AFL wildcard matches and times confirmed

The Western Bulldogs will clash with Collingwood on Friday night, while Melbourne and Carlton compete in the second wildcard round match on Saturday evening. Both wildcard matches are set to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Carlton is optimistic about their chances of making a deep finals run from 10th spot as they aim for a wildcard round showdown with Melbourne. Josh Fraser's side will face the Demons on Saturday night at the MCG, marking the second of two knockout wildcard clashes in this new format.

Should Melbourne emerge victorious, they will travel to Adelaide, whereas the winner between Western Bulldogs and Collingwood will visit Geelong. Conversely, if Carlton prevail, they will head to Geelong, with the other wildcard victor facing off against Adelaide. Carlton currently reigns as the strongest team in the lower finals bracket following a commanding victory over league leaders Fremantle in round 24, extending their unbeaten streak to five matches.

Carlton's coach, Josh Fraser, anticipates the Blues can cause an upset in the finals, crediting their momentum post-defeating Fremantle. He expressed confidence that a strong performance will bolster their prospects against formidable opponents. Fraser's appointment as full-time coach came after a stellar in-season turnaround, leading Carlton to a wildcard berth.

Kemp highlighted the emphasis on refining skills during training sessions, adding a new dimension to the Blues' game, which has proven fruitful. This shift in approach, coupled with the team's camaraderie, has proven instrumental in their pursuit of finals glory.