So for week one of the finals as we USED to know them, it's:
Fremantle vs Hawthorn
Geelong vs Carlton
Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs
Sydney vs Brisbane
Since parting ways with Michael Voss, the Blues have lost just two games out of 14 under Josh Fraser.
That win over ladder-leaders Fremantle might have been the Dockers just playing it safe in the final round, but there was nothing safe about tonight.
They played hard, they played hurt and they got it done.
Who knows how far they can go? Although you'd have to say the Cats will be hot favourites next week.
FT: Carlton 10.14 (74) beats Melbourne 7.13 (55)
The siren sounds at headquarters, and the Carlton roar is back - and it's deafening!
The fairytale continues, as Blake Acres kicks a point after the siren to make it a 19-point win for the Blues.
They will face Geelong next week.
They conceded the first four goals of the game, but in front of 91,733 souls at the MCG the Blues hit back and deserved the win in the end.
It's the end of a brilliant season for the Demons under Steven King, but they ran out of ideas in the wildcard round.
Jagga Smith kicks the sealer for Carlton!
This is sheer craziness here. The Demons are running out of time, and out of composure. Carlton has a chance to run the clock down, but Brodie Kemp plays on ... the ball bounces around, and finally Jagga Smith grabs it and gets taken high.
It's Jagga Smith from straight in front! he kicks it!
Carlton leads by 18 with under two to go!
Now Cottrell hits the post!
I'm not sure I can do this any more.
The Blues are having the chances, they go inside 50 but Talor Byrnes gets shoved in the back.
his kick goes wide to the square, it falls to Matthew Cottrell, he kicks on the run ... and HE hits the post!
Just over three minutes left, and there is a margin of 13 points to the Blues.
Kemp sprays another one for Carlton!
It's another miss for the Blues!
They get it to Brodie Kemp inside 50 again.
He doesn't hit the post this time - but he doesn't get the goal either!
It's an 11-point lead with under six to go!
Another poster to the Blues!
The Blues had a huge chance there, hitting on the break and then hitting up Brodie Kemp in the pocket.
He lines up ... and hits the post! Another one!
Ten points the lead again.
Carlton winning contested ball, marks as time ticks on
As we say, there's not a lot of difference between these two teams including on the scoreboard.
But Carlton are winning contested ball by 15 now, they have nearly double the marks, and have 15 marks inside 50 to 9 for Melbourne.
The Demons don't have Jacob van Rooyen, and they have to find a way of hitting some targets - and soon.
Rushed behind for Carlton
We have so much time left, but both sides are playing as if there's 30 seconds on the clock.
Sam Walsh just snapped, but a Melbourne defender twisted in mid-air to make the goalkeeper tip of the ball for a rushed behind.
Nearly halfway through the quarter, it's a nine-point game.
Miss from Pickett!
Where are we going here - except for a world of high blood pressure and stress?
The Dees move it forward and Kozzy Pickett has a shot that misses.
His kicking boots have been left at home.
Copper Lord goal turned over because of a throw
The Blues are coming here!
They get it inside 50, and it's fierce stuff. People being hammered. The ball spills and spills and somehow it comes out to Cooper Lord who snaps a goal from 25 out!
But no - it's called back for a throw from Marc Pittonet.
Suddenly it's Melbourne hanging in here with 14 on the clock in the final quarter.
Big chance wasted by Harry McKay
Oh, that was nearly a huge moment for Carlton!
The Blues are sensing a chance here. They get it to half-forward, Sam Walsh shrugs a tackle and hits up Harry McKay who takes a mark one-handed at the top of the square!
The Carlton fans would have taken the roof off if there was a roof! But Harry misses!
It's a 10-point game.
Jagga Smith gets the opener for Carlton!
This is going to be a cracker!
The Dees have the Blues under pressure but Carlton clears and goes down the wing. A big chain of ball movement, and Ben Ainsworth finds Brodie Kemp inside 50.
He kicks to a mark near the square - there's a handball over the top and Jagga Smith runs in and boots it into the second tier!
He runs to the fence and celebrates - the roar is enormous!
Carlton leads by nine points, early in the last.
3QT stats
Inside 50s: 40-34 Melbourne
Clearances: 28-19 Melbourne
Centre clearances: 9-7 Melbourne
Contested possessions: 101-99 Carlton
Uncontested possessions: 187-148 Carlton
Marks inside 50: 12-9 Carlton
Tackles: 44-35 Melbourne
Tackles inside 50: 7-7
The Demons lead the clearances, the Blues lead the marks 91-47, and they still have the dominance in uncontested possessions.
Who knows? It's just a nailbiter...
3QT: Carlton 8.8 (56) leads Melbourne 7.10 (52)
There is hardly a split match between these two teams after three quarters of footy.
Another late kick from Kade Chandler went wide and was rushed. It was a two-point game, but then Carlton went forward once more, and a great ball from Talor Byrnes found Ben Ainsworth inside 50.
Ainsworth has been the danger man for the Blues, and he steadied and split the sticks for a great goal - and my WORD, the roar!
The Dees can't manage an answering shot, and it's Carlton who leads by four points at the final change.
Wow. What are we in for?
Jake Bowey puts Demons back in front
The kicking is lacking a bit of composure right now.
Jake Bowey has just had a snap for Melbourne - he misses, but the Demons lead again by a point.
Cottrell kicks a behind - and it's scores level!
This is desperate stuff here.
The Blues just get it forward by any means possible, Matthew Cottrell has a kick for goal - but there's no need for a harmonica celebration, as it goes wide for a point.
We're scores level, well inside time on in the third quarter.
Close calls for Blues, Pickett
It's not pretty at the minute, but it's pretty ferocious.
The Dees broke there and a hacking kick forward deep inside 50.
Ollie Hollands got the bounce he needed and kept his composure close to goal to run around and clear the ball outside 50.
It went to the wing, and Kozzy Pickett tried an absolute FLY ... but he couldn't hang on.
Hang on to your hats!
