‘People might be sick of us, and they can be’: The Cats aren’t going anywhere. They might just be getting started

September 5, 2026 — 1:10am

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As predictable as history demands it, Geelong won a final a night after Hawthorn. Of course. Is it not always such?

The Cats halted the ride of Josh Fraser’s Blues and ended what had been, according to Andrew Dillon in his pre-game speech at the AFL function, the greatest resurrection story since the Bible. Had they won, Carlton fans might argue their story is better.

And so, with the loss, the story of the season (the football story, not the news story for the Swans presently seem to have that covered) comes to an end. The ride stopped. The wave broken.

Coming from 10th, they had to find their level at some point, and leading Geelong by 21 points midway through the second term to then be overwhelmed and outplayed in the second half to lose by 33 points is their level.

Fraser cautioned at the idea that next year just picks up where this one left off, that the ride will inevitably continue and roll on into pre-season like it is “Carlton 2026: The sequel”.

With the coaches’ eye for next week, Fraser preferred not to focus on how far the Blues had come in a short time this season, but how much further they still have to go. If they have brought back Carlton swagger to fill the MCG to 96,680 and the second-biggest elimination final crowd ever, there was also a crackling Carlton restlessness about where they can get to.

“Tonight was disappointing, and we certainly don’t want to........

© The Sydney Morning Herald