we want has never left the club In fact for all Carlton’s ruthlessness we are not initiators Carlton is a club that follows rather than leads and it copies trends as opposed to sets the trends Carlton has never gotten a handle on how to recruit We could not even get it right with Houston “if Carlton doesn’t land Houston…then Houston Carlton has a problem” Prior to that comment Houston gave our trading and drafting a C minus but instead allowed Collingwood to swoop him up The board were so arrogant and delusional that they could not see what the rest of us saw that we were miles behind Hawthorn (who had recently belted us by over 70 points) Anyone could tell you that Hawthorn would finish well above Carlton on the ladder in 2025 Hawthorn had pioneered a new and exciting brand of football were still copying Melbourne’s outdated contested ball style of play from 2021 Anyone can tell you that era of Hawthorn beating us 14 times in a row is back Other unforgivable decisions (blunders) from last season were the decisions to offload Matt Kennedy (our heart and soul) In era of the domination of small forwards our board decides to oust our best small forward Carlton has never gotten rid of its messiah complex Our board is always looking for the next messiah to deliver us to the promised land This thinking is a symptom of a board that lacks initiative and innovation Rather than thoroughly research who would be a good coach or player the board just goes after someone who had success at another club They don’t even analyze if that person is a good fit I am sorry to say but the following qualities describe Carlton: delusional living in a dreamworld as opposed to reality seeking a messiah (relying on a mythical hero to lift us up out of the quagmire) 2) Carlton benefited from the old zone system Carlton’s recruiting zone covered working class northern suburbs Carlton also had Bendigo in its recruiting zone The difference between Hawthorn and Carlton is that Carlton constantly harks back to its glory years in the VFL whereas we parade premiership cups around from yesteryear but these cups are of little relevance to the modern age and mean nothing to people born after 1995 Hawthorn are not even referring back to their threepeat with champions such as Matera and Heady on offer Carlton didn’t try to draft any of them Drafted gems such as Simon Minton-Connell were sacrificed to get the big fish Greg Williams The wooden spoon happened before the AFL sanctions for salary cap breaches When a club does something monumentally stupid there is always a Cassandra who warns them that they are stuffing up big time In Collingwood’s case it was Bob Rose who warned the Sherrin regime that they should pay big money to get the best recruits I am scratching my head to think of anyone who warned Carlton about what was about to go down Instead we had sycophants like Tim Lane and Gary Hutchesson The one thing the Blues have always been good at and that’s why I pointed out that the club has fantasist tendencies All of Carlton’s historical arrogance was based on having the money to lure big fish from interstate and recruit blue collar working class strong men from the western edge of the northern metropolitan region centered on the former cities of Brunswick Carlton is like a child of rich parents who was given a plumb job this petulant child squandered their savings they turned to life of petty crime and escapism through drugs While this child thought they were the mighty emperor a totally impractical dreamer far removed from reality Off spring of working class parents knew how to fend for themselves If I had my time again I would not have picked Carlton as my side Match: Adelaide Crows vs Carlton BluesDate: Saturday 2025Start Time: 4:15pm (AEST)Stadium: Adelaide Oval Adelaide is looking to get their season back on track, while Carlton is quickly building with three wins in a row in what should be an exciting battle at Adelaide Oval this Saturday afternoon The Crows have lost three of their last four games but have won seven of the last eight home meetings against the Blues second in the competition with 102.7 per game and their three-pronged attack all averaging over two goals The improvement of their midfield from Izak Rankine and Jake Soligo both averaging 23 disposals and five clearances has also helped them take that next step and less reliance on their older stars starting the season at 0-4 but looking to make it four wins in a row and after knocking off the mighty Geelong last game The improvement of George Hewett and use of Sam Walsh on the outside, both averaging over 27 disposals and five tackles have helped Carlton stay afloat and now play some exciting footy.Both teams are also in the top seven defences of the competition. This should be one of the closest games all year, but Adelaide's strong