Details: Marvel Stadium, Saturday 7 August, 1:45pm (AEST)

Broadcast: FOX Footy, AFL app, Kayo, Triple M, 3AW, SEN 1116, ABC radio

The game in focus: 

After an impressive win against the Saints last weekend, the Blues will be looking to make it two in a row when they come up against the Suns on Saturday afternoon. 

Returning to familiar turf in Marvel Stadium, Carlton will look to emulate their high-scoring, fast-moving performance that they displayed at Marvel just a week ago. 

The Suns have suffered three losses in a row, and will definitely be looking to end their season on a positive note when they come up against the Blues. 

Carlton and Gold Coast play similar styles of football, so it is sure to be an interesting contest between the two sides, both hungry for a win and with something to prove. 

Last time we met: 

The Blues and the Suns have already met once this season, on a humid Saturday night at Metricon Stadium in Round 4. 

Carlton took home an 11-point win, challenged by Gold Coast on numerous occasions but able to keep the lead for most of the game. 

The Blues main source of scoring came from forward chains, able to pin the ball in their half, resulting in two goals each from Harry McKay and Marc Murphy. 

Ed Curnow was a ball magnet around the contest while Carlton’s half-back line worked hard to push the ball forward, using speed and class to outplay the Gold Coast forwards. 

Liam Jones, Jacob Weitering, Adam Saad and Sam Petrevski-Seton had a whopping total of 45 intercepts between them, able to cut the ball off when the Suns moved the ball into their half. 

Blue focus: 

Touk Miller could prove a challenge for the Blues, with the crafty midfielder being one of the Sun’s most impressive players in the 2021 season. 

Alongside defender Jack Lukosius, Miller is one of the better ball winners in the middle, able to get his hands on the ball and create forward opportunities. 

It will be up to the likes of Matt Kennedy, Sam Walsh and Paddy Dow to provide some speed and aggressive to halt Miller in his tracks. 

Ben King has been making his goal-kicking prowess known this season, having kicked 43 goals so far in 2021: 14 goals behind McKay in the Coleman Medal count. 

With Carlton’s defence putting the pressure on twin brother Max King last weekend after his impressive first quarter, it will be another challenge for Jones and Weitering to keep another King under wraps. 

Get excited about: 

Eddie Betts will return to the line-up this weekend, after missing last weekend with an ankle injury.

With the Carlton veteran nearing his 350th game, Betts will provide his trademark speed, class and dynamic play to the forward half. 

Alongside the returning Charlie Curnow and the Coleman Medal leader in McKay, it's shaping up to be one exciting forward line. 

Given he came back home in 2020 and missed last week's game, it's a significant game for two of the most watchable players in Navy Blue: Saturday will mark the first time Betts and the youngest Curnow brother play on the same side.

Blue view: 

It is Carlton Respects Round this week, where Carlton players will pull their socks up and raise awareness for gender equality for the prevention of violence against women. 

An important cause for the Club as a whole, a touch of orange will be brought to the stadium in more ways than one, highlighting the ongoing efforts of the Club to support this movement. 

Marking the sixth annual AFL Carlton Respects game, Bluebaggers will be able to support from the comfort of their homes, donning their orange and supporting their Club in their endeavour. 

CARLTON has suffered a disappointing 19-point loss to the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

A scrappy affair, the Blues were unable to make the most of their opportunities while the Suns' persistence, pressure and fast-movement was ultimately the difference. 

Quarter one: 

After a scrappy start, it was the Gold Coast Suns who would hit the scoreboard for the first time in Round 21. Struggling to break through the Suns’ defensive set-up, the Blues began to heap the pressure on the opposition with repeat forward entries, eventually leading to a beautiful bending goal from Charlie Curnow to get his team on the board.

Zac Fisher and Jack Silvagni worked well off the crumbs of the tall forwards during the quarter, able to create scoring opportunities throughout the term, while Josh Honey made the most of the forward territory to kick his first goal and give the Blues the lead towards the end of the quarter. At the other end of the ground, an inspiring defensive effort from Liam Jones towards the end of the quarter saved a certain Gold Coast goal. Honey then benefitted from a contested ball win from co-captain Patrick Cripps, who shrugged off the tackle of Matt Rowell before finding his teammate open in the forward half. Honey’s second goal would give the Blues a ten-point lead heading into the first break.

Quarter two: 

The second quarter started much like the first, with the Suns once again bringing all the energy. Carlton was more patient with their build-up out of the backline, as it attempted to regain control of the play and not feed into the fast-paced style of the opposition. Tall forwards Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow worked hard up the wings to provide a marking target in transition. The hard work finally paid off, when the two combined with Eddie Betts to give the Blues their first goal for the term.

It was truly a term of two halves, with Jack Silvagni’s goal flicking the switch on what would be a more free-flowing period of play for the Blues as they wrestled back some control from the opposition. Silvagni was important across the ground, continuing to contest well in the ruck, while also providing some much-needed aggressiveness on the wings to propel the Blues into attack. He would head into the main break with eight disposals, five score involvements and a goal of his own.

Quarter three:

It looked as though the third quarter was on track for a similar start to the opening two quarters when the Gold Coast Suns slotted a quick goal to cut Carlton's half-time lead to just three points. However, when Harry McKay rewarded the hard-run of Jack Martin with a brilliantly positioned pass, the Blues were once again able to regain some control of the flow of play. Carlton was unable to make the most of their repeat entries inside the forward line, with missed opportunities seeing the opposition kick three unanswered goals and take a seven-point lead into the final change.

Quarter four: 

It was a nervous start from both teams to start the final term, with neither looking to take big risks with the game on the line. The Blues set-up well behind the play early in the term to restrict the Suns’ ball movement, while pressure in the forward line from Josh Honey would result in Ed Curnow squaring the ledger. Momentum would turn after star-forward Harry McKay injured his shoulder halfway through the final term. At the other end of the ground, Gold Coast’s Jacob Townsend gave his team the lead with his second goal of the day. Harry McKay continued his fight, playing bravely through his shoulder injury to give the Blues a late goal and a late chance, but it was too little too late for the Blues, with a disappointing loss all but ending the Blues’ chances of finals football.

SUMMARY: 

Carlton  3.2  5.5  6.8  8.9 (57)  

Gold Coast Suns 1.4  3.8  7.9  11.10 (76)

GOALS: Honey 2, Betts, E. Curnow, C. Curnow, Martin, Silvagni, McKay

BESTS: Newman, Weitering, E. Curnow, Honey, Kennedy, Martin