TWO FROM two.

A blistering first half set the scene for Carlton's second consecutive win to open the 2022 season.

Kicking out to a 36-point lead and spearheaded to victory by a formidable forward showing from Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, the Blues were made to do it the hard way, holding off a rampant Bulldogs in the second half.

Quarter one 

The Blues definitely had more of the ball in the first term, leading the disposals and clearances for the quarter. Carlton started with a bang after a snap from Charlie Curnow in the first 30 seconds of play. Mitch McGovern and Jacob Weitering made their presence in the defensive half known early, using their height and aerial abilities to keep the Dogs at an arm's length. Carlton’s midfield brigade picked up where they left off last week, winning the ball straight from the centre and moving it quickly up the field. A running goal from Jack Silvagni evened up the contest, after the Dogs kicked two quick goals of their own. In an impressive play that started across half back, Carlton was able to surge the ball forward which resulted in a Matthew Kennedy goal, followed quickly by Harry McKay’s first. Adam Saad used his speed and penetrating kick to make an impact across half back while Patrick Cripps was rewarded for a clean tackle with a goal. A late goal cut the Blues' first-term lead to seven points: it could have been just two, if not for Aaron Naughton hitting the post on the siren.

00:47

AFL R2 | Curnow gets Blues off to perfect start

Charlie Curnow snapped this ripping goal to give the Blues the opener inside the first minute.

Quarter two 

It was end-to-end play at the start of the term, with neither side able to capitalise on their forward 50 entries. Cripps continued his already dominant performance, snapping his second goal on the run while sporting a bandaged head, then setting up McKay’s second almost immediately. Matt Owies took advantage of a Tom De Koning free kick, putting the Blues 20 points ahead after some extremely clean play out of the centre bounce. A second Curnow goal truly put the game on Carlton’s terms, as the Western Bulldogs struggled to slow their momentum. Oscar McDonald stood up well down back as the Bulldogs started to bite back, but they couldn’t stop McKay taking a huge contested mark in the goal square for his third. Sam Walsh made his presence known in his return from injury, laying strong tackles and providing his trademark class in the middle. McKay added to his impressive goal tally, before Fisher showed his class with ball in hand as the Blues took a 31-point lead into the second half.

00:43

AFL R2 | Blues go bang with two in a hot minute

Back-to-back goals from Patrick Cripps and Harry McKay extended their side's lead early in the second term

Quarter three

The Bulldogs started the third term hungry, playing in their forward half and scoring a goal through Bailey Dale. Carlton’s defence, led by Weitering, calmed the storm, moving the ball slowly and deliberately out of their back 50. A big grab and goal from Silvagni saw the Blues get back in the game but things started to get physical and heated in the Dogs’ forward line. Carlton struggled to move the ball forward, with the Western Bulldogs able to stop the Blues' run around the centre square. McGovern and Docherty had some big moments for the Blues down back, with their intercept marking coming up trumps late in the term. Curnow’s third goal of the game came at the right time, as the Western Bulldogs edged towards a single-digit deficit. While Carlton was able to finally get some territory, it was unable to convert when it mattered most, taking an 18-point lead into the final change.

00:30

AFL R2 | Curnow snap makes it four in a row

Charlie Curnow snapped through his second goal of the game which made it four unanswered goals for the Blues

Quarter four 

A Marcus Bontempelli goal opening the term was not how the Blues wanted to kick off the final quarter. Carlton was well in need of a spark to keep their game going, as both sides started to play desperate and physical footy. An impossible set-shot goal from Curnow might’ve done the trick, as he brought Blues fans to their feet at Marvel Stadium. The Dogs got one back to make things tight, but Curnow delivered yet again, pushing the Blues out to a three-goal lead with 10 minutes to play: it was Curnow's fifth of the night. Four misses in a row from the Western Bulldogs helped Carlton, but they were still playing dangerous football in their forward 50, with Aaron Naughton giving the Blues’ defenders big trouble. When the game was there to be done, it was Matthew Kennedy who stood up, producing 15 disposals in the final term alone as the famous song rang out at Marvel Stadium to celebrate a Navy Blue win.

Three things from the game 

1. There's been a lot of talk about the dynamic duo of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay. Tonight, it played out exactly how Bluebaggers would have hoped, with the pair of talls combining for nine goals: their most as a pairing since joining the Club in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft.

2. There was plenty of ball sharing around the centre, with Cripps, Hewett and Walsh all collecting over 30 disposals. Reminiscent of their play last week, and with the inclusion of Walsh, the Blues' midfield work was responsible for a lot of their forward 50 entries and clearances, particularly early in the game.

3. It was a different game to last week, but when the Blues were challenged, they responded once again. On this occasion, it was holding onto a lead, as opposed to surging past the Tigers in Round 1. It wasn't always pretty, but come the final siren, the Blues were 2-0 after a hectic week at IKON Park.

CARLTON                            5.2         12.4         14.5         16.6 (102)
WESTERN BULLDOGS        4.1         7.3           11.5         13.12 (90)

GOALS
Carlton: Curnow 5, McKay 4, Cripps 2, Silvagni 2, Fisher, Kennedy, Owies

BESTS
Carlton: Cripps, Curnow, Kennedy, McKay, Hewett, Williams, Walsh