form at home, even beating GWS there this season proves they are always up for the fight at the Oval The Crows have won seven of the last eight home meetings against Carlton Below are the odds (at the time of writing) for Adelaide vs Carlton on Saturday across multiple bookmakers Adelaide vs Carlton Prediction – AFL Round 8 | 2025 Check out our Adelaide vs Carlton prediction now See all the odds for the AFL Round 8 match at Adelaide Oval Match: Adelaide Crows vs Carlton BluesDate: Saturday Adelaide is looking to get their season back on track, while Carlton is quickly building with three wins in a row The improvement of George Hewett and use of Sam Walsh on the outside, both averaging over 27 disposals and five tackles have helped Carlton stay afloat and now play some exciting footy.Both teams are also in the top seven defences of the competition. This should be one of the closest games all year, but Adelaide's strong form at home, even beating GWS there this season, proves they are always up for the fight at the Oval. The Crows have won seven of the last eight home meetings against Carlton. Below are the odds (at the time of writing) for Adelaide vs Carlton on Saturday across multiple bookmakers. A TRIO of Blues have been named to return for Carlton’s Good Friday SuperClash with North Melbourne. On the back of opening their 2025 account last weekend against West Coast, Carlton enters the special fixture aiming to not only bring smiles to faces for those going through a tough time, but also generate momentum for the season proper. It was already confirmed by AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss that Elijah Hollands would play his first game of the AFL season, after missing the start of the campaign due to personal reasons. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Football Club (@carlton_fc) with the reliable wingman a late out from the win over the Eagles due to illness Rounding out the inclusions is Lewis Young who provides the Blues with extra height and flexibility in a number of roles as a result of some forced changes Those come in the form of Harry McKay (concussion) and Brodie Kemp (Achilles) with the Blues to once again have a reworked forward mix after cracking the ton for the first time last week The other making way out of the side is the omitted Sam Docherty: he is one of three emergencies alongside Jordan Boyd and the available-again Marc Pittonet Sam Walsh and Will White have been named on the interchange with the Blues to name their sub an hour before the bounce Durdin will play his 50th AFL game after an outstanding four-goal return in Gather Round while it’s a settled backline once again for the Blues retaining the same back seven as last weekend - including second-gamer Matthew Carroll the Blues’ defensive structure which has served them well so far in 2025 (No.3 for average points conceded per game) will have to hold up once more against a more potent North Melbourne attack The Good Friday SuperClash will kick off from 3:20pm AEST Lloyd Perris has been appointed Carlton’s AFLW Head of Development as well as coach for the Carlton Academy Adelaide has made four changes to its team ahead of the match against Carlton at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon Forward Darcy Fogarty will return after missing last weekend’s game against Fremantle due to a shoulder injury while midfielder Sam Berry has also earned a recall after lining up for the side in Round Six we are very pleased to have him back this week,” Adelaide Head of Football Adam Kelly said “Fog is certainly a tough and resilient player and it’s a credit to him that he has put himself in a position to return so early after what was a big hit that he received against the Giants “Bez continued to press his claims for AFL selection with a standout performance against the Eagles at SANFL level last week “He is in great form and moving as well as he has in his career.” Defender Jordon Butts and Brodie Smith have been named to feature in their first games of 2025 Kelly said they had bided their time in the State League and was confident the pair would add to the side “Buttsy is proven at the AFL level and has been one of our most relied upon defenders over recent years,” Kelly said “He has returned to his best over recent weeks with regard to his movement and we have trust in his ability to get the job done “We are very fortunate to have a player of Brodie’s experience and capability to come into the team what has impressed greatly in recent times has been Brodie’s commitment and attitude whilst not in the AFL team His positive approach has had him well placed for AFL selection and it will be great to see the No.33 out there Saturday.” Midfielder Matt Crouch will miss this weekend’s match due to a hip injury, while backman Nick Murray is facing time on