For the last two seasons under Michael Voss, Carlton’s second-half fadeouts became as predictable as the sun rising from the east and setting in the west.
While it was most obvious when Carlton lost after leading at halftime, the issue was also present in their losses.
From Round 19 in 2024, when the Bluebaggers overcame an 11-point deficit to win by 19 against North Melbourne, Carlton had only trailed at the main break on 15 occasions before Voss left the club.
In those 15 matches, Carlton did not pick up any premiership points.
But under interim coach Josh Fraser, it’s been a completely different reality.
In the four games he’s been in charge, the Blues have trailed at the main break in three matches.
Yet on each occasion, Carlton has chased those deficits down with Sunday night’s win against Essendon being the latest as the Blues turn a 14-point deficit into a five-point win.
It’s another step in the right direction for a club that is oozing with momentum, with only Fremantle having a longer win streak in the competition.
And with Fraser’s perfect win-loss record intact for another week, a Wildcard spot is now within reach.
Nicholas Quinlan
Don’t rule out the Lions too soon
This season has been far from smooth sailing for Chris Fagan’s Lions.
But you can never truly rule them out of contention, and Saturday’s Q-Clash showed us why.
A five-goal win over the Suns in the Gold Coast was a reminder of just how good the Lions are when playing at their best.
Anchored by an elite midfield performance from Lachie Neale, Brisbane dominated against the Suns’ stacked midfield, finishing +10 in the clearance count for +22 inside 50’s.
Logan Morris was the beneficiary, booting seven goals from 11 scoring shots to revive his slow start to the year.
Still sat in eighth place with other results still pending, the Lions still have plenty of work to do, and their game is far from settled as we’ve seen in weeks past.
However, it’s worth the reminder that in 2024, this Lions side sat in 13th place with just five wins.
They’ve done it before, they can do it again. Don’t lose faith too soon.
Jaiden Sciberras
From written off to red hot!
Many pundits had written the Dogs’ season off during their horror patch, riddled with injuries, from Round 5 to Round 8, but things can turn very quickly in the AFL world.
Now, the Dogs are well and truly back, winning their last three games and are looking in good stead to make the finals from here, currently sitting at fifth on the ladder with a record of eight wins and five losses.
The six-point victory against the Hawks on Friday night was an incredible display of guts and determination from the Dogs, as they were looking down the barrel at halftime after the Hawks kicked away late in the second term, but managed to pull off a thrilling comeback, clipping the Hawks’ wings.
However, inaccuracy was what pestered Hawthorn all night, with multiple shots going out on the full and a total of 17 behinds from their 71-point score (9.17). If the Hawks had their shooting boots on, then this conversation about the in-form Dogs may not be happening.
But the major talking point out of the match is that the Dogs’ will to win in closely contested games is unmatched. This is now their sixth victory of the season by six points or less, signalling to any opposition team that the Dogs are not a side you want to be fighting tooth and nail against, late in a tight game.
Nick Watson against Michael Sellwood was a spectacle for all fans as well throughout the night, with the pair regularly starting fights between each other, and even causing a team-on-team biff at the end of the first quarter.
Cody Weightman also worked through his first game back since the Dogs’ elimination final in 2024, collecting 11 disposals and managing to get through his return-game injury free.
The Dogs’ next game is a Thursday night battle at Marvel against the Crows. If they go on to win that matchup, then September should firmly be on the radar for the Dogs.
Connor Scanlon