Red-hot Carlton’s ridiculous rise under Josh Fraser has soared to stunning new heights, thumping flag favourites Fremantle in its biggest statement yet.
In coach Josh Fraser’s first official match in charge, the Blues conceded the first four goals of the game to the Dockers then produced an almighty blitz to stun a flat Freo by 37 points, 18.11 (119) to 12.10 (82), at Marvel Stadium.
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“When you review this season, it is one of the more remarkable things: 1-8, the coach (Michael Voss) decides his time’s up – and now at the end of the home and away season, there’s no team – maybe Brisbane – that are in better nick than this team,” Melbourne legend Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
“It is incredible what’s going on.
“You don’t want to play this team. Not when they’re like this. It’s irrepressible at the moment.”
Sam Walsh was immense with 32 disposals, eight score involvements and a goal, while Rising Star favourite Jagga Smith (31 disposals) was also busy at stoppages. Francis Evans (five goals) surpassed 20 goals for the season— the sixth Blue to do so in 2026.
THE 3-2-1 …
3. ‘ROLLERCOASTER OF ROLLER-COASTERS’: BLUES’ STUNNING RISE HITS NEW HIGH AS FREO EXPOSED
From 1-8 to storming into a wildcard spot off the back of the most remarkable rise by any team so far this season.
“That completes the rollercoaster of roller-coasters,” Melbourne legend Garry Lyon said of Carlton on Fox Footy after the siren. “It is hard to imagine.”
Fremantle burst out of the blocks, but once the Blues got going, they never relented, dominating contested possession and clearance.
And while the Dockers were without a few stars, they were challenged by Carlton’s ball movement.
“They haven’t overused the ball … I’ve just loved the way they’ve played,” Lyon said. “They understand where their advantage is and they’re not afraid to build the ball up, use a little bit of composure and really reluctant to go down the line to a contest.
“It forces Fremantle to defend the whole ground, which is fatiguing in a way. Then they get to a point where they’re happy to go forward.
“This has been a part of the game where Fremantle have really found trouble defending.
“They just look so sharp, so much on the same page and they just have this confidence.”
The stakes were low for Fremantle with top spot already tied up, but Carlton dominated all facets and put 119 points on the board — the most points conceded by the Dockers so far this season.
While the Dockers kicked the first four goals of the game, the Blues needed up scoring nine times from 10 inside 50s in the first quarter, proving how the Dockers were now vulnerable behind the ball.
Ex-Hawks sharpshooter Ben Dixon lamented the “worrying signs” defensively for Freo.
“We know Adelaide won the minor premiership last year and went out in straight sets. I’m not suggesting that (will happen to Freo), but it’d be an exhausting season being the front-runner,” Dixon said.
Garry Lyon added: “When you’re sitting there out in front for so long, there’s nowhere to hide. Opposition sides go to work on you.
“They’ve been so hard to score against … just the last six to seven weeks it’s become a little easy.”
While there was little to be gained for Fremantle on paper on Saturday, Fox Footy’s Jordan Lewis said there were concerns of the Dockers’ stagnant ball movement against the Blues
“I tend to think it’s not a bad thing to have a bit of a sharpen up pre-finals,” Lewis told Fox Footy.
“I know there’ll be bits to this game they’ll be looking at, but that’s the challenge of leading the pack since Round 11. Playing some good football, you’re not really learning many lessons.
“I think you can use this as a really good point to learn some things and sharpen you up pre-finals.”
2. ‘WANTED TO DIG A HOLE’: EPIC MOMENT THAT SUMMED UP BLUES BLITZ
One act summed up the Blues’ desperation and defensive intent – and Fremantle’s hesitant nature – in the first half.
After a run of Carlton goals, the Dockers seemed destined for a certain goal when Michael Frederick handballed to teammate Patrick Voss near the top of the goalsquare.
But as Voss turned towards an open goal, he stumbled – and was magnificently tackled by a desperate, speedy Blue Ollie Hollands, who was awarded a holding the ball free kick.
It was a moment that typified Carlton’s never-say-die season.
Blues fans and Fox Footy commentators went ballistic.
Hollands’ EPIC Goal-Saving Tackle | 00:37
“It’s the loudest the Blues fans have been all afternoon,” Fox Footy’s Leigh Montagna said.
Garry Lyon added: “That sums up the afternoon right there. The ‘Pony’ gets the ‘Joe the goose’ over the top – and trips over, doesn’t score.”
Jordan Lewis suggested Voss would’ve “wanted to grab a shovel and dig a hole right in front of the Carlton cheersquad”.
“If there was ever a player they would’ve liked that to have happened to, it would’ve been Patty Voss,“ Lewis told Fox Footy.
“But that’s been the hallmark of (the Blues’) game, their pressure, their chase, their tackling. It’s giving them opportunities.”
Despite the Blues coming into the game with a guaranteed wildcard spot, Lyon said the Blues were “playing like their lives depend on it”.
“They’re riding a wave of emotion and momentum and they’re just going to ride it and see where it takes them,” he said.
Lyon pointed out while the Blues were changing direction and playing on at every opportunity, the Dockers had “gone into their shell”.
“If Fremantle are playing for their life, do they (the Blues) take 63 uncontested marks (to half-time)? I don’t know,” Lyon said.
“They haven’t really shown a great urgency to close it down. The way they’ve gone about it has been so conservative … they’ve hardly gone off the line, they’ve hardly changed direction in that first half.”
Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon added: “They are attacking so straight, Fremantle, and so predictable. But when you look at the inside 50s, from a defensive 50 chain, they’ve had zero (to half-time). So moving the ball has been a problem.”
1. ‘NOT IDEAL’: BLOW SOURS ‘WORRYING’ FREO LOSS … BUT WAS IT THE REALITY CHECK THEY NEEDED?
Souring Fremantle’s performance on Saturday was an ill-timed injury blow to one of its most important defenders.
Key defender Brennan Cox was chasing a ground ball on the wing before pulling up short and limping to the interchange bench.
Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon reported Cox had suffered a left calf injury and wouldn’t play any further part in the game.
“Not ideal for their preparation before they head into September,” Dixon said.
Cox played 18 of a possible 23 games for the Dockers during the home and away season. He missed matches at the start of the year due to a calf injury, while a knee issue sidelined him during the back-end of the regular rounds.