the sidelines after undergoing an arthroscope on his reconstructed left knee Fellow defender Mitch Hinge will not line-up in the game after his one-match ban for striking was upheld Draper has been named on the emergencies list The Crows host the Blues at Adelaide Oval on Saturday at 3.45pm Tickets available here Adelaide concluded its off-season trial match series at the weekend The forward was recognised for his first quarter grab The Crows Skipper spoke to the media on Monday The Crows travel to Port Lincoln to take on Norwood We sit down with Murray Davis and see how the team is tracking so far Jordan Dawson and Connor Rozee speak to the media ahead of Showdown 57 Re-watch Crows Live after our win against Carlton Watch the highlights from our clash against Norwood The Adelaide Football Club acknowledges the Kaurna people as the Traditional Custodians of the Adelaide Plains Region We also acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia as the Traditional Custodians of their country and their ongoing connection to the land The Adelaide Crows and Carlton are set to face off at the Adelaide Oval in Round 8 of the 2025 AFL season on Saturday The Crows had a great start to their 2025 season as they began their campaign with three straight wins against St and this drop in form has put them down in fifth place on the AFL ladder Carlton LIVE in Australia on Kayo (free trial) Carlton lost their opening four games this season and were placed third last on the ladder Michael Voss' side's fortunes have improved tenfold as they have taken three straight wins having opened the run with a 71-point win over the West Coast Eagles and an 82-point victory over North Melbourne They are now placed in the 11th place and will hope to rise further up this weekend The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game Kayo Sports are providing both live and catch-up coverage of Saturday's match The clash will also be available to watch on Fox Footy Fans can stream Adelaide Crows vs. Carlton on Kayo which is currently offering a free trial for new subscribers so you can essentially watch this game and others this week for free The match will also be streamed on the AFL website WATCH:Best of AFL action LIVE in Australia on Kayo (free trial) The AFL Round 8 game between Adelaide Crows and Carlton will be played on Saturday It will be played at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide Here's how that kick-off time translates to the various Australian time zones: If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more > Aditya Gokhale is a freelance writer with the Sporting News with almost five years of experience in sports journalism. He also works with GOAL.com as a news writer and has previously worked with companies like The Nutmeg Assist, More Than A Game and Barca Universal. He has mainly covered football, Formula 1 and ESports over the years. In his spare time, Aditya continues to play football daily with his local team and also competes professionally as a sim racer. David Schwarz has declared Adelaide as his certainty for this weekend believing they will definitely take care of Carlton on Saturday The Blues have never beaten Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval have lost their last three meetings with the Crows and have Jack Silvagni Matthew Cottrell and Zac Williams out through injury Schwarz says he is not convinced by the Blues despite them winning three in a row including an impressive 18-point win over Geelong last weekend Many pundits are suggesting the Blues are back in town following a four-game losing streak to start the season take it to the bank,” Schwarz told SEN's The Captain's Run “I like Adelaide and I’m still not convinced with Carlton just yet “They’re going to be up against an Adelaide that are going to be pretty disappointed with what happened over in Fremantle and they are a bona fide top eight side A win on Saturday would solidify the Crows spot inside the top eight and close the gap on the top four while a victory for the Blues will see them square the ledger at 4-4 Crafted by Project Diamond CARLTON have made a late change ahead of their Round 5 clash with the Eagles Blake Acres has been withdrawn from the team due to illness Cooper Lord will come into the side and be the Blues' substitute for their Gather Round outing Welcome to #GatherRound 👋#AFLBluesEagles pic.twitter.com/nqklEmAR5K The transcript of Michael Voss' pre-Gather Round press conference Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Carlton have accepted the resignation of one of their managers who faced an internal investigation after a number of complaints from staff The Blues on Thursday confirmed that the manager had left the club The Blues have accepted the employee’s resignation.Credit: Getty Images This masthead reported two weeks