CARLTON has fallen by 17 points to old enemy Collingwood at the MCG on Thursday night.

After a combative first half, a costly third term was the decisive factor in the defeat to the Pies, with the Blues falling 6.10 (46) to 8.15 (63).

Adam Saad didn’t stop all night with 23 disposals, while George Hewett continued his outstanding personal start to the season with 29 disposals and two goals.

Ollie Hollands provided the run and dare that the coaching staff had encouraged the Blues to embrace in the early going, surging forward to kick his first goal of the season - and his first since the last meeting with the Pies in Round 21 of last season.

The Blues’ mandate to go quick and take the game on was evident, and it brought results in the opening term, with transition footy ending in captain Patrick Cripps’ first goal of the season.

For the most part, the Blues were defending the Pies’ transition game well, not conceding a goal from the source for the entire term - however, three consecutive goals from clearances (two of those from defensive-50 stoppages) would’ve frustrated the Blues after a promising start.

Carlton continued to run and carry with a 1:1 kick-to-handball ratio, with an industrious Adam Saad proving extremely effective in the early going. His assist for Charlie Curnow saw the Blues get the lead back before quarter time, where tempers started to flare.

Blake Acres was busy around the contest with 13 disposals and four tackles, while Zac Williams moved to half-back following an early hamstring injury to Lachie Cowan, which saw the young defender subbed out for Ashton Moir.

A quarter-time shower made for a contested start to the second term, with Sam Docherty busy on the wing and supporting the defence.

There were 24 goalless minutes in the second term, with the Blues scoreless while the Pies registered five straight behinds.

That run was ended off the boot of George Hewett, who got on the end of some selfless work from Brodie Kemp following a coast-to-coast move for the Blues.

It meant the Blues maintained a narrow lead, owning the ball in the first half (+44 uncontested possessions) while also winning key duels: Lewis Young kept Darcy Moore to no marks at half-time, while largely Saad had restricted Jordan De Goey to just four first-half disposals.

Some of Carlton’s senior heads were the ones ensuring the Blues maintained a calm approach, with Docherty, Walsh and Williams registering 10 disposals apiece while the Blues had the top seven ball-winners on the ground in the second term.

Upon play resuming in the second half, Carlton was behind the eight ball, with Collingwood owning forward territory, registering the first seven inside 50s of the quarter and kicking three goals in quick succession.

Over the course of the third term, the Pies had 38 more disposals and had levelled the contested possession count, outhunting the Blues at the source.

The Pies played the conditions better as rain fell, registering 18-7 inside 50s for the quarter and piling on four unanswered goals while the Blues’ forwards were starved of opportunity.

Saad continued to work hard behind the ball with four intercepts, but the Blues were unable to generate any run and found themselves 25 points down at the final change.

The rain only got heavier at the start of the final term and that brought with it another Collingwood major through sub Ned Long, before Hollands stopped the run with his second goal - the first time he’s registered multiple goals in a game - at the halfway mark of the final term.

It was too little too late for the Blues, who fell to a 17-point defeat in the 30th Peter Mac Cup.

COLLINGWOOD     3.2     3.7     7.13       8.15 (63)
CARLTON                3.5     4.5     4.6        6.10 (46)

GOALS
Carlton: Hewett 2, Hollands 2, Cripps, Curnow

BEST
Carlton: Hewett, Saad, Walsh, Hollands, Docherty