It’s barely believable that Carlton were 1-8 and 16th on the ladder after round nine – staring down the barrel of another wasted season.
In the weeks and months since, the transformation under Josh Fraser has the Blues looking every bit the powerhouse they were for generations, and after their win over the Demons in front of more than 91,000 fans on Saturday night, who knows just how many more chapters their fairytale has to play out.
Our experts, Jon Pierik (Demons) and Danny Russell (Blues) rate every player’s performance from the second wildcard final.
Melbourne
(4) Harvey Langford: Has had a super year, but this wasn’t one of his best. He emptied the tank on a wing when running alongside Ollie Hollands. He appeared gassed, at times, in the first half and should have made a better contest when Matt Cottrell marked on the lead. He won’t want to watch a replay of that. 5/10
(5) Xavier Lindsay: The mid-sized defender and former Morrish medallist had a solid night, spending time on Cottrell. Found plenty of the ball, and is another youngster the Demons are building around. 5.5/10
(6) Caleb Windsor: Had a quiet first half with only five disposals and 67 metres gained, and struggled to have an impact at stoppages. 5/10
(7) Jack Viney: It was a questionable decision for the Demons to bring in their vice captain for his first senior appearance of the season. He was given a rousing ovation when he took to the field for the first time with 11 minutes left in the first term. He had five disposals to half-time but already appeared out of petrol tickets. 2/10
(9) Jack Steele: The former St Kilda captain had a team-high nine disposals in the first term, and continued to work diligently through the midfield, finishing with 23 disposals. While it was a bruising departure from the Saints, Steele had the last laugh. 6.5/10
(10) Daniel Turner: The disciplined full-back had the job on Harry McKay and struggled with the size of the Blues’ forward, McKay booting two goals and being an active threat. He really missed injured fellow defensive pillar Jake Lever, and was switched to Brodie Kemp late in the game. 6.5/10
(11) Max Gawn: The reigning All-Australian captain had eight first-term touches and pushed forward whenever he could. He was rewarded when he converted after a slick Melksham pass, but was quiet in the second term when Marc Pittonet responded. Had 18 touches and 31 hitouts, but appeared regularly unhappy with several umpiring calls. 7/10
(12) Koltyn Tholstrup: The emerging defender was sent to Francis Evans, and made sure the Blues’ cult figure was unable to reproduce his five-goal return of last week. It was a surprise Steven King did not move him to Jagga Smith late when the young Blue took control. 6.5/10
(14) Changkuoth Jiath: Demons fans are never too sure if the former Hawk will pick off more than he can chew. The rebounding half-back was sent to Mitch McGovern and eclipsed the veteran Blue, but left the field with a leg issue in the first term. He soon returned, and continued to test the Blues – and the hearts of the red and blue – with his run. 6/10
(15) Ed Langdon: The hard-running wingman is a marathon man and had 160 metres gained to half-time. He finished with 299. There weren’t any match-defining moments, but Langdon is one of the Demons’ more unassuming stars. 6.5/10
(16) Bailey Laurie: The robust half-forward was on the end of a chain of handballs in the first term, converting the Demons’ third. But that was his only highlight on a disappointing night, for he finished with only five disposals, and no marks. 2/10
(17) Jake Bowey: The robust small defender ran out for his 100th game and provided plenty of drive, delivering 231 metres gained in the first half. He was chippy all night, unafraid to exchange a few words, but was lucky a botched tackle on Patrick Cripps late didn’t cost a goal when Brodie Kemp wasted a set shot. 7/10
(18) Jake Melksham: In what proved to be the final game of his career, the recalled forward hit up Max Gawn with a slick pass in the first term. But it was a rather cold night from there, the one-time Bomber finishing goalless and with only six touches. 4/10
(19) Xavier Taylor: The young defender had the job on Brodie Kemp and won the battle in the first half. He had a solid night, and was later shifted to McKay with Turner struggling. There was much to like about his game. 6.5/10
(24) Trent Rivers: The hard-running defender provided attacking drive, finishing with 430 metres gained. He spent time on Francis Evans and continued to work hard, including a desperate spoil on the goal-line to deny Jagga Smith a late goal. 6/10
(25) Tom McDonald: In the final game of his career, the veteran utility was sent forward, where he was manned by either star rookie Harry Dean or Jacob Weitering. He slotted a key goal on the half-time siren, but never really got into the game. 3/10
(30) Harry Sharp: Had a moment to forget when his late hit on Dean led to Harrison Petty’s shot at goal being reversed in the first term. But he made amends minutes later by kicking the Demons’ first. He was in the thick of the action early, but faded as the game unfolded. 6 /10
(31) Bayley Fritsch: A man who knows all about delivering in finals, the explosive forward had a night he would rather forget. He was manned by Nick Haynes and had no direct scoreboard impact in the first half. That changed when he snapped the Demons’ second goal of the third, but this was a game of frustration for a man the Demons really needed to deliver. 3/10
(32) Tom Sparrow: The key onballer was averaging 23 disposals per game but had arguably his worst game of the season, having just the six touches, one clearance and 77 metres gained to half-time. Had only four more touches for the game, but did lay nine tackles. 3/10
(35) Harrison Petty: It wasn’t the best of nights for the strong-marking forward, given Weitering marshalled the Blues’ defence well. He wasn’t afraid to push into defensive 50 to help out, and did begin the third term with a mark and goal. But the Demons needed more. 6 /10
