Details: MCG, Saturday 3 July, 7.40pm (AEST)
Broadcast: FOX Footy, AFL app, Kayo

THE GAME IN FOCUS:

Carlton has the chance to gain some valuable momentum in the second half of the 2021 campaign when it heads to the MCG on Saturday night.

The Blues will be the ‘away’ side at the home of football when they take on the Dockers, after the game was officially moved from Optus Stadium to the MCG (via Tasmania and Geelong) earlier today.

While Carlton will be without some valuable experience in Sam Docherty, Marc Murphy and Zac Williams, it still has the firepower across all lines to emerge with a second straight win since returning to Victoria after a month in Sydney.

Naturally, the Blues will have to be wary of an in-form Dockers outfit, who find themselves on the cusp of the top eight after winning their last two games.

LAST TIME WE MET: 

It was Carlton’s most complete performance of the season when the Blues hosted the Dockers at Marvel Stadium back in Round 3.

Needing a win after two losses against traditional rivals in the opening fortnight of the season, the Blues put their opponents to the sword, particularly in an emphatic second and third quarters.

Carlton kicked 10 goals to Fremantle’s three in the middle portion of the game, with the Blues having key contributors across every line.

Harry McKay produced a career-best showing with seven goals from 12 scoring shots, Liam Jones produced 16 intercepts from his 20 disposals and Sam Walsh was typically everywhere with 37 disposals.

BLUE FOCUS:

What a week, hey?

When the Blues came from the field at Marvel Stadium following their win over the Crows last week, their attention was turning towards a return to Optus Stadium: a venue with happy memories against the Dockers in recent times.

Of course, that’s not how it panned out.

With Perth, Tasmania and Geelong all out of the equation, the Blues will now return to the home of football on Saturday night.

As per David Teague’s press conference, the Blues want to be an “anywhere, anytime” team. It’ll be a relief when the ball is bounced come Saturday night and the two teams can put another bizarre week behind them.

GET EXCITED ABOUT:

Can ‘Big H’ repeat the dose from Round 3?

With Levi Casboult back to support the big man in attack, McKay has kicked multiple goals in all bar one of the games he has finished this year.

It was in the previous clash between these two sides where McKay was unstoppable, taking 10 marks and kicking a career-best seven goals.

If the Coleman Medal leader can produce something similar, it will go a long way to the Blues doing the Fremantle double.

BLUE VIEW: 

The Blues will be looking to keep their good record against the Dockers going this Saturday night.

David Teague’s Carlton hasn’t lost to Fremantle since the Senior Coach took the reins in the middle of 2019, winning his third game as coach before emerging victorious in the two ensuing contests since.

The Round 3 contest was much more calm than the previous two games, which both ended with four-point margins after last-minute winners from Marc Murphy and Jack Newnes.