ago that a whistleblower raised concerns with both Carlton and the AFL The league immediately referred the matter to its integrity unit to put on the record that the matter was “in no way related to any gender-based misconduct and any such insinuations are inaccurate and misleading.” The club said its first priority would always be its people and that approach would be at “the forefront of the club’s handling of this matter.” Carlton have attracted unwanted controversy since January when a lewd image posted on social media led to the departure of president Luke Sayers Sayers denied posting the image and an AFL investigation found he had not posted it He was replaced by Robert Priestley as club president They are also in the process of making the transition from veteran CEO Brian Cook to his successor Graham Wright with Cook to step aside at the end of the year after a distinguished career in the AFL with West Coast losing in unexpected fashion to Richmond in round one as they lost their first four matches They returned to the winners’ list when they defeated the winless West Coast and then beat North Melbourne on Good Friday Carlton face Geelong in a huge clash at the MCG on Sunday which will also see them celebrate the 30th anniversary of their most recent premiership in 1995 Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter. Carlton have accepted the resignation of one of their managers, who faced an internal investigation after a number of complaints from staff. The Blues on Thursday confirmed that the manager had left the club. This , who works at the club, raised concerns with both Carlton and the AFL. The league immediately referred the matter to its integrity unit. Carlton released a statement, while the investigation was underway, to put on the record that the matter was \\u201Cin no way related to any gender-based misconduct and any such insinuations are inaccurate and misleading.\\u201D The club said its first priority would always be its people and that approach would be at \\u201Cthe forefront of the club\\u2019s handling of this matter.\\u201D In accepting the manager\\u2019s resignation, the club believes the matter is closed. Carlton have attracted unwanted controversy since January when a lewd image posted on social media led to the departure of president Luke Sayers. Sayers denied posting the image and an AFL investigation found he had not posted it. He was replaced by Robert Priestley as club president. They are also in the process of making the transition from veteran CEO Brian Cook to his successor Graham Wright, with Cook to step aside at the end of the year after a distinguished career in the AFL with West Coast, Geelong and Carlton. The Blues made a poor start to the season, losing in unexpected fashion to Richmond in round one as they lost their first four matches. They returned to the winners\\u2019 list when they defeated the winless West Coast and then beat North Melbourne on Good Friday. Carlton face Geelong in a huge clash at the MCG on Sunday, which will also see them celebrate the 30th anniversary of their most recent premiership in 1995. 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Geelong has been defeated by Carlton at the MCG, going down by 18 points on Sunday afternoon.  Despite trailing by 28 points at three quarter time, Geelong fought hard to flip the momentum and pushed Carlton right to the final siren, but ultimately the deficit proved too big to overcome.  The defensive efforts of Connor O'Sullivan (17 disposals, 12 intercept possessions), Sam De Koning (16 disposals, 11 intercepts) and Lawson Humphries (21 disposals, eight intercepts) helped to keep the Cats in the contest against an impressive Carlton outfit.  Jeremy Cameron (four goals, nine score involvements) lead the way offensively for Geelong, while Bailey Smith (29 disposals) and Shaun Mannagh (25 disposals, seven clearances) both found plenty of the footy.  The two teams traded blows in a see-sawing opening term, a Patrick Dangerfield goal after the siren pulling the Cats back within one point at quarter time.  The clearance battle (16-7) was heavily in Carlton's favour during the first quarter but Geelong's intercept defenders helped to stem the momentum, particularly Connor O'Sulivan (six intercept possessions) and Sam De Koning (five intercepts).  Geelong were on the back foot early in the second term after conceding four unanswered goals, finding two majors of their own late but the deficit increased to 19 points by half time.  Amongst a flurry of inside 50 entries from Carlton, O'Sullivan and De Koning continued to limit the damage by picking off eight intercept possessions each, while Lawson Humphries (15 disposals, six intercepts) was also dominant across half back.