The struggling Western Bulldogs have notched a much-needed AFL win, edging Carlton by 20 points in a scrappy MCG contest.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Carlton Blues 9.8.62
Western Bulldogs 12.10.82
The Western Bulldogs are looking to keep their season alive when they take on the Carlton Blues in the midst of a losing streak. Catch all the live scores, highlights and action on The Roar from 3:20pm (AEST).
The Dogs title defence continues to slip through the middle of the season, leaving them teetering on the edge of the finals race in 11th place.
While still only a couple of wins off the top eight, their recent form says that they are still a long, long way off making a deep run into September footy.
They have lost six of their last eight games and tumbled down the ladder, including a mammoth 59-point defeat at the hands of the Crows last week where they could only manage to sink five goals across the four quarters.
For the Blues, their loss against the Demons last week was a painful blow, going down by just eight points and leaving them well out of finals contention in third last on the ladder.
That was Carlton’s third loss on the trot, leaving them on par with the Bulldogs with six defeats from their least eight games.
Carlton and the Dogs have both struggled up front this year with the Blues, in particular, sitting last in the league in points scored, averaging just 73 per game.
The Dogs aren’t too much better in third last for points scored.
This is the first meeting between these two sides this season with the Bulldogs winning the last two encounters and five of the last seven.
Team News
Carlton has a few key injuries coming out of their clash with the Demons, including a broken leg for young gun Patrick Cripps which rules him out for the season. Simon White will miss this week at least after also coming up short last week and is awaiting scans on his knee.
David Cunningham will miss out with a hip injury, joining Ciaran Sheehan and Hamish Macreadie who have both been omitted.
In lighter news for the Blues, Irishman Ciaran Byrne will finally take to the park for the first time in over a year after the 22-year-old finally recovered from a ruptured ACL from Round 15 last year.
Alex Silvagni returns from a knee injury while Dylan Buckley will play his first game in the AFL this year alongside Blaine Boekhorst and Nick Graham as additions to the line-up.
For the Dogs, skipper Bob Murphy returns to the side after a brief injury layoff, joining 18-year-old Lewis Young in the side making his AFL debut.
Shane Biggs and Bailey Williams also make their way into the side.
Matthew Boyd has been ruled out with an achilles injury and Easton Wood will serve the first week of his suspension.
The final two omissions come purely off the back of form and sees premiership-winning players Clay Smith and Fletcher Roberts both out of the side.
Prediction
It’s difficult to see either side winning this one, such has been the form of the two.
The Bulldogs are defending premiers and still in the finals race, but the Blues have been fighting hard as of late, losing in tight battles against much better sides so they could even be the form side of the two heading into this one.
The Dogs need this win though and it will be a season-defining contest, win or lose. A contest they will surely show up for with their season reeling.
Bulldogs to win by 9
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report FULLTIME The final siren sounds and the Bulldogs come away 20-point winners against the Blues who continue to fall closer and closer to the bottom of the ladder. A key win for the Dogs to keep their season ticking and their finals hopes alive. Five goals each in the second half, but five goals to one in the second quarter was enough to separate the Dogs from Carlton. Bryce Gibbs led the way for touches with 32 disposals for the game, while Matthew Wright hit three goals for the Blues to lead that tally. Carlton 9.8 (62) Bulldogs 12.10 (82)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL CARLTON!! Well that was a goal and a half, but absolutely no celebration. It's the definition of a consolation goal. From a very tight angle on the left boundary line, Matt Wright curls it in off the outside of the boot, sneaking past the post and through for a goal. Carlton 9.8 (62) Bulldogs 12.10 (82)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL CARLTON!! Well that was a goal and a half, but absolutely no celebration. It's the definition of a consolation goal. From a very tight angle on the left boundary line, Matt Wright curls it in off the outside of the boot, sneaking past the post and through for a goal. Carlton 9.8 (62) Bulldogs 12.10 (82)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Bulldogs winding down the clock on every mark, they have this one wrapped up in the dying moments. Carlton 8.8 (56) Bulldogs 12.10 (82)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL BULLDOGS!! That looks to be the game for the Dogs with under 3 minutes left on the clock. Bailey Dale hits his second goal of the day. It was a little wobbly off the boot but it was straight enough to come off in the end. Carlton 8.8 (56) Bulldogs 12.10 (82)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Levi Casboult marks just 10 metres from goal!! Huge chance here to reduce the gap... BUT HE HITS THE POST!! Oh can you believe it that's a huge miss!! Time running out, they needed that one but he's hooked it from 10 metres away and hit the post. Carlton 8.8 (56) Bulldogs 11.10 (76)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Missed chance on goal and it's a bad miss too. Jacob Weitering wins the free and has a real chance on goal from 35 metres out but he slices it terribly, just sneaking through for a behind in the end. Carlton 8.7 (55) Bulldogs 11.10 (76)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL CARLTON!! Just as I say, the Blues bag six points!! Murphy in open space down the right boundary line, fires into the goal square for Matt Wright who happily pouches that one, sending it through the middle gate from barely 4 metres out. Carlton 8.6 (54) Bulldogs 11.10 (76)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' A lot of the same scrappy play from the third quarter that saw neither side score a goal for 10 minutes. This is messy but the Blues are opening them up. Carlton 7.6 (48) Bulldogs 11.10 (76)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Kade Simpson lining up a set shot from long range... oh but he's made a mess of that one, coming out wide and completely shanking it. The ball falls wide and short before dribbling over the boundary line for a throw in. Carlton 7.6 (48) Bulldogs 11.10 (76)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Carlton switching play across the boundary line... but they slip up and the Dogs swarm trying to snake the turnover in dangerous position. Carlton 7.6 (48) Bulldogs 11.10 (76)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL BULLDOGS!! The Dogs waste no time in hitting straight back!! Johannesen missed out earlier in the term but he doesn't miss his chance this time from 40 metres out and right in front. Carlton 7.6 (48) Bulldogs 11.10 (76)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL CARLTON!! Key goal for Carlton but still a long way to go. Charlie Curnow doubles up on his personal tally and reduces the lead a touch. Superb finish on the set shot, sending it high, long and, most importantly, straight through the middle. Carlton 7.6 (48) Bulldogs 10.10 (70)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Scrappy from both sides out on the boundary line, struggling to clear out of traffic but the Dogs are able to push ahead towards forward 50. Johannesen shoots from 50 out into an empty goal but just skids through for another behind. Carlton 6.6 (42) Bulldogs 10.10 (70)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' McLean with a chance to kick another this afternoon and inside the openig 45 seconds of the final quarter. Walks in on the set shot from 40 out, hits it well... but it just tails away late and can only get the behind for it. Carlton 6.6 (42) Bulldogs 10.9 (69)
Connor Bennett
Editor
FINAL QUARTER Last term coming up, the Blues trail by 26 and struggling to find any momentum so far this afternoon. Carlton 6.6 (42) Bulldogs 10.8 (68)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
THREE QUARTER TIME Just as it looked as though the Blues were going to fly back into this contest with a few goals, the Dogs shot back with back to back goals inside the final 90 seconds to take a 26-point lead into the final break. Carlton 6.6 (42) Bulldogs 10.8 (68)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q3' GOAL BULLDOGS!! Another one for the Dogs inside the final minute and these are killing the Blues chances of a comeback. McLean has his second of the day with a simple set shot from 15 metres out on the left edge. Carlton 6.6 (42) Bulldogs 10.8 (68)