AFL news 2024: Can Carlton still make finals? The way for Blues to take part in September

Sunday’s loss all but slammed the door on Carlton’s season, but a late-night reprieve from the Western Bulldogs has kept the door ajar — just. Here’s how the Blues can still make it.

Matthew Forrest

@mattforrest29

less than 2 min read

August 12, 2024 - 6:15AM

News Sport Network

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 11: Patrick Cripps of the Blues (centre) looks dejected after a loss during the 2024 AFL Round 22 match between the Carlton Blues and the Hawthorn Hawks at The Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 11, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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It seems a lifetime ago that the Blues were comfortably second on the ladder.

In reality, it was four weeks ago.

The Carlton free fall is not over yet, and could well be arrested before the year is out, but with the injuries mounting and the Blues in desperate need for a confidence-boosting win.

And even that is no guarantee with West Coast in Perth on the horizon, with the Eagles fresh off back-to-back wins for just the second time since early 2021.

While Carlton is outside of the eight, it is just by percentage, and with games against West Coast and St Kilda to round out the season, the injury-hit Blues could still make finals.

The Western Bulldogs did them a favour on Sunday afternoon, dropping the game against Adelaide, meaning the Blues are in touch with three teams in the top eight.

Patrick Cripps of the Blues looks dejected after Sunday’s loss to Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

WHAT CARLTON NEEDS

Carlton needs to win its last two games.

It’s not as simple as that, of course, now behind on percentage to both Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs, and two points behind Fremantle.

The Dockers’ position inside the top eight is likely the most precarious, with a trip to Sydney to face the Giants and then a game at home against Port Adelaide to come.

If Fremantle drops either game, and Carlton wins its two games, the Blues will jump the Dockers due to their draw with Collingwood.

The Western Bulldogs also opened the door for Carlton on Sunday when they suffered a surprise loss to Adelaide.

The Dogs’ percentage is still very healthy, but they are tied on points with Hawthorn and Carlton now, instead of being a game clear of the drop.

With North Melbourne next week, and then the Giants in Ballarat to finish the season, the Western Bulldogs now face the prospect of potentially missing out if they drop either game.

Hawthorn faces Richmond and North Melbourne in the final two rounds, and will enter both games as heavy favourites.

The Hawks are just 1.1 per cent ahead of Carlton, so the Blues would need to win heavily against the Eagles or the Saints to overtake the Hawks, unless the Roos or Tigers pull off an upset.