Carlton are in the top-eight for the first time since 2013 after upsetting the in-form Western Bulldogs by 52 points in a free-flowing AFL contest.
Low-scoring and defensive tactics were a constant in most other games across the weekend, but the Blues attacked from the outset at Metricon Stadium on Sunday night to record the biggest AFL score by any team since round two.
Never relinquishing the lead they gained three minutes in through a Harry McKay goal, Carlton’s 16.7 (103) to 7.9 (51) win was their third since the season restart.
But the Blues have injury concerns after their first game in the Queensland hub, with star midfielder Patrick Cripps enduring troubles with his shoulder.
Carlton’s co-captain went off late in the first quarter, and although he played out the game after returning in the second term, Cripps was hampered by the suspected AC joint injury.
“He seemed pretty happy in the rooms; he didn’t seem to be complaining about the shoulder after the game,” Carlton coach David Teague said.
Former captain Marc Murphy (hip) failed to play out the game, going off late in the last quarter, but Teague thinks the veteran on-baller will be right to play against Port Adelaide at the Gabba next Sunday.
Other midfielders stepped up as Cripps struggled, with former GWS player Matt Kennedy all class in his first game of 2020.
The Dogs dominated the inside-50 count 53-41, but Carlton’s forward line functioned far better through Eddie Betts (four goals), McKay (three), Michael Gibbons, Jack Martin and Mitch McGovern (all two each).
Young gun Laitham Vandermeer’s missed opportunity to pull the Dogs back within 12 points early in the last quarter proved costly as McKay and Martin booted the next two majors, before a Levi Casboult long bomb sealed Carlton’s success and the floodgates opened.
A better sign for Luke Beveridge’s Dogs was the promising return of premiership midfielder Lachie Hunter following a four-game suspension for an alleged drink-driving incident during coronavirus lockdown in April.
Blues supporters have dealt with some dark times since their last finals appearance seven years ago, but they are back in the top-eight for the first time since round 12, 2013.
“It would be (nice) for our supporters who have obviously done it tough since then,” Teague said.
“We’ve still got lots of areas to improve on but I thought the courage our players had to take on and to move the ball (was pleasing).”
Beveridge said the Dogs weren’t ready for the Blues’ frenetic attack on the contest.
“They (Carlton) had an edge that we didn’t have; it’s been us the last few weeks that have come out with that steely resolve,” Beveridge said.
“It was a bit greasy and slippery and they played that game better than us.”
