Carlton will hope to continue their push for an unlikely top four spot on Sunday as they welcome back gun defender Mitch McGovern for their clash with the Giants.
The Blues (11-6, 113.4%) can further cement their place in the finals and overcome two games of a host of teams trying to sneak into the bottom half of the eight.
The Giants (5-12, 87.4%) will hope a new ruck set-up – Braydon Preuss and Kieren Briggs return after Matt Flynn’s dismissal – can turn their fortunes around after losing four of their last five games under the ‘interim coach Mark. McVeigh.
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There were no late changes for either side as Jack Newnes (Carlton) and Jake Stein (Giants) were named as medical replacements.
This match kicks off at 1.10pm AEST from Marvel Stadium.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (Channel 504) from 1pm AEST.
QUARTERLY MATCHES REPORT
first quarter
As both teams adjusted to the pace of the game, the Giants struck first when Stephen Coniglio finished off a quick play with a nice running goal.
But Will Setterfield had a quick response for the Blues, scoring a nasty goal from the pocket against his former side.
“I’m not sure that equation adds up to kicking him from that angle… How the hell does he thread the needle?” Fox Footy’s Jason Dunstall said.
Carlton’s pressure, however, was lacking, with the Blues’ pressure rating well below the AFL average at the start of the game.
“They don’t have their heads on at the moment,” Dunstall said.
Jake Riccardi added the Giants’ second to give them an early lead while Toby Greene flew high for a spectacular mark.
But Carlton upped the ante without a footy, leading to Harry McKay’s first goal of the game as the Blues took the lead.
And when Charlie Curnow found space and ran into an open goal, the Blues held on to a 10-point lead at the first change.
Second term
The Giants rallied early in the second period, with the first six inside the 50 in the fourth when Greene converted a field goal.
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