Carlton’s season hangs by a thread and nothing short of a win here will suffice.
They kept their season alive for a further week with a win over Richmond by 10 points last week and remain two wins off eighth placed Port Adelaide who this week, have the unenviable task of travelling to WA to take on Fremantle.
Port and Carlton then face off in the final round of the season in what could determine which of the two sides goes through to the finals.
They afforded a genuine opportunity to reach the final round still alive, as they take on a struggling Essendon whose club is embroiled in controversy.
This off-field drama which has been persistent all year has finally caught up with the Bombers who have lost their last four games by an average margin of 58.5 points.
In each of those four games, Essendon has fallen further behind the longer the games went.
The poor form has seen them slip to seventh on the ladder and in likelihood, facing Hawthorn or Geelong in the first week of the finals.
Essendon appear tired and frustrated and with Carlton having it all to play for, they’ll be too good for the Bombers.
TIP: CARLTON 1 – 39
Odds comparison by AFL Odds:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Carlton Blues | 1.44 | 1.45 | 1.42 | 1.45 | 1.44 | 1.45 |
|
Essendon Bombers
|
2.75 | 2.75 | 2.85 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.77 |
Teams:
Carlton Blues: 
B: Heath Scotland, Michael Jamison, Lachie Henderson
HB: Zach Tuohy, Andrew McInnes, Bryce Gibbs
C: Chris Yarran, Mitch Robinson, Kade Simpson
HF: Ed Curnow, Andrew Walker, Tom Bell
F: Brock McLean, Levi Casboult, Matthew Kreuzer
Foll: Robert Warnock, Eddie Betts, Marc Murphy
I/C: Jarrad Waite, Nick Graham, Troy Menzel, Dennis Armfield
Emg: David Ellard, Nick Duigan, Aaron Joseph
In: M.Kreuzer
Out: J.Bootsma
Essendon Bombers: 
B: Mark Baguley, Tayte Pears, Michael Hibberd
HB: Brendon Goddard, Cale Hooker, Lauchlan Dalgleish
C: Alwyn Davey, Jobe Watson, Jackson Merrett
HF: Michael Hurley, Stewart Crameri, Jake Carlisle
F: Patrick Ryder, Kyle Hardingham, Nick Kommer
Foll: Joe Daniher, Jake Melksham, Heath Hocking
I/C: David Zaharakis, Brent Stanton, Ben Howlett, David Myers
Emg: Nathan Lovett-Murray, Will Hams, Nick O’Brien
In: P.Ryder, D.Myers, M.Hurley, J.Merrett
Out: L.Jetta, T.Bellchambers, D.Heppell (ankle), N.O’Brien