Round 23 of the 2026 AFL season saw many highlights and lowlights, headlined by the Carlton Blues securing a wildcard spot.
CARLTON SECURE WILDCARD SPOT
The Carlton Blues have seemingly done the impossible. After an inconsistent start to this year’s campaign, which saw them sack Michael Voss, the Blues have now secured a spot in the wildcard under interim head coach Josh Fraser.
Captain Patrick Cripps (33 disposals, 12 clearances) and fellow midfielders Sam Walsh (33 disposals, 318 metres gained) and Jagga Smith (25 disposals, six inside 50s) helped lead the side to an 82-all draw against the Western Bulldogs.
“We’ve trained some scenarios a fair bit. Most sessions we’re training scenarios, and then just the awareness that a draw was going to be enough for us,” Blues coach Josh Fraser said.
“Again, for the players to be able to click into a mode of playing a certain way for that couple of minutes and execute that, I think they did a great job.
“I didn’t love our game tonight; I thought so much credit should go to the Bulldogs the way they played and the way they challenged us.
“I thought they were amazing, really, and it forced us to play a different way, and we looked a bit clunky at different times, and (our) fundamentals weren’t as clean as maybe what they’ve been.”
One minute to go, a spot in the #AFLFinals up for grabs, up steps Harry Dean with a CRUCIAL mark 👏#AFLDogsBlues pic.twitter.com/Da9svyEYzR
— AFL (@AFL) August 16, 2026
GEELONG CLOSE IN ON TOP FOUR SPOT
The Geelong Cats are closing in on a spot in the top four after they defeated the North Melbourne Kangaroos – who are now out of wildcard contention – by 15 points (125-110).
Although the Kangaroos got off to a red-hot start and the Cats didn’t hit the scoreboard until at least 12 minutes into the contest, they were able to valiantly fight back and emerge with the victory.
Jay Polkinghorne, Shaun Mannagh and Mark Blicavs shared three goals apiece, while Bailey Smith (34 disposals, five tackles, two clearances) and Tanner Bruhn (28 possessions, eight marks and three clearances) led the attack in the midfield.
“We had a terrific start to the game, and the manner in which we played in the first quarter, strangely enough, was probably unsustainable for four quarters of footy,” Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson said.
“Our contest and clearance work was (of a) real high quality, and while you want to maintain that standard for the whole game, it’s just inevitable against a really good side that at some point in time they’re going to arrest that significant advantage we had in that space.
“One of the things that Geelong have been really, really good at for the whole of this year, and for a long period of time, really, is getting the game played in their half.
“Despite the closeness of the game, they still managed to control the ball well enough to have the game played in their half, much more than us, and while we were pleased we were able to score heavily once we got the ball inside 50, we just couldn’t get ascendancy in trying to control the game in that space.”
Marvel Stadium is ROCKING right now 🔥#AFLNorthCats pic.twitter.com/WlGacAxM93
— AFL (@AFL) August 15, 2026