For all the free agents Geelong has been able to lure home, and Zak Butters could join the list, Walsh is one who said no.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s sliding doors, in September. <\/p>\n
The Blues aren\u2019t just a novelty act anymore in 2026; they\u2019re the most intoxicating comeback story of recent times and are slicing apart the opposition like a sushi chef with their short kicking game.<\/p>\n
And if Patrick Cripps is the heart of this remarkable revival, Harry Dean the backbone, and Jagga Smith the darling of it, then Walsh is the engine.<\/p>\n
He had 39 disposals, 17 contested possessions, eight score involvements, seven clearances and intercepts in the come-from-behind win over Melbourne on Saturday night to win the wildcard final.<\/p>\n
So it looks like a showdown of two of the best runners in the game when he takes on Bailey Smith on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Last encounter in Round 12, Cats\u2019 tagger Oisin Mullin went to Cripps for 55 minutes.<\/p>\n
But the Blues\u2019 \u2018Braveheart\u2019 racked up 17 touches and four clearances in that time and clinched the best-on-ground performance hauling in the matchwinning contested mark and goal deep forward late. <\/p>\n
It was the season-turning on-field moment. And the Cats are the Blues\u2019 bunnies.<\/p>\n
If Carlton topple Geelong for the fifth time in six games on Friday night, they will get another shot at winning into another preliminary final with a vastly different side and style than the Blues who faced Brisbane in 2023.<\/p>\n
That was when Carlton was winning clearance, kicking long, and focusing heavily on the twin tower forward setup.<\/p>\n
Without Charlie Curnow, now the threat is much more spread. There\u2019s more speed and precision. More angles. More chase down tackles and more balance in attack.<\/p>\n
Ben Ainsworth played the best game of his career on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Ben Ainsworth puts Carlton in front<\/p>\n
Underrated link man Ollie Hollands has put aside the difficulty of his brother\u2019s year, Lachie Cowan showed his toughness in big moments, Francis Evans is a hyena, Harry McKay has become a leader, and Adam Cerra is having an impact on games again across half back.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re lesser lights starring under bright lights. <\/p>\n
And Jacob Weitering reminded us all why he was considered one of the best key defenders in the game in the second half.<\/p>\n
Dean may be the future, but Weitering came up big with 11 spoils, 10 intercept possessions and six intercept marks to nullify the Demons.<\/p>\n
But the most scintillating aspect of the revival is the ball use. <\/p>\n
They are no longer the butchers, they\u2019re machine gunners, the Blues.<\/p>\n
They kick the Sherrin in quick, short bursts.<\/p>\n
Under new coach Josh Fraser Carlton is number one for total disposals and uncontested marks, and number 18 for kick long percentage.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s rat-a-tat-tat by foot instead of dumping the ball long-down-the-line anymore.<\/p>\n
The brand is so clear and it is working, winning 12 of their last 15 games.<\/p>\n
It is exactly what Walsh had dreamt of when he re-signed back in February at a club which hasn\u2019t tasted the ultimate since 1995.<\/p>\n
That was the year the Blues demolished Geelong, but the premiership drought since then is one of the longest in the game.<\/p>\n
So, if Cripps is the most loyal man in footy, Walsh might be second on that list.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a hell of a rollercoaster including four different senior coaches across eight years.<\/p>\n
But all he wants is Carlton success.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just couldn\u2019t think of anything better than wining something at this club,\u201d Walsh said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year I have been at the club you learn different lessons, so it\u2019s piecing it together.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully I can be a big part of keeping a strong culture here, and even setting up some success for the club for many years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Fraser's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/aec3967888cf18bdee1e668a4128d018.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
WILDCARD WINNERS<\/p>\n
The wildcard finals concept gets a big tick.<\/a><\/p>\n The biggest plus is the extra life it gives the latter part of the regular season in helping eliminate many of the dead rubbers that plagued last season.<\/p>\n But if there was still any doubt, the two wildcard finals we watched across Friday and Saturday nights were blinders.<\/p>\n The MCG was full, they attracted huge television ratings, and it meant there were two showpiece cutthroat matches on an otherwise footy-free weekend.<\/p>\n What\u2019s not to like?<\/p>\n It would take a miraculous effort for Carlton or the Bulldogs to go all the way from here, and the top-six teams clearly have a sizeable advantage.<\/p>\n But the AFL\u2019s wildcard decision was a winner. <\/p>\n PENDLES FLIES NORTH After his classy exit from Collingwood on Saturday, bringing an end to his legendary Magpies\u2019 career, attention will soon turn to the Suns.