CARLTON has fallen at the final hurdle against the old enemy, losing by four points to Collingwood at the MCG.

With over 80,000 people piling into the home of football, the Blues were left to do the job without Jacob Weitering, who injured his AC joint in the opening minutes of the contest.

A pulsating final term gave the Blues a chance, but were ultimately left with just too much to do as they fell by less than one straight kick.

Quarter one

It was a heated contest from the get-go, with the game staying scoreless until seven minutes into the term. Both teams struggled to find their feet, but while it was Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott who put the first goal on the board, Carlton saw an instant reply through the boot of Charlie Curnow. George Hewett was busy with 11 disposals at 91 per cent efficiency for the quarter, while a miracle goal from Corey Durdin from well outside 50 saw Carlton hit the front. Both of the Blues' goals came from the stoppage – their most trusted source for goals this season. The loss of Jacob Weitering (AC joint) midway through the quarter hurt the Blues, but Nic Newman did his best to step up with the team's intercept game behind the ball. Adam Saad showed some classy ball movement across half back, but the Pies' ability to score from turnovers hurt the Blues, leaving them trailing by eight points heading into the second quarter. 

Quarter two 

The Blues bit back in the second quarter, slotting four goals to the Pies' two. It was a great quarter for Adam Cerra, who gained the most metres on the ground, managed four clearances, three inside 50s and slotted the goal that saw Carlton even it up with Collingwood on the scoreboard. The Pies' inaccurate kicking in front of goal definitely helped the Blues’ cause, kicking four behinds for the term. Carlton had some trouble picking through Collingwood’s defence in their forward 50, often resulting in turnovers, but in the second half of the term, the Blues started to get it done in front of goal. With Cerra among them, it was Carlton's midfield group which turned the tide, as Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh also contributed majors before a Curnow snap gave the Blues the lead heading into the main break. 

Quarter three

It truly was Collingwood’s quarter in the third, with the Pies kicking the first two goals of the term to get the jump on the Blues. Carlton’s defence had their work cut out for them, with the ball spending most of the time in the home team’s forward line. The Pies slowly chipped away at the margin, playing a strong intercept game that made it difficult for the Blues’ forwards to get their hands on the ball or maintain field position in the forward half. With the opportunities the Blues were able to manufacture, they couldn't capitalise, managing five behinds for the quarter. Saad’s intercept game was a strong point for Carlton, but a goalless term for the Blues left them 11 points behind heading into the final term at the MCG.

Quarter four

An opening goal from Jesse Motlop could’ve been the reset Carlton needed, but two goals in response from Collingwood put the Blues on the back foot yet again. The Pies’ movement through the middle caught the Blues off-guard as the latter went chasing the game, falling 23 points in arrears in the process. However, a pair of majors for Matthew Owies and then two consecutive goals to Curnow had the Blues within a kick with a minute remaining. The ball was camped in Carlton’s forward 50 with repeat stoppages, but a narrow miss and an inability to capitalise on half-chances meant the Blues fell just short for their third loss of the season.

COLLINGWOOD         3.4     4.8     7.12     11.13
CARLTON                   2.2     6.2     6.7       11.9

GOALS
Carlton: Curnow 4, Owies 2, Cerra, Cripps, Durdin, Motlop, Walsh

BEST
Carlton:  Saad, Cerra, Walsh, Curnow, Docherty, Hewett, Cripps