The last time Carlton won a game of footy as favourite was 1141 days ago.
That is the number the Blues will be looking to wipe from history on Saturday afternoon against Gold Coast.
Betting agencies currently have Carlton as quite comfortable favourites this weekend, which is something they have not experienced in quite a while.
In fact, that fateful day against Brisbane 1141 days ago in Round 11 of 2016 was the last time Carlton was this heavily backed to win a match.
Carlton was dominant that day, 37 months ago. Dennis Armfield and Jed Lamb combined for six goals. An 18-year-old Jacob Weitering was best on ground.
They’d earned their favouritism by beating Geelong the week before and proved they were worthy of it. They face a similar situation this week coming off the interstate Sydney win.
Gold Coast has been a factor in the Blues’ inability to win a game as favourites, beating them the last time they were so. That was all the way back in March of 2018 – Round 2 at Docklands.
Carlton was coming off an impressive performance against Richmond where they kicked the first five goals of the game, before being overrun by the reigning premiers.
The Blues came into the Easter weekend game well backed to pick up their first win of the season, but a Tom Lynch bag of eight saw them comfortably beaten.
The only other opportunities Carlton has had to go in favourites in those 1141 days were in Round 18 of 2017 against Brisbane (lost by 40), Round 21 of 2016 against Brisbane (lost by four) and Round 12 of 2016 against St Kilda (lost by 32).
They have not started favourites in a game so far this season.
The Blues have earned favouritism this weekend. They’ve won three of their last five and were one kick away in two different games from a perfect record under caretaker coach David Teague.
But now they find themselves in a position they haven’t been in. A mindset and a challenge that Teague has to get right. Not just for the team, but for his own case to take over as full-time coach of the club.
The Suns will be ready as well. They’ve beaten Carlton at Marvel Stadium in two consecutive appearances and will be fired up after a couple of weeks being roasted by the media for back-to-back 90+ point defeats.
Over to you, Carlton.