FROM a Navy Blue perspective, last night’s result in Canberra was a very positive one.
Carlton players, officials and supporters were watching with a vested interest when GWS hosted Geelong.
Come the end of the night, the Giants emerged 31-point victors — in a significant boost for Carlton’s standing in Conference B.
The result sees the Blues unable to be surpassed by Geelong, with the Cats ending their season with three wins and a percentage of 65.5.
It now means that not only will the Blues play in their first finals campaign in the AFLW, they’ll likely do so with a home AFLW final.
Carlton, which plays tomorrow, currently sits at the top of Conference B at 98.2 percent.
While a win at the start of the week would’ve sewn up top spot anyway, the Blues are in the box seat now to have that important home final in preliminary final week.
While Brisbane also plays on Sunday, they’ll need to make up at least a 90-point deficit to overtake the Blues into top spot.
The equation revisited
If Blues win: Blues finish top of Conference B, hosting a home preliminary final at Ikon Park against Fremantle.
If Blues lose, Lions win: Blues likely finish top of Conference B, with Brisbane needing to win big to make up percentage gap (approximately 90 points). The Lions would leapfrog Geelong into second spot.
Should the Lions overturn the percentage gap, the Blues would finish second in Conference B and head to Adelaide to take on the Crows in the preliminary final.
If Blues lose, Lions lose: Blues finish top of Conference B. Percentage battle for second spot between Geelong and Brisbane.