Mick Malthouse’s men still hanging on to their AFL finals dream.
The Carlton Blues are still a chance of taking part in the 2013 AFL finals after grinding out a gutsy 10-point victory against the Richmond Tigers at the MCG.
It was do or die for the Blues as they looked to stay in the hunt for the eighth spot, and after dropping their two previous games, they showed they might have what it takes.
Carlton did well to fight back from a 30-point deficit half-way through the second term, before running out 16.10 (106) to 14.12 (96) winners.
The loss for the Tigers ends their chances of finishing in the all-important top four, and they may have also lost two of their best to injuries.
Ricky Petterd picked up a potentially serious hamstring strain while key forward Jack Riewoldt limped from the field in the in the fourth quarter after hyperextending his right knee in an awkward landing from a marking contest on the MCC members wing.
Richmond sit in fifth after their seventh loss of the season and now face the last-placed Greater Western Sydney Giants in the penultimate round of the year.
Carlton will be out to keep up their momentum when they take on Essendon, in what should be one of the games of the round, as the outcome will have massive finals implications, not just for both sides, but the bottom half of the eight.
