'She'd be very proud': Zac Williams dedicates goal to his late sister in Blues' win over Bombers (2024)

That's where we will end Sunday's AFL coverage, as the Blues and Swans celebrate their respective victories.

The Blues now sit second on the ladder following their win over the Bombers, eight points adrift of the ladder-leading Swans.

But we're not finished with round 13 just yet.

Collingwood and Melbourne will take centre stage on Monday with their traditional match at the MCG.

We'll have coverage kicking off in the build-up to the opening bounce at 3:20pm EST.

Make sure to join us for what promises to be an intriguing encounter, with the Pies and Demons desperate to climb back inside the top eight.

Bye for now!

Carlton has surged to second spot on the ladder and underlined its premiership credentials with a 26-point triumph over traditional rivals Essendon.

The Blues' efficiency in attack — and their opponents' wastefulness — told the story of a 15.6 (96) to 9.16 (70) victory at the MCG on Sunday night.

Tom De Koning shone in the ruck and Elijah Hollands kicked a career-best three goals as Carlton (9-4) banked a third straight win and leapfrogged the Bombers (8-4-1) on the ladder.

The important result may have come at some cost after Harry McKay (left shoulder) and Mitch McGovern (groin) were treated for injuries during the final quarter.

De Koning (23 disposals), George Hewett (23), Sam Walsh (22) and Nic Newman (21) were all busy for Carlton, who spread the workload in a strong team display.

Charlie Curnow, Zac Williams and Alex Cincotta kicked two goals each.

The Blues were victorious despite Essendon's territorial dominance, which gave the Bombers a 60-40 advantage in forward entries.

Nic Martin (26 disposals), Zach Merrett (21) and Archie Perkins (21) fought hard for Essendon, with Martin and Matt Guelfi kicking two goals each.

But Will Setterfield was subbed off with a knee injury and the Bombers failed to cash in on the weight of supply in attack.

With the match billed as the biggest Essendon-Carlton clash in more than a decade, a huge build-up ensured a monster crowd of 88,510 spectators was on hand.

It was the second-highest attendance in history for a home-and-away match between the two old enemies.

But the contest did not live up to the hype as Carlton took control early and were only briefly challenged when the Bombers pressed during the third quarter.

There was a sense of theatre when Essendon defender Ben McKay went directly to mark Carlton spearhead Harry McKay at the opening bounce in the brothers' first head-to-head meeting at AFL level.

Harry McKay took the early points as he and Curnow caused issues, both hitting the scoreboard as the Blues kicked the first three goals.

That led to a 16-point advantage at the first change, which ballooned to 32 by the main break — 9.3 to 3.6.

The Blues' efficiency was a feature from the start as they scored 12 times from 17 forward entries in the first half, compared to the Bombers' nine from 29.

Essendon peppered the goals in the third quarter, adding 3.6 to 1.1 for the term, as a pair of Martin majors trimmed the margin to 15 points at the final change.

But Carlton shut the gate with four quick goals in the opening 10 minutes of the last quarter, sending Essendon fans towards the exits.

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BLUES TRIUMPH AT THE 'G!!!

The Blues complete their assignment to defeat the Bombers 15.6 (96) to 9.16 (70) in front of more than 88,000 spectators.

They leapfrog the Bombers on the ladder to take second spot.

The Bombers never gave up but they were made to pay for inaccuracy on goal.

They slip back to third place on the ladder, trailing the Bombers by two points.

The Blues now head into the bye with an 9-4 return through 13 rounds.

Only moments after Jones's goal for the Bombers, the Blues reply through Alex Cincotta.

Cincotta is rewarded for his support play after the Blues made a forward-50 entry and he kicks his second of the quarter.

We asked the question as to whether the Bombers could mount a late challenge.

Well, Harrison Jones is doing everything he can, taking a brilliant contested mark in the goal square before kicking a major to reduce the Blues' lead to 21 points.

Positive news for Blues fans, with Harry McKay returning to the match.

Six minutes to go — can the Bombers launch a late effort?

Both Harry McKay and Mitch McGovern are off the field for the Blues with injury concerns.

McGovern went straight to the rooms before returning to the boundary to continue receiving treatment.

Midway through the final quarter and the Bombers go back-to-back, with Jade Gresham kicking his first goal of the night.

Jake Stringer found Gresham on his own just inside the Bombers' attacking 50, but there was still a bit of work to do.

Gresham, though, found his way towards goal and he nailed the Bombers' eighth of the night to cut back the Blues' lead to 29 points.

The Bombers aren't giving up, with Sam Durham curbing the Blues' momentum with a crucial goal.

It's still an uphill battle for the Bombers, but Durham has given them some hope.

After being used as a tactical sub in place of Jack Carroll, Corey Durdin makes his presence felt with the Blues' fourth goal of the term.

They're out to a 41-point advantage and it's hard to see the Bombers getting back from this position.

That's three straight goals to the Blues in the fourth quarter, with Charlie Curnow kicking his second of the evening on the back of a free close to the sticks.

The Blues lead by 35 points give minutes into the final term.

Zac Williams adds to his tally, being in the right place at the right time.

The ball was kicked towards Charlie Curnow in the Blues' attacking 50, but the big forward could only get a paw on the ball.

Williams, though, was there in support and the ball came his way and he slotted the goal to extend the Blues' lead early in the fourth quarter.

Great work from Alex Cincotta, who works his way through traffic inside the Blues' attacking 50 following a stoppage to give his side the first goal of the final term.

Blues lead by 21 points.

It's a 15-point ball game as we head into the final quarter, with the Blues still in front of the Bombers.

The Bombers took the honours in the third term with a 3.6 to 1.1 return — can they finish over the top of the arch-rivals?

They have the upper hand with the inside 50s, leading 46-25, but it's the Blues on top with a quarter to play.

It's the Blues leading 10.4 (64) to 6.13 (49) at the final change.

But there is hope for the Bombers, who finished the third quarter on a high with Nic Martin's late goal.

With less than a minute until three-quarter time, the Bombers get reward for a forward-50 entry as Nic Martin gets his second goal of the match.

Martin sells some candy near the goal square to bang home the major and the Bombers were unlucky to kick another one with just seconds on the clock.

There's no doubt the Bombers have lifted their intensity after the main break but they're not getting pay on the scoreboard.

After two early goals in the third quarter, they've been left frustrated for much of the term as the Blues maintain their lead.

To the credit of the Bombers, they didn't drop their heads after Hollands's goal.

A set-shot effort from Nic Martin gives the Bombers their second goal of the third term as the look to stay in the contest.

Just as the Bombers were lifting themselves off the canvas with Guelfi's goal, Elijah Hollands kicks his third major for the Blues.

They're back out to a 32-point lead early in the third term.