Round 15
GWS Giants v Carlton
4:15pm, Saturday 20th June 2026
Engie Stadium
The football world has been searching for the secret behind Carlton’s remarkable resurgence under interim coach Josh Fraser. At Engie Stadium on Saturday afternoon the answer was staring everyone in the face. The Blues didn’t didn’t suddenly discover talent, Partick Cripps didn’t become a Brownlow Medalist overnight, Harry McKay didn’t suddenly learn how to mark. And George Hewitt with Sam Walsh didn’t suddenly become elite two-way midfielders.
Add exciting youngsters Jagga Smith and Harry Dean and perhaps the talent was always there. What has changed is belief.
Since Michael Voss’ departure Carlton has surged to five consecutive victories under Fraser, playing with freedom and confidence that was strangely absent during the opening months of the season. Cripps has led from the front, Hewett has regained form through the midfield and McKay has straightened the side up forward. The next generation of Blues stars in Smith and Dean have embraced the responsibility. The result is a team that suddenly looks dangerous, united and capable of making a surge towards September.
Spare a thought for Michael Voss. Watching from afar the former Carlton coach must surely have experienced a mixture of pride, frustration and heartbreak. Pride because many of these players remain fiercely loyal to him and publicly praised his leadership upon his departure. Frustration because the intensity, resilience and consistency currently being displayed seemed impossible to extract when his position was under siege. And heartbreak because football history is littered with coaches who are moved on just before the breakthrough arrives.
For the Giants however, the conversation is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. The loss wasn’t merely four premiership points surrendered at home. It felt bigger than that. With a brutal run home looming the Giants are hanging by a thread. Defensive pressure is inconsistent. The midfield with Oliver, Callaghan and co struggle to dominate for four quarters and the forward line looks dangerous in patches but not often enough. Hogan, Cadman and Stringer struggled with the constant pressure against what looked liked an undermanned and inexperienced Carlton backline.
Now to Toby Greene. Every significant loss invites speculation but this one felt different. Toby has repeatedly carried this football club on his shoulders. He is the face, heart and soul of the club. Yet at 32 years of age premiership windows don’t remain open forever. Maybe that stark reality hit home for Toby on Saturday and manifested itself in a moment of frustration when he lashed out at Nic Newman.
As rumours and speculation continue linking Greene with a return to Victoria and a potential move to Geelong, games like this inevitably become part of the decision-making process. Not because of money. Not because of lifestyle. Because elite competitors want to play meaningful games deep into September.
Only Greene knows what is truly in his heart. His loyalty to the Giants is unquestioned. He helped build the club from an expansion experiment into a genuine AFL force. But as another opportunity slipped away at Engie Stadium it was difficult not to wonder whether he was looking at Carlton’s rejuvenation and asking “how many chances have I got left?”
For Josh Fraser and Carlton the fairytale continues. For Michael Voss the emotions must be complicated. And for Toby Greene and the Giants the clock may be ticking louder than ever.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.5 5.6 9.7 9.11 (65)
CARLTON 1.6 6.11 9.13 12.16 (88)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 3, Stone 2, Daniels, Hogan, Cadman, Gothard
Carlton: Evans 3, Hayward 2, Cottrell 2, Ainsworth, Hewett, Kemp, Walsh, McKay
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Callaghan, Oliver, Ash, Whitfield, Daniels
Carlton: Hewett, Walsh, Newman, Cripps, Acres
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Laverde (hamstring)
Carlton: Nil
LATE CHANGES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Carlton: Nil
Crowd: 13,709
Malarkey Votes
3 – Hewett
2 – Walsh
1 – Cripps
Read other round 15 match reports HERE
Read more from Richard Griffiths HERE
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