Carlton prevailed over Melbourne in one of the most memorable Semi Finals any of the 96,492 fans at the MCG would have ever seen, with Blake Acres kicking the winning goal.
The two-point triumph came on the back of several standout performances by important Blues, while a number of Demons did everything they could.
Here’s how we rated every player.
Melbourne
Jake Lever (A): Huge in the first term and a massive reason why Charlie Curnow was quiet. Can hold his head very, very high.
Judd McVee (C+): Did his role across half-back to finish with 13 touches. Worked hard all night and never took a backward step.
Lachie Hunter (B): Had 25 possessions and overall used the ball well. Didn’t stand out but had an impact.
James Jordan (C): Just 10 disposals in a relatively quiet showing.
Tom Sparrow (B): Was impressive apart from a fourth quarter brain fade when Carlton was charging. A competitive effort.
Max Gawn (B-): The skipper would have been eyeing a big game but wasn’t in his side’s best. The duo of Tom De Koning and Marc Pittonet proved a worthy adversary for the majority of the night.
Charlie Spargo (B+): Went goalless but had a genuine impact with his forward craft. Showed why he was brought back in for such a big game.
Trent Rivers (C+): Used the ball well and did enough to play his role without having an overt impact on the contest.
Tom McDonald (D): No impact on the contest from the Melbourne key forward, unfortunately.
Bayley Fritsch (C): A great performance, but the two goals from five shots is all fans will remember. Missed a big chance late in the game that would have all but ended it.
Clayton Oliver (A-): Melbourne’s best midfielder, along with Viney. Was pivotal in the third term as Melbourne got on top.
Steven May (A+): Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Smashed Charlie Curnow and couldn’t have done any more with his counterattack work either.
Adam Tomlinson (B-): Had a couple of nervous moments but overall justified why he was brought in for Michael Hibbered.
Jake Bowey (C): Only 12 touches in a quiet night for the small defender. Just the one tackle suggests he didn’t have a massive defensive game either.
Christian Salem (B+): Always seems to play his role in big games and Friday night was no different. Had a couple of big moments where he stood up and a nice return to form, albeit on the wrong side of the result on Friday night.
Jack Viney (A-): Alongside Oliver, Melbourne’s best around the ball. The toughest midfielder on the ground.
Ed Langdon (C-): Made a mess of multiple big moments when it was his turn to impact. 20 touches but a night he’d likely want back.
Christian Petracca (B+): Seemed to get stuck between the forward line and midfield a lot. 24 touches and a goal is a strong return, but he didn’t tear the game apart like we know he can.
Alex Neal-Bullen (B): Played his role and put his head over the ball when it was his turn.
Kysaiah Pickett (A): A poor start where Pickett threatened to become a liability flipped on its head with his second half. Incredible when Melbourne started turning the screws and was a better bounce away from being the match-winner. Will keep MRO Michael Christian busy with two seperate incidents to be looked at.
Joel Smith (B+): A game-high three goals but not much impact outside of that. Nevertheless, on a day when many struggled for majors, he stood up.
Kade Chandler (C-): Nine disposals and no goals. A very ‘almost’ night for Chandler.
Josh Schache (N/A): Wasn’t brought on by Simon Goodwin after starting as the sub.
Carlton
Brodie Kemp (B): His fingernails were ultimately one of the factors that was a difference.
Alex Cincotta (C-): Was well beaten by Kysaiah Pickett after starting strong. Not a great matchup from Carlton’s point of view.
Blake Acres (A): This man continues to stand up in finals. How he came to be without a man in the goal square with a minute to play will be no doubt played out over in the aftermath.
Sam Docherty (A): The toughest player on the ground. To have his impact after a dislocated shoulder is simply incredible.
Lachie Fogarty (C+): 14 disposals in a crafty performance but didn’t stand out in the Blues forward line.
Marc Pittonet (B): Only the five touches but was part of a combination that probably got the better of Max Gawn. For that, he deserves plenty of praise.
Caleb Marchbank (C+): Had some nervous moments but was ultimately an important part of Carlton’s back six.
George Hewett (C): Not a big night for the on-baller, who finished with 18 touches.
Adam Cerra (B-): One of Cerra’s quieter games for a while. The star Blue used the ball superbly.
Charlie Curnow (C-): Was well beaten by Steven May and when Carlton was coming late, looked uncompetitive at times while dropping his shoulders. Perhaps his worst effort of the year.
Tom De Koning (A+): Arise, Tom De Koning. His second quarter was sublime and had a genuine impact against one of the best ruckman of the generation.
Patrick Cripps (B+): Copped multiple knocks but battled as hard as he could in a typical Patrick Cripps performance. 27 touches and five tackles for the skipper.
Mitch McGovern (B): A strong effort from McGovern who continues to impress down back.
Jacob Weitering (A-): Another heart and soul performance from Weitering. Makes this backline tick.
Nic Newman (A-): Was involved in plenty of Carlton’s run and gun play when they moved the ball swiftly and enjoyed 30 possessions alongside 11 marks.
Adam Saad (B+): Along with Newman, Saad’s pace stood out off half-back in providing plenty.
Matthew Cottrell (C+): Wasn't the starring performer he was last week, but who expected that? Did his job with 11 touches.
Matthew Owies (C+): A quiet game overall but kicked the second goal of the final term as Carlton kicked into gear. That has to be acknowledged.
Jesse Motlop (B+): Kicked an impressive snap as Carlton narrowed the margin to within a goal. Two goals and 11 touches in such an important performance.
Sam Walsh (A+): Carlton’s best midfielder, hands down. Continues to stand up when the pressure is on. 34 disposals and two goals is an incredible performance for any contest, let alone in front of 96,000+ fans at the MCG.
David Cuningham (N/A): Was subbed off for Hollands late in the game after nine possessions.
Matthew Kennedy (B-): Battled well in the forward line with 1.2 and did enough to justify his inclusion in Jack Martin’s role.