Carlton’s AFL elimination final surprise four-goal hero Nick Duigan was headed for the grandstand when told he would be taking the field against Richmond on Sunday.

The Blues had already made one late change, replacing Levi Casboult with Andrew McInnes.

But Duigan, who had played just three AFL games previously this season, had tucked into a salad sandwich and was preparing for a day in the crowd when it became apparent Brock McLean might also withdraw.

“I was only a couple of minutes away from heading up to the grandstand,” Duigan told reporters on Monday.

“We were under the impression that if someone was going to pull out it would be much earlier than they did.

“It was after the last main warm-up that the main group came in and it became obvious to us pretty quickly that Brock was under a cloud, he was a bit worried about something that happened at the end of the warm-up.

“He went in with the doctor and the medical staff and it just turned into business faces everywhere.”

Even then, it was not certain McLean would pull out and Blues staff told Duigan and fellow emergency David Ellard to both get ready while they made the call.

As Duigan was having his ankles strapped, coach Mick Malthouse informed him that he would be playing.

The previous 41 games of Duigan’s career had been spent almost exclusively in defence.

They had brought a meagre haul of six goals, including one three-goal effort against Collingwood last year when he was playing as a defensive forward.

But Duigan had spent time in attack in the VFL in recent months.

He booted four goals straight on Sunday, including three in the second half as the Blues stormed back from 32 points down for their stunning 20-point win.

Duigan said it was not since school footy days that he had kicked that many majors.

“It was great to get some reward at AFL level for the hard work that’s been going on all year,” he said.

It’s yet another remarkable facet of the stunning way the Blues have kept their season alive in recent weeks, first entering the eight at the expense of disqualified Essendon then keeping their run going with comeback wins over Port Adelaide and the Tigers over the past two weekends.