(36) Kysaiah Pickett: The dynamic match-winner delivered a team-high 201 metres gained in the first term, exciting all with his typical dashing run. He almost hauled in a late bid for the mark of the year in the third term but was unable to provide a game-defining moment in a desperate final quarter, botching an open running shot on goal with the Demons trailing by nine points. 7/10
(37) Kade Chandler: The speedy small forward provided a strong tackle to start the third term, the Demons going forward. Had Billy Wilson and Ollie Florent as opponents, and was disappointed to miss a long shot late in the third term. Had six clearances. 5/10
(47) Joel Fitzgerald: The tough-as-teak tagger spent time on George Hewett, finishing with 15 disposals and four clearances of his own. He worked hard, but Hewett had 20 disposals. 6/10
Carlton
(2) Lachlan Cowan: Carlton’s poster boy for tatts – not that he has much competition in the ink department at Ikon Park – was a key cog in the Blues’ defensive machine. He laid a brilliant run-down tackle on Fritsch in the second term. 6/10
(4) Oliver Hollands: Surely secured his future at Carlton after one of the best games of his career. While he looked to have his hands full early with Langford, he ran himself into the ground. He set up several goals and kicked one of his own. 7/10
(5) Adam Cerra: Tried to bite off more than he could chew by missing pinpoint passes in the first term before finding his groove. He wasn’t alone as Carlton struggled to break through Melbourne’s defence. Then he became a valuable playmaker out of defence. 7/10
(7) Jagga Smith: We are not usually about outlandish statements, but this guy has future Brownlow medallist written all over him. When Melbourne shot out to a near-four-goal, first-quarter lead, Smith and Sam Walsh dragged them back. He had 29 disposals. 8/10
(9) Patrick Cripps: Not the big-possession game from Cripps that we come to expect. Instead, he did a stack of the grunt work as Sam Walsh and Smith got busy. Looked to have a sore knee during the game, but typically soldiered on. 6/10
(10) Harry McKay: It was not a night for big forwards, as the Blues were so conscious of keeping the ball away from Gawn, they forgot to kick long to McKay. He managed two opportunistic goals – one from a touchy free kick, the other a handball over the top. 5/10
(11) Mitch McGovern: Forgot to pack the Grippo. He worked up and down the ground and presented on the lead, but struggled to hold his marks. Towelled up early by Jiath. 4/10
(12) Ben Ainsworth: The best thing to come out of the Gold Coast since Trevor Hendy paddled a surf ski – OK, maybe with apologies to Tom Lynch. Ainsworth was Carlton’s best forward with three goals and had 21 disposals. 7/10
(13) Blake Acres: Did he look slow early when Melbourne jumped out of the blocks? Maybe. Just a touch. He was swapped off Langford onto Langdon and then worked his way into the game. He had the last kick of the game for a behind. 6/10
(14) Ollie Florent: Gave the term “too cute” a work over in the first half by picking tough targets and missing them. Still, he had plenty of the ball and showed why he has helped Carlton’s turnaround this year. 6/10
(15) Billy Wilson: He started the game on the pine before being swung into the action midway through the first term and was serviceable in the defensive half. He kicked well. 5/10
(17) Brodie Kemp: After being well-held across the first three quarters, he missed two easy shots in the final term that should have swung the game firmly in Carlton’s favour. Not good enough for a key focal point. 5/10
(18) Sam Walsh: He doesn’t have the polish of Nick Daicos, or the omnipresence of Marcus Bontempelli, but he is one of the elite players of the competition. He provided hard running and sure ball use time and time again. Had 39 disposals. Best on ground. 9/10
(23) Jacob Weitering: Anyone who ever suggested the Blues should entertain letting go of their key defender should wash their mouth out with soap. He was supreme in defence for the Blues alongside Dean. Took 12 marks, and saved numerous goals. 8/10
(26) Nick Haynes: Huge in defence early when the Blues were under siege, marking everything that came his way while keeping an eye on the dangerous Fritsch. He did need treatment on an ankle twice during the game. 7/10
(27) Marc Pittonet: How do you judge a ruckman who plays against Gawn? Of course he lowered his colours, but there’s more to it than that. He toiled admirably and kept Gawn from being a matchwinner. That’s a victory in itself. 6/10
(29) George Hewett: Started on the bench as the second-change midfielder. Had 20 disposals and worked hard without having a huge influence. 5/10
(33) Lewis Young: In the side as the back-up ruckman, which prevents Cripps and McKay from getting beaten up in the centre square or around the ground. So he’s worth his place, but turned the ball over in some nervous moments. 4/10
(35) Harry Dean: You can see why this father-and-son gem has become a fan favourite in his first year at Carlton. He looks like his dad, premiership player Peter, and is just as brave and dependable. A brilliant key defender who plays through the pain barrier. 8/10
(36) Cooper Lord: Forget his stats – remember the job he did on Kozzy Pickett. The task looked beyond him in the first term as Pickett had four shots on goal and five for the night – all missed – but, gee, he found his feet after that. 7/10
(39) Talor Byrne: He brought pressure to the Blues’ forward line but little else. Not tall enough to be a marking presence, and did not have the blistering pace to break free. Still, he’s only 18 and has plenty of time. 3/10
(44) Francis Evans: The Dees paid him the compliment of sending their best shut-down player, Tholstrup, to his side to keep him quiet. As a result, he struggled to gain any traction. 4/10
(46) Matthew Cottrell: Carlton’s harmonica man had some enormous moments, including a big hit on Jiath, and could have had a sensational night had he taken every chance. He hit the post three times and butchered a snap in the final term. 6/10
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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.
