Carlton facing season-defining clash as premiership odds plummet

Carlton run the risk of falling two games outside of the top eight at the midway point of the AFL season, as their season of great expectation turns into a nightmare. 

The Blues had been as short as $6 in the pre-season to win the AFL premiership in 2025, but their lacklustre form, which has seen them win just four out of 10 games, means they need to defeat eighth-placed GWS at the MCG on Saturday, or fall two games behind them. 

The Blues premiership odds have also taken a major hit, with Michael Voss’s team now paying $41 to win the flag, following their loss to Sydney at the SCG on Friday night. 

Voss remains optimistic and believes his team did a lot right in the 16-point loss, but “when the game went up a little it we weren’t able to go up with it”.  

“The reality is we’ve got a good enough method, a good enough system and roles that should be able to get done for quarters, but we just didn’t do it, didn’t finish off the game,” he said. 

“We certainly didn’t reward ourselves with the heavy effort we put to get ourselves in a good position.” 

The Blues will face GWS without Jordan Boyd (concussion protocols) and Jack Silvagni (groin) with the pair sitting out much of the Swans’ game. 

The Giants are coming off a disappointing performance of their own after losing to previously struggling Fremantle in Sydney, with the loss compounded by injuries to Finn Callaghan (shoulder) and Toby McMullen (adductor).

Meanwhile, round 11 of the AFL season will kick off on Thursday night, with the Western Bulldogs travelling to Geelong to face former midfielder Bailey Smith at GMHBA Stadium. 

Smith has moved from $9 to $5.50 to win the Brownlow Medal after hie best-on-ground display in the Cats’ win over Port Adelaide on Saturday. 

Smith controversially sat out most of last season after a knee injury in a bid to be fit for his new club, a move that has reaped dividends with the running machine starring this season in a key midfield role.

Geelong is an early $1.86 favourite to defeat the Western Bulldogs $1.98 with Australian betting sites.