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Can Carlton Make Finals and Are Fremantle Genuine Premiership Contenders?

Jesse Mclure

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Last updated: Tue 02 Jun 2026 09:45

Jesse Mclure 1 hour ago

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Carlton revives finals hopes with consecutive wins, but must maintain near-perfect form.
Rising young players and coaching changes have boosted the Blues’ outlook.
Fremantle are widely seen as genuine premiership contenders after dominating Brisbane.

Carlton Blues a Finals chance. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Can Carlton Make Finals and Are Fremantle Genuine Premiership Contenders?

A fortnight ago, Carlton looked dead and buried.

Can Carlton Make Finals and Are Fremantle Genuine Premiership Contenders?
Can Carlton Still Make Finals?
Are Fremantle the Real Deal?

The Blues were spiralling through another disappointing season, Michael Voss was under enormous pressure, and finals felt like a distant dream. Fast forward a few weeks and the conversation has changed dramatically after consecutive wins, capped by a statement victory over Geelong.

At the other end of the ladder, Fremantle continue to strengthen their premiership credentials after dismantling Brisbane at the Gabba in what many viewed as the toughest test of their season.

So where do both clubs really sit?

Can Carlton Still Make Finals?

The short answer is yes.

The more realistic answer is that Carlton have finally given themselves a chance, but the margin for error remains incredibly small.

The win over Geelong was arguably Carlton's best performance of the season. After weeks of criticism, the Blues showed greater energy, cleaner ball movement and, most importantly, belief.

The arrival of Josh Fraser as interim coach has coincided with an obvious lift in mood around the club. Whether that is a long-term solution remains to be seen, but the players are responding.

Just as importantly, Carlton's younger brigade is beginning to emerge.

Harry Dean has added stability in defence, while Jagger Smith and Billy Wilson have injected some much-needed enthusiasm into a side that had looked stale for much of the season. The Blues suddenly look like a team developing rather than simply trying to survive.

Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh remain the foundation pieces, but Carlton's improvement is being driven by more than just their stars.

That's the encouraging part.

The challenge is the ladder.

Carlton spent too long digging themselves into a hole. Even with improved form, they likely need a sustained winning streak over the second half of the season to seriously threaten the eight.

A late-season surge feels increasingly possible.

A finals appearance still feels unlikely.

The most Carlton outcome would be finishing just outside the eight after generating hope over the final two months of the season.

For a club that looked completely broken only a few weeks ago, even being back in the conversation represents significant progress.

Are Fremantle the Real Deal?

This question is much easier to answer.

Yes.

Fremantle are absolutely genuine premiership contenders.

The Dockers entered their clash against Brisbane with plenty of doubters. The reigning premiers had lost the previous week and many expected a fierce response at home.

Instead, Fremantle walked into the Gabba and controlled the game.

The most impressive aspect wasn't simply the result. It was how normal it looked.

The Dockers didn't require a miracle performance. They didn't get lucky. They simply looked like the better football side.

Murphy Reid continues to exceed expectations, while Shai Bolton is becoming one of the most damaging players in the competition. Luke Jackson has elevated his game again and now looks every bit the dominant AFL star Fremantle envisioned when they traded for him.

Perhaps the biggest reason for Fremantle's rise sits inside their forward 50.

Josh Treacy has developed into one of the competition's most difficult match-ups. His combination of size, power and competitiveness gives defenders nightmares, while Jye Amiss and Pat Voss complete a forward structure that constantly asks questions of opposition backlines.

There is a strong argument that Fremantle currently possess the best trio of key forwards in the AFL.

Unlike previous seasons, the Dockers also appear remarkably resistant to poor performances.

Last year, Fremantle's form fluctuated dramatically. This season, they continue to avoid the bad losses and ugly patches that often derail contenders.

Even when opposition teams focus heavily on Caleb Serong, the Dockers have enough midfield depth through Bolton, Reid, Jackson and others to maintain control.

That's what premiership teams do.