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Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues AFL Round 23 Tips - Blues to strengthen finals grip
The Carlton Blues are poised for a major victory over the Western Bulldogs in AFL Round 23, putting themselves in a strong position for a finals wildcard. Carlton enters on a three-game winning streak with explosive scoring form, while the Bulldogs come off back-to-back defeats. The Blues' attack, with Harry McKay and Mitch McGovern in strong goal-kicking form, is expected to surpass 95.5 points. The expert recommendation: back Carlton -16.5 and the Blues to continue their attacking dominance.
- Carlton Blues enter on a three-game win streak, outscoring recent opponents.
- Expert tips favor Carlton (-16.5) to beat Bulldogs and top 95.5 match points.
- Key forwards McKay & McGovern are in strong scoring form for the Blues.
- The game will be played at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, 16th August, with the bounce at 3:15 PM (AEST).
Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues AFL Round 23 Tips
Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues AFL Round 23 Expert Tips
Carlton can take another major step towards September by beating the Western Bulldogs, with the Blues’ recent scoring explosion making them the more trustworthy side heading into Sunday’s crucial clash at Marvel Stadium.
- Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues AFL Round 23 Expert Tips
- Key Points
- Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues Head-to-Head
- Western Bulldogs Form
- Carlton Blues Form
- Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues Team List & Team News
- Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues AFL 2026 Round 23 FAQs
A win would all but secure Carlton a wildcard place, and there is far more certainty around what the Blues are producing right now. They have won three consecutive matches, including dominant 76-point and 44-point victories over Brisbane and St Kilda, while the Bulldogs have followed three wins with back-to-back defeats.
Carlton -16.5 is the preferred match bet. The Blues have found another level offensively during their winning streak, scoring 110, 154 and 106 points, while the Bulldogs have just been beaten by 37 points against Fremantle and 23 against North Melbourne.
That attacking form also makes Carlton Over 95.5 points appealing. The Blues have topped 100 in each of their past three matches, while the Bulldogs have conceded at least 100 points in six of their nine defeats this season.
Harry McKay is beginning to find form at the right time. The key forward has kicked three goals in each of his past two matches and can make it three consecutive games with multiple majors. Mitch McGovern is another option in the goalscorer markets after kicking at least two goals in four of his past five appearances.
Key Points
- Carlton has won three consecutive matches.
- The Blues' past two victories have come by 76 and 44 points.
- Carlton has scored 100+ points in each of its past three matches.
- The Bulldogs have conceded 100+ points in six of their nine defeats.
- Harry McKay has kicked three goals in each of his past two games.
- Mitch McGovern has kicked 2+ goals in four of his past five.
Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues Head-to-Head
The Bulldogs have had the better of the longer-term matchup, winning six of the past 10 meetings, but Carlton claimed the points when these sides met earlier this season.
The Blues won 10.14 (74) to 9.8 (62) in Round 10, overturning the result from 2025 when the Bulldogs prevailed by eight points.
Recent meetings have generally been competitive. The past four clashes have been decided by 12, eight, 14 and 20 points, meaning Carlton will need to produce the level it has shown over the past three weeks to cover the 16.5-point line.
Western Bulldogs Form
The Western Bulldogs enter Round 23 sitting ninth with a 12-9 record, but their inconsistency continues to make them difficult to trust.
After winning three consecutive matches against West Coast, Gold Coast and Richmond, the Bulldogs have suffered back-to-back defeats. Fremantle held them to just 41 points in a 37-point loss before North Melbourne produced a major upset at Marvel Stadium, winning 100-77.
The North Melbourne defeat was particularly concerning. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to secure their wildcard position but instead conceded six first-quarter goals and were unable to completely recover.
Carlton Blues Form
Carlton enters Round 23 in 10th position with an 11-10 record and have found their form again with three consecutive victories giving them the upper hand in the wildcard race.
The turnaround began with a 110-97 win against Gold Coast before the Blues produced one of the performances of the season to demolish Brisbane 154-78. They backed that up against St Kilda last weekend, controlling the match on their way to a 106-62 victory.
Carlton's ball movement has been particularly impressive. Against the Saints, the Blues created time and space through the middle and dominated uncontested possession, allowing them to repeatedly generate clean attacking opportunities.
Sam Walsh was influential with 26 disposals and seven clearances, while McKay kicked three goals for the second consecutive week. Carlton now has multiple scoring avenues and has averaged 123.3 points across its three-game winning streak.
Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues Team List & Team News
Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs will be without captain Marcus Bontempelli, who has been managed, while Tim English misses through injury and Nick Coffield has been omitted. Lachie Carmichael, Louis Emmett, Oskar Baker, Jedd Busslinger, Liam Kennedy and Lachie McNeil have all been included in the extended squad.
Carlton Blues
Jacob Weitering has been named for his first game since May in a major boost for the Blues. Jack Ison and Jordan Boyd have also been added, with no confirmed outs listed at this stage.
| Western Bulldogs | POS | Carlton |
|---|---|---|
| M. Sellwood, B. Khamis, L. Carmichael | B | L. Cowan, J. Weitering, B. Wilson |
| L. Bramble, J. O'Donnell, B. Williams | HB | M. McGovern, H. Dean, O. Florent |
| S. Davidson, J. Freijah, C. Hynes | C | M. Cottrell, P. Cripps, A. Cerra |
| C. Weightman, L. Emmett, A. Jones | HF | T. Byrne, H. McKay, B. Ainsworth |
| J. Dolan, A. Naughton, J. Croft | F | C. Lord, B. Kemp, F. Evans |
| R. Lobb, R. Sanders, E. Richards | FOLL | M. Pittonet, G. Hewett, S. Walsh |
| O. Baker, J. Busslinger, L. Jaques, L. Kennedy, M. Kennedy, T. Liberatore, L. McNeil, R. West | I/C | N. Haynes, J. Smith, L. Young, J. Ison, W. Hayward, J. Boyd, W. Derksen, B. Acres |
Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues AFL 2026 Round 23 FAQs
- How can I watch Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues AFL 2026 Round 23?
You can watch the Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues AFL 2026 Round 23 game via Fox Footy or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside Australia, the Watch AFL service is the best option for live and on-demand coverage.
- How can I buy tickets for Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues AFL 2026 Round 23?
To buy tickets for the Western Bulldogs vs Carlton Blues AFL 2026 Round 23 game, check the official AFL website or the official Western Bulldogs website.
Verdict
Carlton will secure a finals berth with a comfortable win over the Western Bulldogs, kicking over their team total of 95.5 points. Both Harry McKay and Mitch McGovern will kick 2+ goals for the Blues.
Carlton -16.5
Handicap/Line
$1.91 - 2 Units
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Carlton Over 95.5
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