The Western Bulldogs have out-scrapped Carlton, pulling clear in the last quarter for a 17-point AFL win.
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Final score
Carlton Blues 7.7.49
Western Bulldogs 10.6.66
The Carlton Blues are destined to pick up the wooden spoon but will still be out to finish the season on a high note when they take on the Western Bulldogs. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:10pm (AEST).
It’s been another hellish season for the Blues. From their 21 games, they have won just two and are anchored to the bottom of the AFL ladder.
The Blues have been somewhat competitive when taking on other struggling teams this year, although putting in complete four-quarter efforts has often been beyond them.
There is no greater example than last week when they had a horrific quarter, letting in seven goals to nothing, allowing the Fremantle Dockers to run away with a big win.
That will be the element letting them down as they take on the Bulldogs, who themselves have been inconsistent.
Any chance they had of pushing for the finals was ended with four straight drubbings where their attack was simply woeful.
While the club were playing difficult opposition, scoring just 46 and 34 points in consecutive weeks against the West Coast Eagles and Port Adelaide Power was the icing on the cake of a dismal run.
They have bounced back somewhat, picking up a pair of wins in the last fortnight.
That includes a good quality one in a close affair against the North Melbourne Kangaroos last week. Their attack is starting to get going again and if they turn up, the forward line could have a field day with any persistence against the poor Blues defence.
At this point of the season though, with their inconsistency, it’s tough to see them putting in a complete performance with nothing to play for.
Prediction
I’d expect the Bulldogs to take the win here, but it’ll hardly be a walk in the park given their inconsistent form.
Bulldogs by 11 points.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 1:10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Steve009
Roar Rookie
Dissipointed in the last quarter, but there were signs today of how the blues team is taking shape. They maybe years away, but they are putting together some really good pieces to build around that should be at the club for another decade.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Was hoping the Blues could win that one, would've been good for them.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this afternoon on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 AFL season. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Right now, it's time to join Ryan Buckland with the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne Demons, and in just over an hour, Sarah Wildy will be on with Adelaide and North Melbourne. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on that Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Western Bulldogs have got the better of the Carlton Blues by 17 points on Sunday afternoon. A pretty scrappy affair generally with neither team anywhere near the top eight, but the Bulldogs kicked four straight goals during the fourth quarter to skip away with the result. The first three quarters were back and forth, with the Blues right in it, but they just couldn't stick with them in the fourth. Marcus Bontempelli among the Bulldogs best with 37 disposals, while Josh Hunter, Josh Dunkley and Jack Macrare also had more than 30. Kade Simpson led the way with 35 for the Blues. In the end, there wasn't a great deal in it. Neither team were able to kick straight or hang onto possession, but after defending well during the first half, the Blues defence fell to bits in the final. Blues 7.7 (49) Bulldogs 10.6 (66)
Wayne Kerr
Guest
Putrid Apathetic Turgid Horrendous Excruciating Tragic Insipid Caustic
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' - BEHIND BULLDOGS That should be the final scoring shot of the game really. Fergus Greene with a free kick about 45 out and he misses to the left. Blues 7.7 (49) Bulldogs 10.6 (66)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' - GOAL BLUES, JACK SILVAGNI Silvagni kicks a consolation goal for the Blues here Blues 7.7 (49) Bulldogs 10.5 (65)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' - BEHIND BULLDOGS Toby McLean with a shot at goal from the boundary here. He hits the post. Blues 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 10.5 (65)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Bontempelli with some nice work at the half back line to evade a few tackles, but his pass only finds Rowe. He goes across to Simpson and the Blues will try to find some space to work it up the ground. Back to the middle though and things break down again. Blues 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 10.4 (64)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' - GOAL BULLDOGS, JASON JOHANNISEN That'll do it. Four straight goals for the Bulldogs and this time the Blues defence has completely broken down. Hunter and Bontempelli involved up field before Macrae puts it into the path of Johannisen who slots it through the middle under approximately zero pressure. Blues 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 10.4 (64)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' The Blues playing with serious width here. Curnow tracks it down, but is then tackled by Bontempelli before Hunter kicks it long and forward. Scrappy stuff, then the ball is over the boundary at half forward. Blues 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 9.4 (58)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Some real emotion in this game at the moment.Anyway, Trengrove with a shot at goal and it misses well off to the right. Blues 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 9.4 (58)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' This game is just starting to spill over a bit now. Free kick for Carlton from the exit kick at the half back line, but there was more push and shove there with Richards running involved to get involved. Blues 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 9.4 (58)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 9' - GOAL BULLDOGS, LIN JONG The 50-metre penalty brings the Bulldogs forward to within 25 metres of the goals and there is no way Jong will miss from there. Blues 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 9.4 (58)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 9' Into the final ten minutes of this game. Free kick for Lin Jong about 65 metres out this time, but there is a 50-metre penalty and now there is plenty of push and shove off the ball. This is just ugly. Stupid. Blues 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 8.4 (52)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 10' - GOAL BULLDOGS, JOSH SCHACHE The 'Dogs with some nice work up the right side of the ground now and some space allows a long kick to fire inside 50. Schache and Jong were both there, with the ball clearing them, but there was contact on Schache and he wins the free kick about 45 out, just to the right. He will have the shot at that's good. Blues 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 8.4 (52)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 11' - BEHIND BLUES McKay with a pretty tough shot and he makes it look that way as well, running around on the angle and putting it through for a point to the near side. Blues 6.7 (43) Bulldogs 7.4 (46)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 11' The Blues manage to get it away out of the square this time. Silvagni chips it forward, but Daniel is there with a great bit of work... Or not, free kick called for the Blues about 60 metres out. He goes short to the pocket and McKay takes a huge mark at the forward pocket. Blues 6.6 (42) Bulldogs 7.4 (46)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 12' - GOAL BULLDOGS, FERGUS GREENE Well, well, well. It's scrappy at best, it's not pretty at all, but the Bulldogs have got it back to their forward line and a nice little chip to Greene on the lead will see him have a set shot on goal from about 25 out, just to the left. This is through and the Bulldogs have the lead once more. Blues 6.6 (42) Bulldogs 7.4 (46)