FOR the first time since 2011, a Carlton-affiliated VFL side will be playing finals football.

The VFL Blues made sure their season would last at least an extra week by defeating the Magpies on Sunday at the MCG in their curtain-raiser to the AFL clash.

Ben Crocker played a crucial role in the victory, kicking the final goal of the match to extend the Blues’ lead beyond a kick and all but seal a finals berth.

The 2021 best-and-fairest winner was pleased to have gotten the job done with so much on the line.

“We knew we had to win this one, so it made it even a little bit sweeter for us … it was pretty tight in the end but the boys did well,” he told Channel 7 post-game.

The victory meant a little bit more to Crocker as he was playing against his old club in Collingwood, something the former Pie isn’t accustomed to.                                                  

“It’s not often that you get to play your old team, I think I’ve only done it maybe even just once because of COVID,” he said.

“It’s funny, there’s a lot of new faces at Collingwood but there’s still a few boys that I know so it’s always good to get the win when you were at the club.”

Crocker is no stranger to the MCG, the 25-year-old played 18 AFL games on the home of football in his time at Collingwood, kicking 12 majors including a three-goal haul against the Hawks.

However, for a handful of Blues playing on Sunday, it was the first time they’d experienced playing on the sacred turf.

“For some of these boys that have never been on the ‘G, so it’s the biggest game that they’ve played in their life,” he said.

“[The] VFL as a whole is pretty young now and our group especially is really young, so I think games like this build maturity.”

The Carlton Reserves’ 10-point win over Collingwood was the eighth time in the past 12 matches they’ve had a game decided by under two goals.

Crocker, who finished sixth in the league’s goalkicking with 33 goals for the season, believes that constantly playing in tight finishes could bring its advantages going into the finals.

“We spoke about it towards the back end of the year, we had a few close games and I reckon they’re the games you want going into finals just so you know how you can ice them out,” he said.

“So, we’ve managed to get this one (over Collingwood) and now we’re in the finals, so we’ll see how we go.”

The Carlton Reserves will play Collingwood again in an elimination final this Sunday afternoon at 1:05pm at Victoria Park.

Tarquin Oakley is a student at La Trobe University, undergoing his Bachelor of Media and Communications (Sports Journalism). He is currently undertaking an internship at the Carlton Football Club as part of its partnership with La Trobe University.