CARLTON must overcome two of the toughest road trips in footy if its remarkable finals journey is to last into the final week of the season.
Having overcome Richmond by 20 points in their elimination final at the MCG on Sunday, the Blues must travel to Sydney for a semi-final against the Swans on Saturday night at 7.45pm.
For the winner of the ANZ Stadium clash, the task only gets harder.
One of Carlton or the Swans will head to Perth to tackle a red-hot Fremantle at Patersons Stadium on Saturday, September 21 in a preliminary final match-up made possible by the Dockers' upset of Geelong at Simonds Stadium.
Carlton's task is not impossible but it is clearly the most difficult fixture faced by any of the remaining six finalists.
Meanwhile, Hawthorn may have to confront the Kennett curse one week earlier than desired.
Saturday's two finals boilovers have left Geelong on track to meet the Hawks in the first preliminary final at the MCG on Friday, September 20 at 7.50pm.
Geelong boasts an 11-match winning streak against Hawthorn stretching back to the 2008 Grand Final.
In the wake of that premiership victory, then-Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett claimed Geelong lacked the mental drive to defeat the Hawks.
However, the preliminary final rematch is no certainty.
The Cats will host Port Adelaide in the second semi-final at the MCG next Friday night.
The Power will be no walkovers as they demonstrated by storming over Collingwood in Saturday night's elimination final at the MCG.
FINALS FIXTURE
Friday September 13
Second semi-final, Geelong v Port Adelaide at the MCG, 7.50pm (series ticket match)
Saturday September 14
First semi-final, Sydney Swans v Carlton at ANZ Stadium, 7.45pm
Friday September 20
First preliminary final, Hawthorn v winner of second semi-final at the MCG, 7.50pm (series ticket match)
Saturday September 21
Second preliminary final, Fremantle v winner of first semi-final at Patersons Stadium, time TBC
