Live: Red-hot Blues host Eagles at Docklands ahead of Showdown 60

ABC News

SportsABC News·Jun 27, 2026·8 min read

Live: Red-hot Blues host Eagles at Docklands ahead of Showdown 60

Carlton tries to make it six straight wins under interim coach Josh Fraser as they host West Coast, ahead of the 60th edition of the Showdown in Adelaide tonight.

The Blues started the round just a game outside the wildcard spots, and they will be favoured to beat the Eagles at Docklands.

Later, Collingwood takes on Richmond at the MCG, before tonight the focus turns to Adelaide Oval, where Port Adelaide and the Crows will clash under lights.

Follow all the action in our live blog.

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Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 1:47pm

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Blues vs Eagles

Highlights

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:53pm

West Coast bags another goal to narrow the margin

By Andrew McGarry

All right, we may have a contest here!

The Eagles get the ball forward and have a forward 50 stoppage.

And the umpires find a ruck infringement from Marc Pittonet on Bailey Williams.

The big man goes back and kicks a lovely right - to - left curler.

That's two in a row for the Eagles, and there is a murmur of concern at Docklands. The lead is now 21 points.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:49pm

Good start for the Eagles with goal from Murdock

By Andrew McGarry

It's been a big contested start to the second half, and the Eagles have forced it inside 50.

It's a bit of a scramble inside Carlton's defence, and the ball spills to Milan Murdock, who steps out and snaps a nice goal to give the visitors a positive start!

The lead is back to 27 points.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:40pm

Top possession-getters

By Andrew McGarry

Sam Walsh (CARL) - 20

Patrick Cripps (CARL) - 19

Jagga Smith (CARL) - 15

George Hewett (CARL) - 15

Ollie Florent (CARL) - 15

Ben Ainsworth (CARL) - 14

A sign of the Carlton dominance is that the top EIGHT possession-getters on the ground are all from the Blues.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:35pm

HT stats

By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 33-25 Carlton

Clearances: 25-17 Carlton

Centre clearances: 9-8 West Coast

Contested possessions: 75-59 Carlton

Uncontested possessions: 172-84 Carlton

Marks inside 50: 13-0 Carlton

Tackles: 28-22 Carlton

Carlton are controlling the ball, even though West Coast did better at inside 50s and centre clearances in that quarter.

The big standout is the uncontested possessions - the Blues have nearly 100 more than their opposition, and that is helping them dominate.

Key Event

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:28pm

HT: Carlton 10.6 (66) leads West Coast 5.4 (34)

By Andrew McGarry

A late goal from Brady Hough gives the Eagles a bit of hope, but as the siren sounds for half-time, it's been a fairly one-sided half of footy.

The fact that West Coast are only 32 points behind is a slight plus, but how they are going to put together six unanswered goals to get ahead escapes me right now.

The Blues need to straighten up and not take their foot off the pedal in the second half, and they could not only earn their sixth-straight win, they could get a nice percentage boost as well.

The only query is a late moment where Patrick Cripps was left wringing his hand in discomfort. The Blues will be hoping it's just temporary and not the sign of an injury. #OneToWatch

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:22pm

Carlton converting their chances well in second term

By Andrew McGarry

The Eagles defence is just not coping with the Blues attack right now.

Carlton are racking up the inside 50s, and making use of them.

Matthew Cottrell has scored a goal after a mark on 50.

The Blues have 32 inside 50s and kicked 10.6 so far.

The big red alarm bell for West Coast is Carlton snagging 14 marks inside 50 to none. FOURTEEN!

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:17pm

Blues break well clear with two more goals

By Andrew McGarry

Carlton have had the edge here throughout the first quarter and a half, and they are busy building their lead.

First Talor Byrne kicked his second, less showy goal.

And then Mitch McGovern added another, to give the home side a 32-point lead going into time on in the second term at Docklands.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:11pm

Bo Allan answers for West Coast

By Andrew McGarry

The Blues are in control here at Docklands, but the Eagles are not going away.

