Prior to 2023, Carlton’s last final was the 2013 Semi Final against the Sydney Swans.

10 years later, Carlton are finally back in the finals, and their opponents?

The Sydney Swans.

Back in 2013 it was Carlton who managed to play in a finals series they should never have qualified for (Thanks to Essendon), and in 2023 it was the Swans who managed to play in a finals series they should never have qualified for (Thanks to goal umpire Stevie Wonder).

As for some of the players who could very well play in both games, Luke Parker, Harry Cunningham (Who kicked his first goal in the AFL that night) & Dane Rampe are still at the Swans and played on Sunday..

And for Carlton, the lone survivor of the ravages of the past decade is Ed Curnow, who wound up getting subbed off that night in Sydney after Shane Mumford tackled him, although his status for the Elimination Final is unknown after he didn’t play in Round 23, having been the substitute for weeks prior.