FOR THE first time, Carlton has emerged victorious from Giants Stadium. 

Producing just its third win in New South Wales since 1994, the Blues burst out of the blocks and then took the game by the scruff of the neck in a 30-point victory: the first for Brodie Kemp and Jesse Motlop at the elite level.

Sam Walsh set the tone with two early goals to go with 31 disposals, George Hewett produced 30 on return and the forward duo of Corey Durdin and Jack Silvagni were brilliant in the Blues' win.

Quarter one 

It was all Carlton for the first half of the term, with a snap from Corey Durdin getting the game going from a scoreboard point of view. Snaps were the theme for the next five minutes, with Sam Walsh converting two in a row. A big mark from Tom De Koning resulted in the next goal for the Blues, with their intercept game - led by Sam Docherty (nine first-quarter disposals) - denying the Giants a forward 50 entry until the 16-minute mark of the quarter. Carlton’s structure around the contest was strong, recording the majority of possession: in his 50th Carlton game, Matt Kennedy was a chief instigator against his old side, gathering eight disposals and three score involvements. Greater Western Sydney found its feet in the back-end of the term, kicking the last two goals before the first break through Toby Greene. The Blues lost Zac Williams to a lower leg issue late in the term, replaced by Matthew Cottrell at the first change.

Quarter two

Greater Western Sydney owned the second term, with Jake Riccardi kicking a goal in the opening seconds of the term. Another goal from Durdin - who was clean at ground level - steadied the Blues, but the Giants ended up evening the score by the main break. The Blues struggled to find an outlet further afield as numbers ventured deeper towards Greater Western Sydney's goal, with Jacob Weitering standing strong as Carlton’s defence was under constant fire. Patrick Cripps was very influential in the second quarter, collecting 12 disposals as well as pinch-hitting in the ruck around the ground against Braydon Preuss. The Navy Blue highlight of the term was Jack Silvagni getting some reward for effort, shrugging a tackle, side-stepping another and then converting with another snap for one of the goals of the round.

Quarter three 

Opening the quarter was Jesse Motlop’s first AFL goal, bringing a smile to the players and crowd alike: the Adams and Motlop families in the stands were the loudest of the bunch. Weitering continued to stand up in defence, managing 392 metres gained from his 15 disposals as the Giants continued to put the defence under pressure. Lachie Plowman continued his consistent intercept game, but the Blues continued to miss opportunities in front of goal, with inaccurate kicking leaving them ruing chances (3.7 for the quarter). The busy Lochie O’Brien managed a goal to give the Blues some breathing room but the Giants delivered a quick reply. Walsh got Carlton out of trouble in the defensive 50 with some hard running and clever ball-use, as the Blues entered the final change with a narrow lead.

Quarter four

Charlie Curnow was the one who stood up in the forward line for Carlton. The team's leading goalkicker slotted two majors in as many minutes, giving the Blues an 18-point lead early in the term. It was Silvagni who put the icing on the cake with a running goal, before Docherty kicked a monster goal from the centre square to truly seal the deal. The Blues had 15-9 inside 50s in the final quarter, proving to be much more accurate in front of goal in the final quarter than they had in the previous terms. Finishing the quarter with five goals, the Blues took home a 30-point win – their first win at GIANTS Stadium.  

Three things from the game 

1. Michael Voss flagged a mosquito fleet on Friday, and that's what came to the table. Without Harry McKay as a focal point and Jack Martin also out of the side, Carlton’s small forwards got to work, putting pressure not only on the scoreboard but using their tackle pressure to keep the ball living in their half. Corey Durdin was particularly strong in this area in a performance which produced 19 disposals and two goals.

2. Carlton's clearance work is what kept them in the game, topping Greater Western Sydney 36-28. The return of George Hewett certainly helped, gathering a game-high eight clearances. Alongside Cripps' seven clearances, Carlton was able to make the most of its work at the source, stemming from a +34 differential in contested ball.

 3. It was Carlton's turnover game tonight which got the job done. Despite usually scoring the majority of their scores through clearances, the strong games from the likes of Jacob Weitering, Sam Docherty and Lachie Plowman set the Blues up behind the ball and they capitalised: 79 per cent of their scores came after winning the ball back from the opposition.

Moment of the match 

It was a deadly moment when Jesse Motlop slotted his first AFL goal in his first AFL game. 

Taking a strong mark in the forward 50, Motlop kicked truely for an important set-shot goal for the Blues.

GWS GIANTS         3.3     7.5      10.6        11.9 (75)
CARLTON               5.3     7.5     10.12       15.15 (105)

GOALS
Carlton: Curnow 2, Durdin 2, Fisher 2, Silvagni 2, Walsh 2, De Koning, Docherty, Motlop, O’Brien

BEST
Carlton: Walsh, Silvagni, Docherty, Weitering, Durdin, Hewett, Kennedy

INJURIES
Carlton: Zac Williams (lower leg), subbed out for Matthew Cottrell