Where and when: Marvel Stadium, Saturday, July 22, 2.10pm (12.10pm AWST)

TV: Delayed on 7 in WA until 3pm, live on Fox Footy and streaming on Kayo

Last time we met: West Coast 6.8 (44) def. by Carlton 23.14 (152) at Optus Stadium, round seven, 2023

It was the Charlie Curnow show as the reigning Coleman medallist and Carlton talisman bagged a career-best nine goals in a rout of the Eagles at Optus Stadium. A depleted West Coast was powerless to stop the rampaging Blues and Curnow took full toll against four different opponents in front of nearly 48,000 fans. Carlton dominated the key facets – notably disposals (452-285), inside 50s (56-34) and contested possessions (138-115). Tim Kelly (27 disposals), Liam Duggan (23), Jayden Hunt (23) and Xavier O’Neill (16, two goals) tried hard for the blue and gold on a tough night.

What it means for the Eagles: While the task ahead against an in-form Carlton will be a tough challenge, the Eagles have shown promise at home over the past month, largely due to the welcome return of senior leaders and the excitement of younger players finding their groove. West Coast is focused on improving slow starts, controlling game momentum and performing better on the road, and the Eagles will need to be at their best when they take on the Blues at Marvel Stadium.

The stat: This will be just the second time West Coast has played Carlton at Marvel Stadium in the past decade, most recently in round 20, 2019, when the Eagles defeated the Blues by 24 points.

The match-up: Tom Barrass v Charlie Curnow

Premiership defender Tom Barrass will have his hands full in what will be an exciting match-up with reigning Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow. It will be a chance at redemption for Barrass and his backline colleagues, who were the unwilling recipients of a nine-goal haul from Curnow in the teams’ last meeting. Curnow kicked three goals in Carlton’s heavy defeat over Port Adelaide last week and will be looking to add to his season tally. If Barrass can keep Curnow at bay on Saturday, it will go a long way to West Coast staying competitive.

It’s a big week for: West Coast’s youngsters

Swan Districts product Elijah Hewitt and Victorian mid-season rookie draftee Ryan Maric will play their first AFL games in Melbourne this week, in front of what is expected to be a loud and passionate Carlton crowd. It will also be just the second game in Melbourne for Noah Long, Campbell Chessa and Jack Williams.

Big call: Exciting West Coast forward Noah Long will kick four goals in his 14^th AFL game.

Charlie Curnow has helped Carlton launch back into the top eight as he led the Blues to a 71-point victory over West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Curnow kicked a career-high 10 majors in the Blues' 21.14 (140) to 10.9 (69) victory which propelled them into seventh spot on the ladder.

The Eagles were jumped from the opening bounce and found themselves in a hole trailing by 57 points at the first change on the way to a 16th-straight defeat.

While the Blues had put the game to bed early, leading by 82 points at half-time, West Coast mounted a mini comeback in the second half with a far stronger showing.

The Eagles kicked eight goals to six following the long break to reduce the margin by the final siren.

Veteran wingman Andrew Gaff (30 disposals, one goal) fought all day and continued his form resurgence, while defender Alex Witherden (30 disposals) and leader Liam Duggan (27) tried hard against the Carlton onslaught.

West Coast's backline was under siege early, and Shannon Hurn (24 disposals), Tom Cole (20) and Brady Hough (21) saw more of the ball than they would have liked. 

Despite the lopsided scoreboard, several young Eagles continued their progress, including Campbell Chesser (career-high 19 disposals), Elijah Hewett (17) and Noah Long (10, one goal).

West Coast spearhead Oscar Allen was swung into defence during the second stanza after Curnow dominated the early going, and did an admirable job curtailing the Carlton superstar. 

It was the first time this season Allen has not kicked a major, ending his 17-game streak, while Jack Darling was the Eagles' only multiple goalkicker with two. 

West Coast captain Luke Shuey sustained another soft tissue setback, subbed out of the game with a hamstring injury during the second quarter.

It continues a challenging injury run for the 33-year-old who has managed just nine games this season, with hamstring and ankle injuries hampering his year.

The Eagles also lost experienced defender Tom Barrass as a late withdrawal before the match due to a shoulder complaint, compounding the absence of four-time All-Australian centre half-back Jeremy McGovern (concussion).

West Coast forward Samo Petrevski-Seton was placed on report for a tackle on Alex Cincotta, which left him dazed and on all fours on the boundary line.

CARLTON            9.5    15.8   17.11   21.14 (140)
WEST COAST      0.2    2.4     5.8      10.9 (69)

GOALS
Carlton: C. Curnow 10, Motlop 2, Cincotta, Cuningham, E. Curnow, Dow, Hewett, Honey, Newman, Silvagni, Walsh
West Coast: Darling 2, Cripps, Gaff, Long, Maric, Petrevski-Seton, Petruccelle, Sheed, Williams

BEST:
Carlton: Curnow, Docherty, De Koning, Kemp, Weitering, Newman
West Coast: Gaff, Duggan, Witherden, Hurn, Hunt, Long

INJURIES
Carlton: Jack Silvagni (knee), Sam Walsh (hamstring), Paddy Dow (TBC), Jesse Motlop (TBC)
West Coast: Luke Shuey (hamstring)

LATE CHANGES
Carlton: Nil
West Coast: Tom Barrass (shoulder) replaced in selected side by Rhett Bazzo

SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Lewis Young (replaced Jack Silvagni at quarter time)
West Coast: Xavier O'Neill (replaced Luke Shuey in the second quarter)

Crowd: 34,954 at Marvel Stadium