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AFL 2026 Recap: West Coast Eagles fail to fire as Carlton make it six straight wins

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Jake Santa MariaThe West Australian
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Marc Pittonet of the Blues tackles Harley Reid.
Camera IconMarc Pittonet of the Blues tackles Harley Reid. Credit: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

AFL: West Coast return from the bye to face a rejuvenated Carlton, who have not lost a game since sacking Michael Voss. Can the Eagles slow their charge to get a rare road win?

The Eagles will be boosted by the return of Willem Duursma, who missed their heartbreaking loss to North Melbourne, while midfield bull Jack Graham will return for his first game since having shoulder surgery.

Tom McCarthy is also back but Tim Kelly will miss with a hamstring strain in a huge blow to their on-ball group.

Follow all the action live!

ANALYSIS

Jagga Smith is a nose in front of Willem Duursma for the Rising Star award after Saturday’s clash.

MATCH REPORT

West Coast have become the latest victims of a resurgent Carlton under interim coach Josh Fraser, going down by 53 points at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

McKay speaks

“Another good one to see off today, the energy is definitely up,” he says.

“Fraser has done a great job of driving that and Fraser has been awesome.

“The whole midfield has been awesome and we’ve got some younger guys coming through which is exciting.”

FULL TIME Carlton 17.15 (117) West Coast 9.10 (64)

Jagga Smith kicks on the sirent o put an exclamation mark on his Rising Star credential as a late Blues deluge blew out the scoreboard and condemn the Eagles to another disappointing day at Marvel.

53 points in the end and the Eagles were never really in it.

Sam Walsh with 33 touches and five clearances; Patrick Cripps 31 touches nince clearances and a goal while Jagga Smith had 22 and a goal.

Six straight for the Blues and a step backwards for the Eagles.

Carlton is coming home with a wet sail

Ben Ainsworth launches a terrific goal on the run before Francis Evans gets one from the square.

Before Will Hayward launches then laucnhes another terrific goal and the margin is out to 49 points.

Eagles desperate for the siren.

Waterman misses right

He finally gets some separation from Dean and gets on a lead to take an uncontested mark.

It’s his first set shot for the night but he can’t work it back as it misses right.

He’s kicked a goal in every single game so far this season. He has nine minutes to try and keep that streak alive.

CAR 13.13 (91) WCE 9.7 (61)

Williams has a second

Back to back for the Eagles as Bo Allan and Ryan Maric work hard to force the repeat entries.

Centreing kick comes off the pack but Tom Cole cleans up to handball to Williams who snaps his second off a step.

CAR 13.11 (90) WCE 9.5 (59)

Waterman finally gets involved

Scruffy kick from McCarthy is trapped well by Hough who handballs to Graham who gets it to Reid in space and his kick is perfect to Jake Waterman out the back.

He handballs over to Shanahan to kick one from the goal square. First mark for Waterman,

McKay has three

Tylar Young stuck behind and he gives away a holding free kick just oustide the square.

Disposals number 17 for the Blues forward who kicks his third to push the margin past 40 points.

CAR 13.11 (89) WCE 7.5 (47)

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