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Geelong Cats (@geelongcats) Shaun Mannagh carried on from his strong display against Hawthorn laying seven tackles and winning three clearances in the first half, Tom Atkins laid an incredible 10 tackles by the main break and Bailey Smith accumulated a team high 16 disposals.  Geelong swiftly set about closing the gap with two quick goals to start the third quarter, but Carlton regained the ascendancy and pulled away once again, the Cats finding themselves 28 points adrift heading into the last quarter.  It took just 15 seconds for Jeremy Cameron to get involved in the final term, curling home his fourth goal to give the Cats some momentum early.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Geelong Cats (@geelongcats) Mark Blicavs followed suit minutes later, before Bailey Smith slotted Geelong's third in eight minutes to pull the Cats back within 10 points.  Geelong continued to fight right until the final siren but ultimately the deficit was too big to overcome, eventually falling by 18 points in an enthralling battle with the Blues.  The Cats will look to bounce back next Saturday night, as they head back to the MCG for a blockbuster clash with Collingwood in the final game of their triple-header at the venue.  CARLTON      3.3      8.5      12.8     14.10    (94) GEELONG      3.2      5.4      8.4       12.4    (76) GOALS Carlton: Curnow, McKay 3, Fogarty 2, Williams, O.Hollands, De Koning, Durdin, White, Hewett 1Geelong: Cameron 4, Dempsey 2, Stengle, Dangerfield, O'Connor, Blicavs, Smith, Close 1 BESTCarlton: McKay, Walsh, Curnow, De Koning, Weitering, Hewett, HaynesGeelong: Smith, Cameron, Dempsey, Mannagh, Humphries DISPOSALSCarlton: Walsh 30, Hewett, Cripps 29, E.Hollands, Cerra 25Geelong: Smith 29, Mannagh 25, Humphries, Guthrie 21, Holmes 20 SUBSTITUTES Carlton: Cooper Lord (replaced Zac Williams in the first quarter)Geelong: Ollie Henry (replaced Oli Wiltshire in the third quarter) Jack Bowes joined 3AW on Sunday morning to chat through the big win over Collingwood at the MCG. Following his sensational outing against the Magpies, Patrick Dangerfield joined ABC Sport to talk through the incredible win on Saturday night. Chris Scott praised the performance of Geelong's captain on Saturday night, helping to steer the Cats to a brilliant victory See what Chris Scott had to say in the build up to Sunday's clash against Carlton at the MCG Look back at some behind the scenes access, after a huge win against the Pies at the 'G Ollie Dempsey spoke to Cats Media after a thrilling finish against the Pies. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia. After an importance performance down back in a thrilling win, Mark O'Connor spoke to Cats Media! Proudly Presented by Ford Australia. THE CARLTON Football Club has finalised its VFLW squad ahead of the 2025 season, with a blend of emerging talent and experienced campaigners.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton FCW (@carltonfc_w) With the season starting this Saturday at Arden Street (9:15am) , Blues fans are encouraged to get down and support Carlton in what will be a thrilling triple header against North Melbourne.  Carlton players are donating items in support of 2025 Good Friday Appeal. Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra has been offered a one-week suspension after being charged with striking by the Match Review Officer. George Hewett won't take any spotlight when it comes to his career-best form. Michael Voss was proud of how his side was able to seize their moments against Geelong. Find out how each teams season is shaping up! The Carlton Football Club is proud to reveal its 2025 Indigenous guernsey. Carlton fell to Sandringham by three points in a nail-biter. Adam Cerra spoke to Carlton Media following the Round 8 loss to Adelaide. Watch the highlights of the Round 8 clash with Adelaide. Charlie Curnow goes long from outside 50 and receives a fortuitous bounce on the goal line for a fantastic first major. CARLTON has held on and produced a stirring 18-point win over Geelong. On the back of a scintillating middle two quarters, the Blues were then forced to fend off a resilient Cats outfit in the 14.10 (94) to 12.4 (76) victory. Nick Haynes produced his best performance in Navy Blue to date, while Harry McKay’s second half was central to the Blues registering their third win on the trot. Hear from Michael Voss immediately after the win against Geelong. It was a hot start early, with fumbles and turnovers for both sides on the back of some extreme pressure. After Geelong kicked the opener, Zac Williams responded in kind for the Blues from outside 50, but was soon subbed out of the game for Cooper Lord due to a calf injury. Carlton was winning the ball at the source, registering nine more clearances in the first term than its opponent. Sam Walsh continued his exceptional personal form against