Carlton confirm Pittonet’s return for AFL final against Swans

Carlton coach Michael Voss has confirmed ruckman Marc Pittonet will return for the first elimination final against Sydney at the MCG on Friday night.

On the cusp of their first final in over 10 years, the Blues are set to roll the dice and play a taller line-up, despite rain expected fall heavily in Melbourne over the next few days.

Pittonet will partner Tom De Koning in the ruck, which will allow tall forward Harry McKay to spend the entire match alongside Coleman Medal winner Charlie Curnow.

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The Blues, who will make their first appearance in September since 2013, are a $1.49 favourite with online bookmakers to win the clash, with the resurgent Swans outsiders at $2.57. Ladbrokes Australia has set the line set at 12.5 points.

After an slow start to the season that raised questions about his position, Carlton coach Michael Voss is now looking at those early challenges as fuel to ignite his team’s competitive fire.

The picture wasn’t always rosy for the Blues. Between Rounds five and 13, they could only muster a single victory. However, things took a positive turn as they went on a nine-match winning streak, including wins over premiership fancies like Collingwood and Melbourne.

“That’s been spoken about a fair bit, the journey we’ve been on… it’s part of the evolution as a team,” Voss said.

“Finals put tension on your system, and we’re looking forward to being under that tension.”

Meanwhile, Blues wingman Blake Acres has been declared fit for the Swans clash, further strengthening the squad.

Voss is making only minor adjustments for the anticipated wet and cold conditions. With Pittonet’s return after his absence during the Round 24 loss to GWS

“We‘re going to play out two rucks. Pitto comes in and obviously working with Tom we feel like that’s been a real strength of ours throughout this year and they bounce off each other really well,” Voss said.

“They’re obviously pretty good at their own individual roles. But we feel like we lean into our strengths so that I guess that means that you know Harry gets to spend a little bit more time forward partnering up with Charlie.”

Despite the buzz around Carlton’s return to the finals, Voss advised his players, including first-timers like captain Patrick Cripps, to enjoy the excitement but remain laser-focused on the task ahead.

“It becomes more about the task than necessarily the occasion now,” Voss concluded.

The Swans, much like Carlton, were seemingly down and out in 2023, but managed to reel off six successive wins, before a final round loss to Melbourne, saw them finish eighth.

The Blues vs Swans AFL finals clash is due to kick off at 7.50pm at the MCG on Friday night.

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