Carlton beat Gold Coast by 13 points at Docklands Stadium on 25 July 2026, running over the Suns in the final term to win 16.14 (110) to 15.7 (97) and keep their faint finals pulse beating. (ABC News)

Gold Coast led at the start of the final quarter before Carlton broke away late. George Hewett kicked a crucial goal, and off-season recruit Will Hayward sealed the win with five minutes remaining. The loss was Gold Coast's ninth in a row.

The match was part of a packed "Super Saturday" slate across Round 20, with Hawthorn hosting Essendon at the MCG, GWS facing Sydney, and the Western Bulldogs playing Richmond all on the same day. (SMH; AFL.com.au)

For Carlton, the win moves them to 9-10 and 10th on the ladder. That is a remarkable turnaround for a club that started the season 1-8 and lost coach Michael Voss mid-year. Captain Patrick Cripps led from the front with 15 clearbacks — the statistic for winning the ball directly out of a stoppage — along with 30 possessions and a goal. Hewett was arguably best afield: three goals and 24 disposals. Sam Walsh and Jagga Smith each gathered 31 touches.

Young defender Harry Dean, a contender for the Rising Star award given to the competition's best first-year player, continued to impress. Small forward Talor Byrne kicked an equal career-best three goals. But it was not all good news for the Blues: defender Nic Newman injured his hamstring in his 150th AFL game, and vice-captain Jacob Weitering was absent through injury.

For Gold Coast, the season has unravelled spectacularly. The Suns were premiership favourites in March after a strong start, having made the semi-finals in 2025. They now sit 14th with a 7-12 record, two games outside a wildcard spot with four rounds left. Captain Noah Anderson kicked a goal-of-the-year contender in the second quarter, but individual brilliance could not cover a ninth straight loss. Coach Damien Hardwick had declared the Suns' season over two weeks before this match.

Carlton's next test is formidable: reigning premiers Brisbane at home on Saturday night, 1 August. Gold Coast face Melbourne at Carrara Stadium on Sunday, 2 August, needing a near-imperfect run to salvage anything from a year that began with genuine flag hopes.