-- FULL TIME --

BLUES WIN! BLUES WIN!

Carlton hold on by six points after a late Swans surge, with a meeting against Melbourne set to take place next week in a semi-final.

19:35 - McLean boots a goal after the ball hit the deck and rolled to his feet atop the goalsquare. Six points in it with 25 seconds left!

18:55 - Jack Martin has come up HUGE in the dying minutes, taking two monster intercepts deep in defence to retain possession.

15:02 - Braeden Campbell is left to fight for a ground ball in the Blues' attacking 50 with three opponents around him. Owies provided pressure as Martin managed to pounce on the pill and offload a handball to Acres, who waltzed into the goalsquare and booted a massive major for Carlton. Lead back to 13 points.

11:36 - Cerra kicks it long toward goal, De Koning is in a good position near the line but can only get one hand to it. The ball trickles over the line after coming off his fingertips. Blues by 9.

9:06 - Errol Gulden launches from outside 50 and the ball bounces through the goals, with Acres appealing it was touched by his left hand. Umpires go upstairs, and after some rock n' rolling, a behind is given. A controversial call given the footage couldn't offer a conclusive angle.

4:33 - The Swans allow Kemp to stay put on the goalline and not rush the ball over, with the Blues backman coughing the ball up along with De Koning for Hickey and Parker to capitalise on the mistake and allow the latter to boot his second.

3:08 - Cripps gets on the end of a Blues pass and shoots from 50m out, with his kick failing to hold its line and records a behind.

1:09 - Papley gets the first chance of the last term, with a set-shot from outside 50 too much for the small forward, whose kicks sails left and registers a behind.

SUB MADE: Harry McKay replaced by Jesse Motlop

SUB MADE: Joel Amartey replaced by Robbie Fox

-- Three-Quarter Time --

Carlton: 10.6.66
Sydney: 7.9.51

Momentum was back and forth all term, with Sydney right in the contest at the last break. Carlton with some players potentially ruled out after head knocks, which could open the door for a Swans comeback. A thrilling finish to come.

18:40 - The Swans get another back through Parker, who was loose out the back and got on the end of a Papely assist to cap off a counterattack. Lead cut to 15.

17:35 - More sore bodies for the Blues, with Harry McKay in the hands of trainers after crashing into Tom McCartin in a marking contest. Could be a head injury concern for McKay. Was helped off the field soon after.

NOTE: Carlton defender Nic Newman is on the sidelines after copping a shoulder to the jaw in a tackle attempt on Luke Parker.

15:34 - Following the kick-in from McLean's miss, the Swans force a turnover and the ball lands in Hayward's hands, with a long snap sailing through the middle to snap Carlton's run. Blues by 21.

15:00 - Blakey provides a running option after Amartey marks the ball from outside the arc, with his kick hitting up McLean 25m out on a comfortable angle. The Sydney big man skews his kick wide for a behind.

13:20 - Cripps wraps up Jake Lloyd inside 50 and is rewarded with a free kick 45m out. Goes back, wheels around and sails his first September major through the sticks to put the lead back out to 28.

11:30 - A shot on the run from Braeden Campbell drifts toward goal, only for a Blues defender to get a fingertip on the Sherrin right before it sails through. Review shows the ball deviate and behind rewarded.

9:20 - Another chance for the Blues slotted home by Adam Cerra, who gathers, takes a couple of steps and kicks truly from 45m out 5-10m in from the boundary line.

8:09 - A high kick inside 50 from McGovern manages to find Martin 40m out on a difficult angle, but it's no issue for Jack, who kicks his second of the night.

6:14 - TWO FOR MCDONALD IN 30 SECONDS!

The clearance comes from Gulden, with McLean getting first hands, Hayward receiving the ball at ground level and McDonald on the end of a handball to dribble through another. Lead cut down to 11.

5:55 - Logan McDonald boots another for the Bloods from 25m out directly in front after breaking loose and taking a strong grab following a quick kick to the hotspot by Parker. Momentum with the red and white.

4:52 - A kick-in from the Blues goes long and wide but the ball quickly lands at the feet of Gulden, who runs into the arc and slots home his first of the night from a tough angle. A HUGE goal by the All-Australian.

4:36 - The Swans pounce on a loose ball and quickly move into a transition attack, with Amartey out the back. The Sydney tall marks the ball close to 60m from goal, plays on and the ball trickles across the wrong side of the left goalpost for a behind.

1:48 - Another sitter missed for McKay, who got himself in a good position with a strong grab atop the goalsquare, only to shank his set shot to the right. Hopefully one that doesn't come back to bite the Blues.

