At this time of the year all football supporters are busy trying to work out who will be playing who in the first week of the finals as teams jockey for a position in the final eight. Carlton supporters have been looking at the possibilities for a few weeks, firstly to ensure the Blues will be part of the finals action and, when that was confirmed, to see who and where Carlton may be playing in the first week in September.

The answer is simple, win against Fremantle at Subiaco on Friday night and worry about what happens after that. Go into the finals in winning form. Importantly a win would almost ensure a first final in Melbourne for nine years.

A victory will give Carlton every chance of finishing in the top six and that means the Blues would ‘host’ a final against the team that finishes in seventh or eighth spot after round 22. A loss would see Carlton finish in eighth position and face a possible interstate final in Sydney or back in Perth against Fremantle.

Of course it is possible that both Sydney (5th) and Hawthorn (7th) win in round 22 and that would see Carlton finish 7th even with a win over Fremantle. That would see a final in Melbourne against Hawthorn in the first week of the finals.

The one thing that is certain is that Carlton will play a knockout final and the opposition will be Fremantle, Sydney or Hawthorn and the venue will be Subiaco in Perth, ANZ Stadium in Sydney or the MCG or Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.

So the answer is simple - win round 22 on Friday night against Fremantle at Subiaco and there is every chance the Blues will come home to prepare for a final in Melbourne. That is what Carlton supporters want to see!