Carlton’s fairytale run under interim-turned-full-time coach Josh Fraser is over after they were dismantled by Geelong.
When Fraser took over from Michael Voss in May, the Blues were battling near the bottom of the ladder with one win from nine games.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Patrick Cripps shattered but ‘proud’ after elimination final loss
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From that point on, Carlton were a completely different side, winning 10 from their final 13 games of the home and away season to qualify for the AFL’s inaugural wildcard round.
The dream run extended into an elimination final when the Blues upset Melbourne last weekend, but Friday night’s clash against the Cats brought it to a crashing halt.
In front of an all-time record elimination-final crowd of 96,680 at the MCG, Carlton had their season crushed to the tune of 33-points in a rain-soaked drubbing.
“I felt like we started the game really well,” Blues skipper Patrick Cripps told Channel 7 after the game.
“And then when the conditions turned, they sort of started playing the front half game, which we sort of couldn’t get out of.
“And yeah, credit to them, I thought their pressure and the way they got through us, especially in the third quarter and the start of the fourth. They were too good for us in the end.”
A first-half arm wrestle became a Geelong procession as Cats skipper Patrick Dangerfield became the oldest player in history to kick five goals in a final.
Trailing by 23 points at the final change, the Blues were hanging by a thread with a quarter to go, but lost touch early in the last when Dangerfield put his foot down.
Carlton kicked three consolation goals in the final five minutes to put some respect back on the scoreboard, but the game was well and truly done half way through the last quarter.
Cripps said he remained “proud” of the group, but felt like they’d an opportunity slip.
“At the moment, disappointed, because I felt that we could go a long way,” he said.
“But mate, proud — we found a way to make something of the year. I wish we could continue, but that’s the nature of finals. It’s a last man standing and Geelong were too good tonight.
“But yeah I think there’s a lot of character in this group and a lot of a lot to build on.
“These boys are made of the right stuff. So yeah, it’s going to hurt. But we’ll make sure we stick together.”
