3 minute read
Injury-ravaged Carlton have suffered an alarming slide down the AFL ladder and are now in serious danger of missing out on the top eight.
The Blues were sitting in second place on the ladder in Round 19, but following a horror run of form now find themselves outside the eight.
They are now priced at 1.85 to finish in finals, but there can be no room for error in the final two games.
A win over West Coast is an absolute must, but it is by no means a given against an Eagles side that has saved its best form for Optus Stadium.
West Coast need to build some momentum to take into next season and they will be gunning for Carlton on Sunday afternoon.
Carlton will also be missing a host of star players through injury, making the trip to the west even harder.
. What: West Coast v Carlton
. Where: Optus Stadium, Perth
. When: 16:40 (AEST), Sunday 18th August
. How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel, Channel 7
. Odds: West Coast 1.87, Carlton 1.95
Eagles eyeing three in a row
The Eagles have found some late-season form and, after winning the last two games on the bounce, now have Carlton in their sights.
West Coast have won five games all season and four of those have come at Optus Stadium, including 10-point victory over Gold Coast Suns.
They then backed that up with a five-point success on the road at North Melbourne last week, so confidence should be high.
The Eagles will fancy their chances of beating a Carlton side that is on the slide and missing some key players through injury.
A victory by 13-24 points can be backed at 6.00 and the Eagles can take plenty of heart from their home form this season.
Oscar Allen is also back to full fitness and is firing. The forward booted five goals in the win over the Kangaroos last week.
He is 9.00 to kick the first of the game or 1.06 to score at anytime.
Injuries hitting Carlton hard
Carlton have been hit by a host of injuries that look sure to hinder their attempts to get back into the top eight.
Not only that, the injuries are to big players, with gun forwards Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay among the absentees with ankle and quad injuries respectively.
Jack Martin and Adam Saad will also be missing as coach Michael Voss struggles to name a side to challenge West Coast.
With no Curnow and McKay, Carlton will miss their two main goal threats and others will have to shoulder the responsibility.
Matthew Owies booted one in the defeat to Hawthorn last week and is priced at 11.00 to kick the first of the game on Sunday.
Carlton are desperate for the win and can leave nothing out there, with that in mind they are 6.00 to grind out the win by 1-12 points.