AFL 2024 LIVE updates: Blues steal win, Power player in homophobic slur claim, Cats, Dogs face off

CARLTON 10.13 (73) d FREMANTLE 9.9 (63)

KEY POSTS

DOUBLE-GOAL DRAMA
Carlton needed something special when they trailed in the low-scoring thriller by eight points in the dying stages. Charlie Curnow stood up with a powerful one-handed mark against Josh Draper, which he converted, trimming Fremantle’s lead to two points. Then with 40 seconds remaining, Matthew Cottrell goaled after pouching a mark from a kick from George Hewett, which the Dockers were adamant was touched off the boot by James Aish. But Fremantle protested too much in the view of the umpires and were penalised for dissent, allowing Matthew Kennedy to boot a second straight goal and seal Carlton’s epic steal.

DOUR DOCKERS
The vast majority of Saturday’s Gather Round clash was played in unbeaten Fremantle’s image. Stifling, grinding, defensive, attritional. Spearheaded by the relentless Andrew Brayshaw, the Dockers burrowed away at the contest, curbed Carlton’s run off half-back and kept the competition’s premier attacking double-threat – Curnow and Harry McKay – in relative check. But the Dockers’ in-the-trenches, low-scoring approach combined with the undefeated Blues’ gilt-edged forward threats meant the scoreboard gap never got out of hand. Then there was also Carlton’s incredible recent record in close games, which continued in the most dramatic fashion.

FOGARTY FIST FLOORS FYFE
Blues forward Lachie Fogarty faces scrutiny from the MRO after his right fist collected Nat Fyfe in the throat deep into the third quarter. Fyfe, who was wreaking havoc on the half-forward line with his size, class and experience, camped himself under Jacob Weitering’s defensive rebound when he was hit by a clumsy attempted spoil from Fogarty. The incident triggered a melee on the members’ wing, which Fogarty found himself at the bottom of, nursing his sore hand. Fyfe started the fourth term on the bench but returned to play out the match. Carlton’s Elijah Hollands (suspected hip/abductor) and Fremantle’s Michael Frederick (suspected hamstring) finished the game on their respective benches, both with their right leg iced.

KEY STATS

Geelong have warmed to this game as the first term played out and are now in control of the tempo.

Earlier on, the Bulldogs were pushing forward and they are still capable of keeping with the Cats but, right now, the Cats seem the better side.

The Bulldogs have been strong for much of the first term but the Cats have found their groove with Zach Guthrie kicking a goal on the run and then Tyson Stengle kicking a goal in front of his family as he returns to South Australia.

Cats 20, Dogs 13 with four mins to go in Q1.

Harvey Gallagher has continued his stellar rise this season with the mature-age recruit kicking the opening goal for the Bulldogs, just moments after the Cats got on the board.

Rhylee West was brilliant in the lead up to win the ball and find Gallagher.

Cats 8, Dogs 6 with nine mins to go in Q1.

Jack Bowes has been waiting for his chance and he has pounced on it early with the Cats utility kicking the first goal of the match.

It has been a cagey start but the Cats lead 8-0 after nine minutes.

The AFL are investigating Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson for allegedly directing a homophobic slur towards an Essendon player during Friday night’s clash at Adelaide Oval.

The comment was picked up on the umpire’s microphone with a player asking the umpire at the time whether they heard what was said.

AFL spokesperson Jay Allen confirmed the AFL was aware of the alleged slur and was investigating.

“We are aware of an alleged comment made by a Port Adelaide player in last night’s match vs Essendon. We are taking this matter extremely seriously. AFLIU (AFL integrity unit) are now investigating and we will provide an update once that investigation is completed,” he said.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says his side didn’t execute their rules for late game situations and it cost them dearly in Carlton’s comeback win this evening.

“Nine points up with five minutes to go or whatever it was – it will always feel like that was one we let that one slip,” Longmuir said.

“There were a number of things in the last three minutes that we didn’t quite execute the way we wanted. It was disappointing.

“When you are in those moments, you want the ball inside stoppages and have repeat stoppages, Carlton wants it on the outside. There were a number of things around the second last goal that we didn’t execute.

“They came at us all day. We responded all day but we got a few things wrong at the end and they got a lot right.”

Longmuir said his side needed to learn from the game.

“When it comes down to a kick. Little things matter. And when you are up against good sides, you need to execute,” he said.

Longmuir referred questions about which one of his players was called for dissent in the final minute to the umpires.

“You would have to ask the umpires,” Longmuir said when asked if he had had clarification on why the dissent call was made.

The Bulldogs and Cats will begin their match at 8.10pm AEDT and the two sides are heading out onto Adelaide Oval now.

Neither side has made a late change. Jack Macrae (Dogs) and Mark O’Connor (Cats) are the subs.

For those wondering why the free kick for dissent was paid in front of Carlton’s goal rather than in the centre square, the rule states: “The free kick shall be taken where the infringement occurred, or at the centre circle, whichever is the greater penalty against the offending team.”