the Cats, setting up Lachie Fogarty as the Blues registered back-to-back goals to take an early lead. Watch the highlights from the Round 7 win over Geelong. Nick Haynes held up brilliantly down back in crucial moments early, while it was a strong response from Jack Silvagni who came from the ground early with what appeared to be a hand issue. Adam Cerra (three clearances, three tackles) was working overtime, but a late free to Patrick Dangerfield saw the Cats draw within a point at the first change. Carlton’s transition game started to get going as it started the second term off as the better side, with a Harry McKay goal - his first since his return - drawing a spirited response from both his teammates and the 67,658 strong at the MCG. Harry McKay returns in some fashion to help will the Blues over the line with a sensational performance that included 12 marks and three goals. With Williams off the ground, Fogarty moved into the role on Tom Stewart and continued to do an exemplary role, not only kicking a second goal for himself, but applying three tackles inside 50. Elijah Hollands soon followed up with the Blues’ third goal from a forward-half intercept, indicating the elite pressure the Blues were bringing to the table for the term. Geelong was always going to respond, and that they did, but Tom De Koning quickly made amends for a turnover with a goal from a forward stoppage to give the Blues some breathing room at the main break. Returning for the second half, the Cats continued to press, kicking two goals in quick succession to draw within single digits. But as the Blues had done all day, they rallied themselves. Nick Haynes continued to stand up brilliantly with 12 marks to three-quarter time, providing brilliant support in the air and at ground level: his intercept ended in a Curnow contested mark and goal (his third for the day) to stem the tide. Watch the Blues celebrate their round seven win Alongside Haynes was Mitch McGovern, who continued in his rich vein of form with an outstanding third quarter. Tallying 10 disposals and five intercepts in the third quarter alone, he was crucial in turning defence into offence, allowing Will White to bob up with his first MCG goal. There were also pivotal moments in the air for Corey Durdin and Harry McKay, taking contested marks - Durdin’s a second straight hanger over Sam De Koning - and duly converting to ensure the Blues had a handy buffer at the final change. Corey Durdin uses Sam De Koning as a stepladder before popping through a deserved goal equal to the moment But when the final term resumed, there were danger signs for the Blues. After thriving at the contest all day, the Blues struggled to contain the Cats in the clearance situation, with the Cats recording 11 of the first 12 clearances of the final term as well as the first three goals to set up a grandstand finish. Jacob Weitering and Matthew Carroll produced crucial one-on-one wins with holding-the-ball tackles deep in defence, allowing the Blues to settle against an efficient Cats outfit that kicked 7.0 in the second half. After a big six weeks, it was up to who else but McKay to provide a steadying hand, before George Hewett - on the back of another consistent showing - set sail from behind 50 to put the result beyond doubt, giving the Blues a third straight win. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Football Club (@carlton_fc) CARLTON      3.3     8.5     12.8       14.10 (94) GEELONG      3.2     5.4     8.4        12.4 (76) Carlton: Curnow 3, McKay 3, Fogarty 2, De Koning, Durdin, Hewett, E.Hollands, White, Williams Carlton: Haynes, McGovern, McKay, Walsh, Cripps, Fogarty, De Koning, Hewett View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Football Club (@carlton_fc) The Blues fended off a resilient Cats outfit on Sunday afternoon at the MCG. Carlton has made one change for the Round 7 clash with Geelong. See what Michael Voss had to say ahead of Carlton's Round 7 clash with Geelong. Carlton has named its squad of 26 to take on Geelong, with three inclusions named. Updates leading into Carlton's Round 7 clash with Geelong. The Blues will have a quartet of fresh faces making the trip to the Adelaide Oval to take on the Eagles in Gather Round. Looking for their third straight win at the venue, Carlton had already said that Matthew Carroll would make his debut for his boyhood club this weekend, while Harry McKay confirmed he would make his return to AFL football in a open, honest chat about his last few weeks. