Live: Blues bite back after horror start in must-win clash against Suns

Carlton hosts Gold Coast at Docklands Stadium with both teams needing a win to keep their wildcard hopes alive.Later on today, Hawthorn faces Essendon at the MCG from 4:15pm, while the GWS Giants take on Sydney at the Showgrounds from 4:35pm.In this evening's final match, the Western Bulldogs host Richmond at Docklands Stadium from 7:40pm (all times AEST).Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:29pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:29pmWalter gets pinged for holding the ballThe Suns finally look like they're about to go inside 50, but it's halted by the umpire's whistle.Jed Walter is tackled by Lewis Young but shows great strength to shrug him off, but as he's breaking away from the contest, the umpire blows the whistle for holding the ball.I'm not too sure about that call. Did he have ahold of Walter at any stage?Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:26pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:26pmCarlton dominating all of a suddenThe Blues have recorded the last eight inside 50s of this match to take a 12-9 overall lead.The Suns are not helping themselves with some absolutely horrendous play in their back half.What you can glean from this first quarter is why both of these teams are in their current ladder positions.Both, as the kids say, incredibly mid.Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:24pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:24pmEvans puts Carlton in front!How quickly fortunes change in this one!Suddenly Carlton is all over Gold Coast and once again there are open men everywhere inside 50.Jagga Smith takes a mark right on the 50m arc and plays on to find Frankie Evans a little closer to goal.Evans goes back and drills the set shot to put the Blues in front! It's been all Carlton in the last 10 minutes here.Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:22pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:22pmByrne gets his own goal as Blues bite backTalor Byrne is up and about early and he's on the board now!The Blues now having their turn in trapping the ball in their attacking 50, and it's leading to scores.Byrne finds himself completely unmarked inside 50 and is forced to play on, but finishes smartly on his left boot.Carlton has recovered really well after a sloppy first 10 minutes.Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:20pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:20pmHayward gets the Blues on the board with brilliant snapMessy, messy stuff from the Blues but it works out in the end!Talor Byrne's kick inside 50 doesn't go the required distance, but Will Hayward does brilliantly to mark it and then turns and snaps it through almost in one single motion.The Blues badly needed that steadier.Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:18pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:18pmNewman off the ground with hamstring injuryA bad start gets worse for the Blues with Nic Newman limping off the ground.Newman tries to volley a ball in congestion out of mid-air and he's come up clutching his left hamstring.He's gone down into the rooms and I highly doubt we see him again this afternoon.The Suns lead the inside 50 count 9-4 early and Noah Anderson already has seven touches.Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:15pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:15pmPatterson makes it three straight for the Suns!This is a scintillating start from the Gold Coast Suns!The ball is living in Gold Coast's half of the ground now and as they go forward there are unmarked targets everywhere.The initial target is Christian Petracca, but the kick is chopped off by his teammate Dylan Patterson.Patterson, like Humphrey a little earlier, kicks beautifully from the set shot to keep the Suns perfect in front of goal.There are audible groans coming from the Carlton faithful in the stands. This has been a really flat start.Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:11pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:11pmHumphrey strikes after shocking turnoverThe Suns have two goals in three minutes!Lewis Young's kick out of defensive 50 hangs way too long in the air and the Suns force the easy turnover.That was a very low-percentage kick from Young.The ball ends up in the hands of Bailey Humphrey, who drills his set shot from right on the 50m arc from directly in front.That'll feel good for Humphrey after what has been a really weird season from him, really mirroring the form of his club.Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:09pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:09pmWalter strikes first after Derksen's 50m penaltyGold Coast has the first goal of the afternoon and it's through Jed Walter!It's the dreaded protected zone 50m penalty, this time it's Wade Derksen who gives it away as he looks to try and get to a man inside defensive 50.I've said it before and I'll say it again, that is an incredibly harsh penalty to pay for a minor infraction.Not sure Josh Fraser will be too thrilled with the ease at which the Suns transitioned the ball from defensive 50 to attacking 50 there.Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:05pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:05pmPlay is underway between Carlton and Gold Coast!Here we go then!What do we have in store this afternoon between two teams who blow EXTREMELY hot and cold?Which one of them will find consistency quicker today?Some first-bounce match-ups for you: Jagga Smith lines up alongside Matt Rowell, Patrick Cripps alongside Christian Petracca and Harry Dean has the Ben King assignment.Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:05pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 1:05pmAFL round 20, Saturday — live scoreboardSat 25 Jul 2026 at 12:56pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 12:56pmCarlton vs Gold Coast team news — No late changesBoth Carlton and Gold Coast will line up as originally selected this afternoon at Docklands Stadium.The Blues have made two changes to their last line-up with Marc Pittonet and Lewis Young coming in for Harry McKay and Liam Reidy.The Suns have made just one change with Charlie Ballard coming in for Oscar Adams.Here's a look at the two full line-ups:Carlton and Gold Coast's team line-ups. (AFL.com.au)Sat 25 Jul 2026 at 12:51pmSat 25 Jul 2026 at 12:51pmWelcome!Good afternoon and welcome to ABC Sport's continuing live AFL coverage!Round 20 continues today with FOUR matches, all with varying finals implications.We kick things off at Docklands Stadium with two teams in Carlton and Gold Coast, who are both currently on the outside looking in and desperately needing a win to keep their wildcard hopes alive.We then head to the MCG for the Zach Merrett Bowl, also known as Hawthorn vs Essendon, while in Sydney a little while later there is the latest edition of the Battle of the Bridge at the Showgrounds between GWS and Sydney.In Saturday's finale, we return to Docklands where the Western Bulldogs host Richmond.The first match kicks off at 1:05pm AEST so strap yourselves in as we bring you all the pre-match news!