IT WASN'T to be at Optus Stadium, as the Blues fell to a classy Dockers outfit.

Losing Marc Pittonet early to a knee injury, Carlton struggled to keep up with the speedy play of Fremantle, who surged home to a 35-point win.

Quarter one

It was an even opening term, with both sides finding it difficult to penetrate their forward line. The Blues got the first goal on the board with a clever left-footed snap from Matt Owies. Fremantle was particularly fast through the middle, but Carlton’s backline held firm, with Jacob Weitering recording three intercepts while also launching an attack which ended in a goal for Charlie Curnow. The Blues struggled in the second half of the term, with Marc Pittonet and Harry McKay both spending extended time on the bench: however, the Dockers' inaccuracy in front of goal saw the Blues maintain a narrow lead. Returning to Optus Stadium, Adam Cerra had a physical start, recording three tackles in the first term against his old side. The Blues entered the first break with a lead, a late goal from Rory Lobb meant it was just four points.

Quarter two

Fremantle owned the second quarter, kicking six goals to Carlton’s two. The Blues opened the term with a goal from McKay, but didn’t kick another until Jack Martin slotted one at the 25-minute mark. Adam Saad and Zac Williams did well in the defensive half to move the ball quickly, but Fremantle was set up well behind the ball, giving Carlton limited options ahead of the play. Weitering and Lewis Young provided strong intercept efforts whilst under fire, and George Hewett battled strongly in the middle, setting up Martin’s goal and recording four score involvements in the first half. Despite their forward entries drying up, the Blues still managed to record shots on goal, heading into the half 19 points in arrears despite a dominant term from the hosts.

Quarter three

Despite Carlton looking for the fast start, it was Fremantle who registered the first two goals of the term.  A captain's goal from Cripps looked like it could swing the momentum Carlton’s way, but Fremantle kept its foot on the pedal, winning the contested ball and tackle counts. While the Blues had more forward entries than the previous term, they couldn’t manage to find an avenue to goal outside the skipper. The Blues had the top four ball winners on the board (Walsh, Cerra, Cripps, Docherty) but the Dockers made the most of their time with ball in hand and doing the damage where it counts. The final term was a big ask for the Blues as they went in trailing by 32 points.

Quarter four

Cripps continued to do everything in his power to lift his side, kicking an early goal for the Blues — recording three consecutive majors for his side in the process. An impressive smother from Jordan Boyd - who was activated for Marc Pittonet at half time - proved the catalyst for defender-turned-forward Lewis Young to kick his first Carlton goal. Fremantle’s Sam Switkowski proved to be Carlton’s nemesis, initially answering Young’s goal and then Charlie Curnow’s second. While the Blues didn’t relent, they were ultimately outclassed as the Dockers ran away with a 35-point victory.

GOALS: Cripps 3, Curnow 2, Martin, McKay, Owies, Young
BEST: Cripps, Walsh, Docherty, Cerra, Weitering