In a decisive match, Carlton triumphed over West Coast with a score of 12.4 (86) to 7.10 (52), marking their fifth victory against the Eagles in three seasons. The win gave Carlton a much-needed boost in their finals aspirations, although the result was not without its setbacks; star forward Charlie Curnow was substituted in the second quarter due to calf tightness.
Curnow expressed optimism about his condition post-match, mentioning he felt “fine” and was hopeful the issue wouldn’t keep him out of action, especially with fellow forward Harry McKay also sidelined with a knee injury. Carlton established a strong 39-point lead by the end of the first quarter, and although they didn’t need to exert much offensive pressure in the second half, their victory was overshadowed by caution regarding Curnow’s fitness.
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter was vocal about his team’s “pathetic” start after the first quarter, prompting a better performance as the game progressed. However, they faced their own injury concerns when captain Oscar Allen suffered a potentially serious leg injury in the fourth quarter. McQualter remains hopeful that Allen’s injury is not severe, but it complicates Allen’s uncertain future, as he is out of contract and has been linked to a move to Brisbane.
Another young prospect for West Coast, Harley Reid, could face scrutiny from the MRO after a late elbow incident involving Carlton’s Lachie Fogarty. Meanwhile, Tom McCarthy, recently drafted by the Eagles, made a significant impact by setting the record for the most disposals by a West Coast player on debut, achieving 31 disposals and showing promise as a key player moving forward.
For Carlton, George Hewett led the match with 35 disposals, alongside Lachie Fogarty and Mitch McGovern, who each contributed three goals. The final moments of the game saw a waning intensity, as both teams faced injuries, with Carlton’s Hudson O’Keeffe and West Coast’s Harry Edwards both suffering hamstring issues.
As West Coast heads into their bye week, they sit two games behind the lowest-placed team, while Carlton prepares for a challenging match against North Melbourne at the MCG, hoping to maintain their newfound momentum amid their injury concerns.