<\/p>\n One of the most talented lists in the game will soon add one of the smartest and most respected leaders in footy to maximise the Suns\u2019 capabilities.<\/p>\n And Christian Petracca looms as one of the main beneficiaries.<\/p>\n The former Demon endured a hot start and a poor end to the season after being shifted more forward.<\/p>\n It rounded out a terribly frustrating first season in red and yellow for the Norm Smith medallist.<\/p>\n While Damien Hardwick said it was his challenge to work out how to fix the Petracca problem, Pendlebury is certain to join the conversation.<\/p>\n The five-time Copeland Trophy winner will bid farewell to Collingwood fans at the best and fairest night after wanting the attention to be on superstar teammate Steele Sidebottom after the loss to Western Bulldogs.<\/p>\n For Pendlebury, his AFL games record celebration this year will be hard to beat as a remarkable and emotional acknowledgment of his career.<\/p>\n But the new chapter looms.<\/p>\n And while the Suns were disappointed to lose Ben King, there is considerable excitement for what the champion Magpie brings on and off the field. <\/p>\n NEUTRAL <\/p>\n THE PRODIGAL SON\u2019S RETURN? The superstar defender\u2019s future is up in the air after the season-ending suspension for the Pullman Five.<\/p>\n Police investigations are ongoing into sexual assault investigations with a focus on the actions of Isaac Heeney.<\/p>\n The welfare of the alleged victims remains the top priority and the game\u2019s leaders have repeatedly said the women involved remain the key concern. <\/p>\n But, from a football perspective, Victorian clubs are closely watching Blakey\u2019s situation.<\/p>\n The Swans will attempt to bring the team back together amid a club review of their culture and the events which led to the devastating aftermath of the round 23 win over Essendon.<\/p>\n But there remains considerable doubt the Swans will be able to keep each of the five players who were suspended for breaking team rules with their late-night antics.<\/p>\n For the Roos, Blakey\u2019s run-and-gun from the back half is the kind of quality which could help North take a giant leap into finals next year.<\/p>\n Clarkson will be desperate for more top-end talent heading into a crunch 2027. <\/p>\n Outside playmakers Bailey Scott (delisted) and Zac Fisher were unable to have an impact, while Luke McDonald will be 32 next year. <\/p>\n They need another linebreaking defender and at 195cm Blakey is an ideal target with strong connections with the club already. <\/p>\n Certainly, the Saints are another club on the lookout for a half back and could free up some salary cap space for Blakey if they lose ruckman Rohan Marshall to Geelong.<\/p>\n The Dogs are another club who could circle if Zak Butters picks Geelong. <\/p>\n But if Blakey is going to seriously weigh up a move to Victoria, then Clarkson will zero in on the son of one of his good mates, and North great, John.<\/p>\n North was in the mix to draft Blakey as a father-son with his dad playing 224 games there before joining as an assistant coach. He left the Roos on good terms. <\/p>\n The Roos have been unable to secure top-line recruits over the past decade, but will surely dangle a sizeable carrot to try and prise Blakey out of the Swans.<\/p>\n It will require deep consideration from the Kangas\u2019 board given the events and police investigation. And they will need all the relevant information to make an informed decision. <\/p>\n Blakey is also still contracted until 2031. <\/p>\n The Swans don\u2019t have a first-round pick in next year\u2019s draft so the Roos could put that future first on the table even though Tasmania will dominate the 2027 draft.<\/p>\n North has pick five in this year\u2019s draft and will get a bonus end-of-first-round pick when its first choice is shuffled down the order by father-son and next generation academy picks.<\/p>\n But if pick five is what it will take to land Blakey then it must seriously tempt North considering all the top end picks they have already taken over the past decade.<\/p>\n Gold Coast gave up picks seven and eight as part of a wider deal for Christian Petracca last year and Blakey is an All-Australian. <\/p>\n The Kangaroos are already chasing Adelaide key defender Nick Murray to plug a major hole in its defensive setup.<\/p>\n But Blakey is the late-season curve ball. <\/p>\n DISLIKES<\/p>\n MIRACLE MAN The relentless physical toll of his courageous aerial attempts flies under the radar.<\/p>\n And at times in recent years, he has been the most banged-up forward in the caper.<\/p>\n But for Luke Beveridge\u2019s men to progress past Adelaide in the elimination final on Saturday night, they can\u2019t continue to rely on one man\u2019s marking miracles.<\/p>\n
Scott Pendlebury will help drive standards and strategy at Gold Coast.<\/a><\/p>\n
North Melbourne should be first in the queue for Sydney Swans\u2019 line breaker Nick Blakey.<\/p>\n![\"Swans](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/34957443b66318d43979bfc803683d40.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Aaron Naughton shoulders one of the biggest loads in the game.<\/p>\n