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ben & Harry (@benandharrypodcast) McKay will be joined in the forward line by Corey Durdin, with the native South Australian to play his first game of the campaign. Durdin was one of the Carlton Reserves’ best in his return from an ankle injury, laying an impressive 13 tackles in the VFL last weekend to add to his customary zip. Corey Durdin was one of the Carlton Reserves' best in the VFL Round 3 clash with Southport. Rounding out the inclusions is Matthew Cottrell, with the running machine getting through training fully this week after missing Round 4 due to an ankle injury. Lachie Cowan was a confirmed out due to a hamstring injury, while Cooper Lord, Ashton Moir and Lewis Young have been omitted. Lord and Young are joined by Elijah Hollands as the emergencies, while the Blues have listed Carroll, Durdin, Ollie Hollands, Brodie Kemp and Will White on the interchange. The sub will be named an hour before the bounce. Saturday’s game will be Adam Saad’s 200th game, with the former Coburg VFL star starting out at Gold Coast and Essendon before finding a home in Navy Blue over the last five seasons. Harry McKay has opened up alongside brother Ben ahead of his return to AFL football this Saturday. For the second year in a row, Carlton players will auction off their own items in support of the Good Friday Appeal, making a difference for an important cause. Last year’s player-led initiative raised an impressive $10,000, and this season, the playing group is stepping up again with a stellar line-up of auction items, raising much-needed funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carlton Football Club (@carlton_fc) The auction site is now live and open for the public to bid on here offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences and exclusive memorabilia - 2025 match day footy signed by the entire leadership group - A golf experience with Carlton brothers Elijah and Ollie Hollands The idea for the initiative was first sparked by Mitch McGovern last season who rallied with his teammates as they donated their items in support Mitch McGovern spoke to Carlton Media following a visit to the Royal Children's Hospital "The Good Friday Appeal is bigger than footy To give back to the community as much as we can is very special for this week and hopefully we can raise some much-needed funds for the Good Friday Appeal," McGovern said that we can make a impact in people's lives "The boys have reached deep into their own pockets and are donating some items for auction.. jump online so we can raise some money for the Good Friday Appeal." kicked off a special week on Monday morning visiting patients and staff at the Royal Children’s Hospital Carlton is proud to be raising funds in support of the third year of the Carlton-North Melbourne Good Friday Super Clash which sees football take a backseat and celebrates the real superheroes of Good Friday – the patients and staff from the Royal Children’s Hospital Jack Silvagni fronted the media at the Royal Children's Hospital ahead of the Good Friday clash with North Melbourne $5 from every adult ticket sold for the game will be donated to the Good Friday Appeal Funds raised will go towards upgrading medical equipment and supporting critical research aimed at improving care and outcomes for children plays a vital role in helping the Royal Children’s Hospital deliver the best possible care Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster — last year’s game was a sell-out and this year’s match will be fully ticketed Adelaide will need to make at least three changes to its team for the clash against Carlton this weekend But Crows Senior Coach Matthew Nicks is backing the Club’s depth with the State League team having a 3-1 win/loss record Nicks said there were players ready to come in ahead of the Round Eight team selection it changes our connection and the cohesion we have,” Nicks said “(But) we have guys knocking on the door wanting to play The guys playing (in the SANFL) are playing some good footy “We’ve got some guys who are ready to step up guys who have already had a little bit of it this year The Club revealed on Wednesday that Crouch was facing four to six weeks on the sidelines with a hip injury, while Murray was set for an arthroscope on his reconstructed left knee Nicks said injuries were part of footy and a squad mentality was needed for when they occurred there are some that you can’t avoid,” Nicks said “There are contact injuries that happen in a game… the injuries will come and it’s about where they come and how they come “It’s more about the belief in our group and the depth of our group We back in our list and our squad that we are a lot stronger than we have been in the past “We know it’s going to affect us slightly… (but) we are confident we are going to be able to perform still Nicks was hopeful of regaining forward Darcy Fogarty who missed the Anzac Day match against Fremantle due to a shoulder injury He was also giving Riley Thilthorpe every chance to play despite suffering a dislocated finger in the game against the Dockers for Darce we are confident he’s