-- Half Time --  

Carlton: 7.5.47
Sydney: 2.6.18

The Blues are taking advantage and relying on their contested game and defensive structure. Swans have recorded eight scoring shots to Carlton's 12, but have kicked just two goals for the night.

19:55 - With just seconds left in the half, Cuningham takes a courageous grab in the pocket and goes back to extend the Blues' lead to 29 points right before the siren.

18:23 - Amartey marks the ball 50m out on a 45-degree angle and goes back to slot a much-needed major for the Swans. Their second of the game with just over 90 seconds left in the first half.

16:40 - Papley crumbs the ball and hands it off to a surging Hayward, who misses to the left from a gettable position.

15:00 - 5 minutes left in the half and the heavens have opened up. This could be a low-scoring finish to the term.

13:23 - The Swans can't capitalise on a chance to attack, with Cottrell intercepting a pass to the hot spot before McInerney gives away a 50m penalty. The ball quickly finds itself deep in the Blues' attack before Jack Martin draws a free kick for a high tackle at ground level. The Carlton forward kicks his side's sixth from point-blank range. Blues by 30.

10:00 - Halfway mark of the second term and the Blues are right on top, getting constant forward 50 entry but not always capitalising on their opportunities.

7:22 - Cottrell boots his second of the game and extends the lead to four goals after gaining possession, finding his feet and slotting the major front close range.

4:35 - An error from unsure Owies on the goalline almost costs the Blues an easy chance, but after a score review the six points are added. Blues by 17.

Matt Owies made that a lot harder than it needed to be! 😂 #AFLBluesSwans pic.twitter.com/JT2EYUlqyu

— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 8, 2023

2:20 - Owies marks it close to 60m out on a tough angle, quickly turns and finds Cuningham a further 20m closer. His kick is wayward off the boot and managed to just sneak in for a behind on the left-hand side.

1:02 - The ball moves quickly deep in Carlton's attack, with Owies, Curnow and Docherty linking up before the latter snapped toward goal for a behind to the left.

-- 1st Quarter -- 

Carlton: 3.2.20
Melbourne: 1.5.11

20:00 - Chad Warner is knocked high as the siren sounds, with a free kick paid in reaching distance on goal. He snaps, but it curls too much and goes through for a behind on the close side. 

18:09 - A kick toward the top of the square for the Blues falls to Curnow, who taps the footy to Cottrell and the Carltin wingman snaps truly from close range. Blues by 10.

14:57 - OH NO! Harry McKay has missed a shot running into goal at the top of the square with the line right in his sights. A costly error.

Ohh nooo 🫣 pic.twitter.com/aqg23DrCkS

— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 8, 2023

14:25- Some cleans hands from Heeney, followed by a balanced kick from McDonald sees the ball land in the hands of Amartey, who registers a behind with a shot that starts and stays left from 30m out on a 45-degree angle.

11:50 - The Swans move the ball sideways just outside 50 before finding Callum Mills just inside the arc with no angle. Mills registers a behind to the right side.

7:31 - Errol Gulden intercepts a Nic Newman kick-in and slots home the set shot from close to 50m out on a minor angle. Reduces Blues lead to six.

6:00 - Nick Blakey was left holding his face after a swinging arm from Jack Martin made contact with the Sydney defender's head as Blakey looked to gain possession of the ball. Martin's high contact on Blakey came in a tackle attempt.

Potentially a nervous wait for Martin ahead of the MRO's findings, with Blakey undergoing assessment in the Swans rooms.

Nick Blakey headed to the rooms following this incident.#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/XOA9XplDaG

— AFL (@AFL) September 8, 2023

2:23 - Blake Acres launched from outside 50 but his kick is short and wide - trickling over the behind line.

1:40 - A second goal in quick succession for the Blues, with the Coleman Medal winner in Charlie Curnow dribbling it through from 15m out after McKay crumbed the ball and passed it off.

1:17 - Sam Docherty boots the first of the night, getting on the end of a McKay handball after an boundary throw in and snaps it truly from 35m out.

0:30 - An early collision under the ball between Jake Lloyd and Lachie Fogarty leave s the former a little proppy.

COIN TOSS: Swans co-captain Callum Mills won the toss and elected to kick to the City End (right of screen)

Hello and welcome to Zero Hanger's live coverage and commentary of Friday night's elimination final between Carlton and Sydney at the MCG. The winner of tonight's match will face Melbourne in a semi-final at the MCG next week, while the loser's season will be over.

Both clubs have named their tactical subs for the game, with Jesse Motlop (Carlton) and Robbie Fox (Sydney) set to start on the interchange.