They could have been deflated after that great goal from Byrne, but they answer back and take it to Carlton.

Bo Allan kicks West Coast's fourth of the day. They still trail by 20, but they're in it.

Key Event

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:06pm

Talor Byrne kicks the early goal of the day for Carlton!

By Andrew McGarry

Carlton will be frustrated at that goal, but they are determined to hit back.

They break through the middle, switching the play to the left and kicking to a contest.

The ball spills, Talor Byrne runs onto it away from goal ... but then he hooks it round his body from 40-45m out deep in the pocket - and it goes through!

The Blues-heavy crowd at Docklands are ROARING at that.

What a kick! What an answer from Carlton.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:03pm

Brady Hough gets a vital goal for West Coast

By Andrew McGarry

Ok, that was better from the Eagles.

They went forward and found Brady Hough just on 50.

He kicked from just outside the arc in the right forward pocket, and it sailed through!

Much needed goal there - the margin is back to 21 points, earlyish in the second term.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 2:01pm

Harley Reid giving away 50 for West Coast

By Andrew McGarry

It's a point apiece in the early stages of the second quarter, but West Coast had a chance there.

Harley Reid burst free down the right and was heading inside 50 but he lost control of the ball and was grabbed by the defence. he was still moving forward but he was clearly tackled, he couldn't hear the call and tried to snap a goal from 45.

He gave away 50 and was then furious with the umpire for the penalty! He's never boring, that's one thing about Reid.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 1:58pm

Some dominant stats for Carlton at QT

By Andrew McGarry

We are going for the second term, but some of these stats are worrying for the Eagles.

The Blues are leading inside 50s (double West Coast's), clearances and centre clearances (likewise), and contested).

But the big worry is the marks inside 50, with Carlton having 8 to West Coast's none.

Key Event

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 1:49pm

QT: Carlton 6.5 (41) leads West Coast 2.2 (14)

By Andrew McGarry

The siren sounds at Docklands and that's a very good quarter for Carlton - but it could have been better!

The Blues are dominating, with double the number of disposals of West Coast, and it's showing up across the board.

The Blues have had plenty of chances, and while they've kicked six - including a late one to Patrick Cripps - they've left a few on the table.

West Coast will need to raise their game here, or this could start getting late really early.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 1:39pm

Hewett kicks another for the Blues

By Andrew McGarry

What did we just say?

The Blues intercepted the ball and won a clearance, fed the ball inside 50, and George Hewett was in place to kick his second!

The Blues are looking comfortable and confident here at Docklands. They have five on the board already.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 1:37pm

Blues dominating clearance at Docklands

By Andrew McGarry

The Blues have double the inside 50s (12-6) of the Eagles, and one of the reasons for that is the clearance numbers.

Carlton has 12 clearances to West Coast's four so far, and five centre clearances to two.

The Eagles will need to try and narrow that gap here.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 1:34pm

Lots of scoring under the roof

By Andrew McGarry

There's plenty going on here for both teams, some to and fro.

And now we have some fro, after a couple of West Coast goals, the Blues break and hit inside 50. It comes off hands and Francis Evans grabs it and snaps a nice goal from 30m out.

We're halfway through the first term, and we've had four goals to two in Carlton's favour. What's next?

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 1:32pm

Willem Duursma grabs a goal for West Coast

By Andrew McGarry

And the Eagles get another!

They've been under the pump for a lot of this quarter, but it's their two young guns - first Harley Reid, and now Willem Duursma - who get them back in the contest.

Duursma showed composure there, slipping over but regathering himself to kick the Eagles' second.

It's back to just over a goal.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 1:29pm

Harley Reid hits back for the Eagles

By Andrew McGarry

All right, that's better from the Eagles!

The defence has been having issues, so maybe try and attack instead.

West Coast win the centre clearance through Bailey Williams tap to Harley Reid. The Eagles star runs away and bangs one through from inside the arc!

That's a team-lifter there!

Sat 27 Jun 2026 at 1:27pm

George Hewett kicks Carlton's third

By Andrew McGarry