AFL Fremantle v Carlton: All the news, fallout and highlights from MCG

The wasteful Dockers had all the momentum entering the final quarter but the Blues held firm in a tremendous sign of growth.

Carlton produced one of its best performances of the season on Saturday night, fending off a wasteful Fremantle outfit to run out 16-point winners.

Surrendering the lead for the first time early in the fourth quarter, Carlton stemmed the flow in a desperate final term, with a right foot snap from Sam Walsh icing the game 24 minutes into the final term.

The classy finish capped off the latest brilliant performance from the young star, finishing with 25 disposals and eight clearances despite close attention from Caleb Serong throughout.

It was a scintillating start for the Blues, who kicked the first five goals of the game before Fremantle began to dominate around the contest behind the silver service of gun ruckman Sean Darcy.

Fremantle kicked the final three goals of the third quarter and led the scoring shot count 23-13 through three quarters as they ultimately were left to rue wasteful kicking in front of goal.

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Sam Walsh celebrates after kicking the sealer. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The resilient fourth quarter performance from Carlton looked unlikely at three quarter time, as Fremantle dominated the scoring shots 23 to 13. Unable to capitalise on periods of dominance throughout the season, the fourth quarter fight back was a significant moment of growth for a Blues team looking to build momentum in the back half of the season.

Another three goals from Harry McKay, the continued emergence of Paddy Dow and a tough performance from a hobbled Patrick Cripps left the small but boisterous Carlton faithful delighted by the final siren.

With the game moved from Western Australia due to COVID outbreaks across the country, the Dockers will be left to lament wasting a golden opportunity to stamp their finals credentials.

FYFE TESTED ON RETURN

Missing the previous two games with a shoulder injury, the Blues wasted no time in testing out the Fremantle star. First, Liam Stocker laid a bone crunching tackle on Fyfe in the Dockers forward 50 before Sam Walsh buried the star to be awarded a holding the ball decision minutes later.

Would you please welcome to the stage, Sam Walsh 👏#AFLFreoBluespic.twitter.com/3Wd76YzvPD

— AFL (@AFL) July 3, 2021

CRIPPS GIVES BLUES SCARE

The only sour point of a dominant first term came in the dying minutes with an attempted snap from top of the goal square from Patrick Cripps resulting in the Carlton star kicking the leg of Brandon Walker. Cripps immediately fell to the ground holding his leg. He limped to the bench and immediately went down the race.

Much to the relief of Blues fans, Cripps would return from the race during the quarter time break, playing out the game despite appearing hobbled the stretches through the game.

Patrick Cripps left the ground with a foot injury in the first term. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

He returned and battled on to play out the game. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

MCKAY SNAPS A BEAUTY

Harry McKay has been known to snap around the corner on his left foot rather than kick a traditional drop punt. He took his drop punt hesitance to the next level early in the third quarter when he casually walked straight at goal before kicking a banana from 35 metres out and 15 meters inside the boundary line to give the Blues an 18-point lead. Unconventional but effective, McKay and the Blues will live with those results.

DOCKERS 0.4 4.8 8.15 8.16 (64)

BLUES 4.2 7.2 10.3 12.8 (80)

PITMAN’S BEST

DOCKERS Darcy, Brayshaw, Cerra, Fyfe, Ryan, Mundy

BLUES Walsh, Cripps, Dow, Newman, Betts, McKay, Kennedy

GOALS

DOCKERS Brayshaw 2, Darcy, Henry, Lobb, Switkowski, Treacy, Walters

BLUES McKay 3, Betts 2, Silvagni 2, De Koning, Dow, Kennedy, Owies, Walsh

INJURIES

UMPIRES O’Gorman, Williamson, Glouftsis

VENUE MCG

CROWD 12,103

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

PITMAN’S VOTES

3 Sam Walsh

2 Sean Darcy

1 Patrick Cripps