going to be OK there’s obviously a fair bit that’s gone on with his finger he was able to come on and play the game out The Crows will name their team for the Carlton game on Thursday at 5.50pm (ACST) Adelaide faces the Blues at Adelaide Oval on Saturday at 3.45pm Tickets available here Matthew Nicks speaks to the media ahead of our round 8 clash against Carlton Subscribe NOW to AFC Media: http://bit.ly/1zUR9Bm The on-baller has been managing a hip injury The Carlton Football Club is pleased to announce the appointments of experienced corporate finance expert Michael Burn as well as highly regarded Victorian barrister Christopher Townshend KC to its Board of Directors In joining the Board of the Carlton Football Club Burn brings with him over 30 years of experience in investment banking and corporate finance having advised leading Australian companies across a range of sectors including 13 years as a Director – with over five of these as Chair – of the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) further underscores his strong governance credentials Burn attended his first game in 1971 and has continued as a proud member of the Carlton Football Club throughout his adult life Townshend’s involvement with the Club is more current having served as a Director in an important phase of the IKON Park redevelopment which cemented IKON Park as the home of Women’s football and the long-term base of the Carlton Football Club He has since held the role as Chair of the Club’s Risk With 30 years of expertise as a barrister at The Victorian Bar Townshend specialises in Planning and Environment Law with a focus on major infrastructure and development projects This skill set was critical in the upgrade of IKON Park match-day facilities high-performance athlete amenities – headlined by the Club’s indoor training field – and broadcast standard lights His expertise extends to sports law practice appearing for athletes participating across multiple codes as well as sitting across AFL industry advisory groups Club President Rob Priestley wrote to members this afternoon to inform them of the Club’s Board updates “Maintaining a skills-based Board was a key factor in the assessment recommendation and endorsement of both Michael and Chris’ nominations,” Priestley wrote “With 30 years’ experience in each of their respective areas of finance we are thrilled to be able to fill these skills-based needs on our Board with such great Carlton people “There was particular attention to filling the finance and commercial portfolio responsibilities that I previously held and was required to step away from upon appointment as President is an existing need that requires specialised expertise across our diverse Board “We are thrilled that both Michael and Chris have agreed to join the Board and we look forward to seeing them play their part as we strive to establish our Club as an industry leader on a stable and consistent basis.”  the Club also announces that Director Tim Lincoln will be stepping away from the Board and devoting more time and attention to his other professional commitments "This has been a difficult decision; I love the Club and it’s been an absolute privilege to serve as a Director over the last four years.” Said Lincoln “Being a Director of this football club comes with sacrifice and significant personal investment to serve our members and the time is right to hand the baton over to another proud Carlton person to fulfill the duties to the best of their ability.”   Priestley also wrote to members expressing the Club’s gratitude for Lincoln’s time on the Board and a love for the Navy Blue since joining the Board in 2021,” Priestley wrote  “His meaningful contributions have supported our Club’s progress in recent years and we are deeply appreciative for all his hard work and wish him well”  Priestley went on to outline the importance of the Club’s proactive succession planning efforts that has put the Club in a responsible position to fill the casual vacancies on the Board created by Lincoln and Sayers’ respective departures “A considered lens to succession planning for key roles is vitally important for maintaining a stable environment,” Preistley wrote “This is in line with effective and responsible governance practices and is being carried out at all levels of our club which is no different in our approach to ensuring we have a pipeline of appropriate future Board candidates “Such efforts have allowed us to fill these most recent casual vacancies in a manner that enables our people to be at their best and continue the Club’s forward momentum towards achieving our vision our club is committed to building a high-performance culture dedicated to excellence and where we are relentless in looking for ways to improve Jacob Weitering speaks on his personal connection to the Peter Mac Cup