AFL: Carlton Blues defeat Fremantle Dockers with Jock Newnes goal after the siren

Jack Newnes kicked a goal after the siren to keep Carlton’s season alive, with the Blues coming from behind to notch a thrilling four-point win over the Dockers.

Jack Newnes of the Blues scores a goal after the siren to win the match during the 2020 AFL round-12 match between the Fremantle Dockers and Carlton at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Saturday. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Jack Newnes kicked a magnificent set-shot goal after the siren to keep Carlton’s season alive, with the Blues coming from behind to notch a thrilling four-point win at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday night.

The Blues trailed behind the Fremantle Dockers almost the entire match and were wasteful in the closing stages but would not be denied, winning 5.10 (40) to 5.6 (36).

Harry McKay and Liam Jones both missed set shots in the final two minutes as Carlton surged time and again, and the Dockers looked to have the game sealed when they cleared defensive 50 with less than a minute to play.

But a controversial down-field free kick was paid against Docker Andrew Brayshaw after Sam Docherty kicked the ball out on the full, resulting in Newnes’ opportunity to win the match.

The former Saint delivered, hitting the ball perfectly from 45m out on the boundary as the Blues celebrated what was the only goal of a thrilling final term.

Midfielder Ed Curnow was superb for the winners with 33 possessions and nine clearances, with the Blues’ on-ball brigade running deep to put the team in a position to strike.

The biggest issue in back-to-back losses for Carlton has been their inability to stop a run of opposition goals.

On Saturday it looked like the Dockers would continue the trend when they moved 19 points clear with their third straight goal in the opening term. But midfielders Ed Curnow, Marc Murphy and Sam Walsh stepped up to support captain Patrick Cripps and halt the Dockers’ impetus.

All four had five contested possessions for the quarter as the Blues won the overall count 40-32 for the term. They also combined for nine clearances as the Blues won that indicator 11-10.

It was the key to the momentum shift and the Blues would have been thrilled to see Cripps playing a support role while Curnow and Murphy took the lead.

A loss for Carlton would have been devastating, with the Blues the better team for three quarters.

Missed opportunities threatened to see their season end in devastating fashion.

But the Dockers’ inability to get the ball forward with any purpose meant the game was alive until the death.

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