Carlton’s AFL finals hopes are all but extinguished after a 28-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Given a massive opportunity to bridge the gap to the top eight after eighth-placed Port Adelaide’s loss to Geelong earlier, the Blues couldn’t capitalise.
They were jumped early by an excellent Bulldogs outfit, then ran out of fit bodies as they tried to mount a second-half rearguard action – losing 16.21 (117) to 13.11 (89).
Bulldogs forward Jarrad Grant was best afield, booting four goals and gathering 24 possessions.
Now Carlton can only make the finals if they win their remaining three matches, and Port Adelaide and the other teams in contention fall in a massive hole.
That would appear hugely unlikely.
This was the Blues’ big chance, and a slow start as the Bulldogs played clean, crisp football put them on the backfoot.
Only the Dogs’ wasteful first quarter kicking for goal kept Carlton from being blown away, trailing by five points at quarter-time.
The Bulldogs found their range and radar in the second term, and consecutive goals to Luke Dahlhaus, Grant, Tory Dickson and Liam Jones midway through the quarter pushed their lead out to 28 points.
But the Blues fought back to trail by 15 points at halftime.
With Chris Judd and Brock McLean prominent, Carlton then launched at the Bulldogs.
A nerveless set shot to Dennis Armfield, followed by a goal to Chris Yarran at the 31-minute mark of a marathon third quarter, levelled the scores.
The Dogs still went to the final break six points ahead after Daniel Giansiracusa booted a late goal to set up a grandstand finish.
Down on numbers after defender Matthew Watson was subbed before halftime with an ankle problem and third quarter injuries to Judd and Jeff Garlett reduced them to one fit bench player, the Blues’ charge eventually ran out of steam.
Grant booted his fourth early in the term, and the match was sealed with Adam Cooney slotted a curling goal on the run to make the lead unassailable.
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