CARLTON 4.5 7.8 10.10 11.12 (78)
MELBOURNE 2.2 4.8 6.10 7.16 (58)
Goals: Carlton: Buckley 3, Graham 2, ,Everitt, Phillips, Jones, Sumner, Wright, Cripps. Melbourne: Neal-Bullen, vandenBerg, Oliver, Hogan, Hunt, Gawn, Bugg.
Best: Carlton: Cripps, Gibbs, Docherty, Simpson, Buckley, Curnow. Melbourne: Viney, Tyson, Jones, Oliver, McDonald, Petracca.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Brett Rosebury, Andrew Mitchell.
Official Crowd: 40,693 at MCG.
Carlton have put an end to Melbourne's late finals bid with a determined 20-point win at the MCG.
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AFL plays of round 22
Kennedy heading for back to back Coleman's, Swan Heeney too fast, too good, Stevie J works his usual magic, Eddie Betts with yet another Goal of the Year nomination and Carlton's Dylan Buckley proves his name is not so unlucky.
The Demons needed a win to have any chance of snatching eighth spot from North Melbourne, but the Blues jumped to an early lead and were in front at every change to finish 11.12 (78) to 7.16 (58) in slippery conditions on Saturday.
With so much to play for, Melbourne's sluggish start was all too predictable for their fans, who haven't seen their side contest a final since 2006.
Carlton looked switched on from the moment Dylan Buckley kicked the opening goal then bowled over the nearest Melbourne player, while the Demons looked hesitant and perhaps overawed by the opportunity in their grasp.
Buckley was the leading goal-kicker with three, while Bryce Gibbs and Patrick Cripps got the ball moving Carlton's way early, and the pair finished with 33 and 30 possessions, respectively.
Sam Docherty and Kade Simpson marshalled the troops superbly in the back half, although the Demons didn't help their cause with some poor kicking for goal.
The Blues, who had lost their previous nine games, turned an 18-point half-time lead into a 24-point advantage at the last change before holding off a Melbourne challenge that was too little, too late.
The Demons had too many passengers on a disappointing day, but Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones and Jack Viney worked hard.
The Blues played without Sam Kerridge (illness) and Jack Silvagni (sore), who were replaced by Nick Graham and Andrejs Everitt.
AAP
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