SCRIMMAGE
Young and Hughes strong in football returns

Carlton has made it two wins in a row and prevented Fremantle from moving into the top eight as the Blues got home 12.8 (80) to 8.16 (64) at the MCG on Saturday night.

While there are still another seven rounds of football ahead, Fremantle would have jumped over Richmond and Greater Western Sydney if they saluted, effectively putting their finals fortunes in their own hands.

Carlton led from the opening minute of the game and sat 23 points up midway through the third term, but Fremantle grabbed the momentum and drew level by the final change.

Freo's young midfield took over in the second and third quarters to build a 37-18 clearance advantage and level the scores at the final change.

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Freo snatched the lead with a behind early in the last, but lost it again minutes later as the Blues held on in a scrappy contest closed out by a sensational Sam Walsh snap with two minutes left on the clock.

The Blues kicked 2.5 to 0.1 in the final term, including Walsh's brilliant snap, to secure a win that keeps them mathematically in the hunt to play finals.

The inaccurate Fremantle will rue more bad kicking after missing the chance to replace Greater Western Sydney in eighth spot.

Ruckman Sean Darcy was brilliant with 40 hit-outs, seven clearances and a goal to continue a breakout season. 

Midfielders Andrew Brayshaw (28 and two goals) and Adam Cerra (24 and seven clearances) were also prominent, with the engine room driving Freo's periods of ascendency.

FREMANTLE         0.4   4.8   8.15   8.16 (64)
CARLTON               4.2   7.2   10.3   12.8 (80) 

GOALS
Fremantle: Brayshaw 2, Darcy, Henry, Lobb, Switkowski, Treacy, Walters 
Carlton: McKay 3, Betts 2, Silvagni 2, Walsh, De Koning, Dow, Kennedy, Owies

BEST
Fremantle: Darcy, Brayshaw, Mundy, Ryan, Cerra, Pearce
Carlton: Dow, Walsh, Weitering, McKay, Silvagni, Newman

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Carlton: Nil  

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Mitch Crowden (unused)
Carlton: Matthew Cottrell (unused)

Crowd: 12,103 at the MCG

AFL 2021 Round 16 - Fremantle v Carlton

AFL 2021 Round 16 - Fremantle v Carlton
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