Blues through to prelim after ‘incredible’ finish

Sam Walsh has expressed his gratitude for those who have stuck fat with Carlton through the tough times that have led them to a preliminary final berth.

Walsh had 34 disposals in a monster night out for the young Blues star.

“Sometimes you’ve got to go through hard times and that’s what happened for the first part of this year. I think that really makes you search for your identity as a team,” Walsh said on Fox Footy post match.

“We just want to be known as a tough team in the contest that sticks up for each other and keeps defending hard all night.

“I think that’s what we’re seeing over four quarters and even though tonight wasn’t pretty [and] we had a fair few turnovers by foot, including me, you just mop it up and stick together, and I think it showed in the last couple of minutes.”