AFL Finals 2023 Melbourne v Carlton: Blues through to preliminary final

A wounded Carlton has knocked out a wayward Melbourne to progress to a preliminary final in an all-time classic. How many of their injured stars will front up next week? Details here.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Blake Acres of the Blues celebrates a goal during the 2023 AFL First Semi Final match between the Melbourne Demons and the Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 15, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Carlton coach Michael Voss faces some tough decisions as he prepares for the biggest game of his coaching career against his former side Brisbane in a blockbuster Gabba preliminary final.

There were a number of battered and bruised Carlton players after their stunning last-quarter heroics against Melbourne in a gripping semi-final.

Full-back Jacob Weitering and veteran Sam Docherty both carried injuries through the second half while skipper Patrick Cripps and star forward Charlie Curnow had also suffered heavy hits.

Weitering caused some anxious moments in the final quarter when he looked to be dazed after a heavy collision. Despite clearly looking affected from the incident, he stayed out on the ground as the game went down to the wire.

Docherty sent a scare through the Blues camp late in the second quarter when he appeared to dislocate his shoulder.

He immediately went down to the rooms for medical attention but took his place on the field at the start of the third quarter.

Should Jacob Weitering have come from the ground? Picture: Getty Images

Voss has to find a way to get key forward Harry McKay and important swingman Jack Martin back into the team to face the Lions.

Youngster Ollie Hollands was the substitute last night but he came up with some big plays in the final quarter which could save his spot.

For Melbourne, they are likely to be without goal sneak Kysaiah Pickett for the start of next season with the match review panel to look closely at a bump he executed on Cripps which left the Blues skipper with a blood nose.

Pickett will be sweating on the MRP ruling after he jumped off the ground and hit Cripps high as he released a handball early in the second quarter.

Will Pickett be in trouble for this bump on Cripps?

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The Demons forward has form in this area as he was suspended for two weeks in the opening round of the season when he launched off the ground and hit Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith.

Melbourne great Garry Lyon didn’t mince his words at half time on FOX Footy, telling Pickett to “stop the try hard tough acts”.

Former Hawthorn premiership captain and Channel 7 commentator Luke Hodge said Pickett was in trouble

“As soon as you opt to bump a player and you get him high, they’re definitely going to look at it,” Hodge said.

Kysaiah Pickett's bump on Patrick Cripps. Picture: Fox Footy

MATCH REPORT: BLUES CLINCH EPIC WIN

A heroic play from a wounded Sam Docherty has handed Carlton a stunning two-point semi-final victory and consigned Melbourne to the terrible fate of consecutive straight-sets exits from the finals.

Carrying a dislocated shoulder which forced him from the ground for most of the second term, Docherty took a strong overhead mark on the wing and streamed forward, catching Melbourne’s rock-solid defence off-guard with a booming kick which found Blake Acres at the top of the goal square.

Acres played on and skimmed through the winning goal off the ground in the third lead change of an exhilarating final term, where the Demons appeared to have the upper hand through the stellar performances of Steven May and Jake Lever.

The defensive duo completely shut out Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow but a first-quarter cameo from Tom De Koning and moments of brilliance from Sam Walsh and Jesse Motlop gave Carlton just enough in attack to edge out the Demons, who again were plagued by miserable inaccuracy.

Kysaiah Pickett played one of the best games of his career to provide a dangerous deep target and spur on the Demons in the second half, but crucial misses including two set shots from Max Gawn and a booming late kick from Clayton Oliver which was touched on the line cost them after they mostly controlled the final term.

That the Blues were able to get past Melbourne without any impact from Curnow will trouble preliminary final opponents Brisbane, but the Blues will sweat on scans of Docherty’s shoulder and pray the vice-captain can continue to push on into September.

The Blues celebrate. Picture: Getty Images

UNEXPECTED EFFICIENCY

Melbourne struggled in the territory battle, coughing up nine more forward entries to Carlton, but the real surprise was how dangerous the Demons’ forwards looked every time they were given an opportunity.

They found their first through an unconventional source when Ed Langdon soccered a bouncing ball out of mid-air, while Joel Smith caused headaches for Jacob Weitering and co with his ability to burst through to the front of packs, booting two first half goals.

When Christian Petracca played on by stuttering forward after marking, but still managed to slot a goal off one step from deep in the pocket, it looked like the Demons were firing on all cylinders, but they struggled to find easy shots after their three-goal opening salvo.

TOM SETTLES BLUES

Tom De Koning showed tremendous on-field leadership at a crucial moment for the Blues as he snagged back-to-back goals to erase Melbourne’s 19-point lead before quarter time.

He followed strong mark and clever body work to draw a free kick with two calm set shots from reasonable distances to help his side work into the game.

The 24-year-old crashed through packs early and wouldn’t allow May and Lever to settle into their rhythm, but eventually the pair got on top of the young tall as well as Curnow.

SCOREBOARD

DEMONS 3.3, 4.7, 7.11, 9.17 (71)

BLUES 2.2, 5.3, 7.5, 11.7 (73)

BOURKE’S BEST Demons: Viney, May, Pickett, Oliver, Fritsch, Lever. Blues: Walsh, Cripps, De Koning, Cerra, Weitering, Newman.

GOALS Demons: Smith 3, Pickett 2, Fritsch 2, Langdon, Petracca. Blues: De Koning 2, Walsh 2, Motlop 2, Acres 2, Curnow, Kennedy, Owies.

UMPIRES Gianfagna, Meredith, Mollison, Williamson

INJURIES Demons: nil. Blues: Docherty (shoulder).

CROWD 96,412 at the MCG

Originally published as AFL Finals 2023 Melbourne v Carlton: Blues through to preliminary final