AdvertisementRoy Ward and Russell BennettUpdated September 4, 2026 — 6:40pm,first published 6:17pm
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Cats, Blues ponder tagging calls for elimination finalDavies backs Blues staff despite no list managerLast time they metFrom fearful to fearsome: Why the Blues are no longer spooked by pressureWatch: Members flock to MCG
In Sam Walsh and Jagga Smith, Carlton have two hard-running midfield dynamos capable of tearing their AFL elimination final apart.
But Geelong have an equally-athletic Irishman in Oisin Mullin ready to shut one of them down.
It’s just a matter of who.
Whatever lever Cats coach Chris Scott chooses to pull, Blues counterpart Josh Fraser believes his midfield can handle the heat at the MCG on Friday night.
Carlton football boss Chris Davies is confident the Blues have the experience in their front office to handle this year’s free agency and draft periods without a new list manager.
The Blues parted ways with Nick Austin in May and have yet to lock in a full-time replacement.
But both Davies (during his Port Adelaide years) and Blues chief executive Graham Wright (during his Hawthorn and Collingwood years) have formerly worked in list management so will contribute to this year’s work.
New coach Josh Fraser also said during the week that he will contribute his views where he can as they look to improve their list.
For a long time, Carlton’s enormous supporter base appeared to be as much a burden as a source of strength.
Its passion came attached to expectation. When games began to turn, the Blues often seemed to feel the consequences of losing before the result had been decided. The noise became heavier, the football tighter and the fear of another disappointment difficult to escape.
Under Josh Fraser, that relationship has changed.
Carlton are no longer shrinking from the emotion surrounding the club. They are leaning into it, turning pressure into energy rather than treating it as something to fear.
The MCC stand will be filled tonight judging by the pregame lines with members filing back towards the middle of Yarra Park.
Just before gates opened at 5pm, the lines snaked well back into the distance as keen MCC members turned up early to reserve the best seats.
But observers at the stadium told this masthead that the lines were almost empty again within 20 minutes, although we can expect they will fill up again throughout the pre-game, given a crowd of more than 90,000 fans is expected.
G’day everyone and welcome to our AFL live blog. I’m Roy Ward and I’ll be taking you through tonight’s elimination final between Geelong and Carlton at the MCG.
It’s hard to believe that one of these sides will bow out tonight given how much they have been in the spotlight in 2026, but that is the nature of finals.
First bounce is set for 7.40pm AEST.
Enjoy the game to come.
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