Carlton fairytale continues, next up Brisbane in the prelim

September 16, 2023 1:03 pm.by Staff Writer

Patrick Cripps played a huge roll in the Blues semi-final win over Melbourne. — Patrick Cripps played a strong game against Melbourne in the Blues semi-final win on Friday night.

Carlton has staged a remarkable come-from-behind victory to defeat Melbourne in an AFL semi-final on Friday night.

The Blues will now clash with Brisbane in the preliminary final at the Gabba on Saturday night, where they will attempt to cause another boil-over.

Brisbane has been installed a $1.40 favourite with online bookmakers to win this clash, with the Blues priced at $2.90 to continue their remarkable run.

Carlton, after a shaky start to the season with just four wins out of 13 rounds, will now play in their first final since the year 2000.

The dramatic recovery of Carlton this season was on full display when they clinched a heart-stopping victory over the Demons by two points, witnessed by a roaring crowd of 96,412.

This victory saw Melbourne facing another consecutive straight-sets exit, with the final score being 11.7 (73) to 9.17 (71).

Despite Melbourne having a seemingly secure position well into the fourth quarter, Carlton turned the tables with Jesse Motlop netting a crucial goal. Then, continuing his streak from the previous week, Blake Acres scored the decisive winner for Carlton, securing it with just 56 seconds left on the clock.

Recollecting the earlier challenges of the season, Carlton’s journey seemed almost over after a stinging defeat to Essendon that put them at a 4-1-8 record. However, the tide changed for Michael Voss’ team, winning 11 of their last 12 matches, now propelling them into at least three finals this month.

While Carlton gears up to face Brisbane Lions at the Gabba with a spot in the AFL Grand Final on the line, Melbourne, unfortunately, earns the dubious distinction of being the first team to face consecutive losses in both the qualifying final and semi-final in two successive seasons.

The bitter end for Melbourne came after a promising start in the final quarter. The closing moments, filled with missed opportunities, left many of their fans emotional at the conclusion of the match.

Star performances included Sam Walsh, the 2018 No. 1 draft pick, who dazzled with 34 disposals, 11 contested possessions, eight tackles, two goals, and a massive 618 metres gained.

On the defensive end, Steven May demonstrated his All-Australian skills by limiting Charlie Curnow to a single goal while securing 22 disposals, 11 intercepts, and seven marks for himself.

The beginning of the match saw Melbourne get a quick start with the game’s first three goals. Carlton’s response came through dual goals from Tom De Koning, including a sublime effort from Walsh during the second quarter.

The final quarter witnessed Melbourne’s forward line causing significant challenges for Carlton. However, it was the missed shots that will linger in the minds of Melbourne’s players and fans alike.

Voss will now attempt to stage another upset against the club he made his name with and at the stadium that used to cheer him the loudest.

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