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Cats, Blues ponder tagging calls for elimination final
Coaches are considering a tag on Bailey Smith after his 29-disposal, two-goal wildcard win over Melbourne.
- In front of an all-time record elimination-final crowd of 96,680 at the MCG, Geelong crushed Carlton by 33 points in a rain-soaked drubbing, with Cats skipper Patrick Dangerfield becoming the oldest player in history to kick five goals in a final.
- Coach Josh Fraser transformed Carlton's season after taking over in May when the Blues held just one win from nine games, winning 10 of their final 13 matches to qualify for the AFL's inaugural wildcard round.
- The tactical centerpiece featured Geelong's Oisin Mullin, 26, tasked with containing Carlton's Bailey Smith, the 20-year-old who recorded 29 disposals and two clutch goals in last week's wildcard win over Melbourne.
- Blues skipper Patrick Cripps told Channel 7 after the match that Geelong's pressure in the third quarter and start of the fourth quarter proved too good, though he remained proud of the group's character.
- Carlton had weighed deploying youngster Cooper Lord, who impressed against Melbourne's Kysaiah Pickett last week, while Geelong's Mark O'Connor, 29, stood ready as an alternative to blunt the Blues' weapons.
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Sydney Morning Herald+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
AFL Finals 2026 LIVE: Vintage Dangerfield breaks Blue hearts in front of more than 96,000 at the MCG
Geelong Cats play Carlton in the elimination final of the 2026 AFL premiership season at the MCG, Melbourne at 7.40pm AEST. Seven, Kayo and Fox Footy are broadcasting the match live. Follow this live blog for minute-by-minute updates, scores, results, odds, squads, injury updates and start time.
·North Sydney, Australia
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AFL 2026: Geelong v Carlton elimination final, Cats-Blues rivalry, Darren Milburn knocked out Stephen Silvagni, Peter Riccardi goal after the siren, Carlton’s winning record against Geelong, preview
Given Carlton and Geelong have spent most of the 21st century at opposite ends of the ladder, their modern-day rivalry does not make a lot of sense.
·Australia
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left5Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Left
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
56% Left
L 56%
C 22%
R 22%
Factuality
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