The game as it stands
Bring it home.
With the last game of the regular season a matter of hours away, Carlton has one last home game to fine-tune its game before embarking on a first finals series in a decade.
As a host of players return to the line-up, Carlton will also be missing some key names from the Round 23, with the likes of Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty (both soreness) and Jesse Motlop (illness) all forced exclusions.
Adam Cerra and Sam Walsh will return to the midfield after spending the last month on the sidelines with hamstring injuries, as does Mitch McGovern down back.
Lachie Fogarty returns after missing the win over Gold Coast, while Corey Durdin was named as a late in for his first game since Round 11.
A high-possession side, the Giants rank third in the league for disposals per game, and show they can handle pressure and rebound accordingly (No.3 for rebound 50s).
Disrupting their ball movement will be imperative for Carlton, as Greater Western Sydney will fight down to the wire to secure a finals spot.
Key match up
Toby Greene is a player that can give even the best sides some serious headaches, and very rarely do opposition defenders beat him twice in a row.
That'll be the task for Nic Newman, who held the star Giant to just five disposals in the Round 3 clash.
While Newman won’t be asked to fly solo in thwarting Greene, he’ll be a great asset across half-back in a standout season for Carlton's No.24.
Player to watch
After the events in Perth on Saturday night, all eyes inside Marvel Stadium will be on one man in particular.
Taylor Walker's haul of nine goals saw him nudge ahead of Charlie Curnow, with the reigning Coleman Medallist looking to go back-to-back, becoming the first Carlton player to achieve the feat.
It won't be easy, particularly with the excellent Sam Taylor in opposition, but Curnow just needs to kick one goal to at least tie for leading goalkicker honours: he has the longest active streak for goals in a game, hitting the scoreboard in every match since Round 2, 2022.
Goss from Voss
When AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss faced the media on Thursday afternoon, there was no question that he'll be asking the utmost of his players despite September action being locked in.
"I’d be extremely disappointed if that was the attitude we took into this game,” Voss said on the prospect of any complacency in Round 24.
“The conversation for us has been back to the players and we’re quite determined as a group to make sure we finish this season off really strongly.
"We’re not afforded anything, we’re given nothing. We’ve spoken a lot about the group about earning the right within this competition: it’s taken a lot of energy to get back to this particular place, and if there’s a group that should understand that and not taking it for granted right now, it’s got to be us."
Things we love to see
A sea of Navy Blue.
A packed-out Marvel Stadium with our loyal Bluebaggers cheering them on, bringing passion, support and noise . . . lots and lots of noise.
Stronger together.
Let’s go, Blues.
