IN A slog of a contest, Carlton was unable to get the better of Richmond at a wet MCG on Thursday night, falling by 15 points. 

Richmond led the entire game, with Carlton unable to score a goal until midway through the second quarter. 

Harry McKay slotted four goals for the Blues, while Sam Walsh and 150-gamer Patrick Cripps gathered 34 and 33 disposals respectively in a contested game under lights. 

Quarter one 

It was a tough opening term for the Blues, as they were unable to slot a goal as the rain tumbled down at the MCG. Richmond kicked off the game with the first goal, as Carlton's players struggled to get the ball in their hands. Eventually, the Blues ended up having the better of the inside 50s, but had nothing to show for it as their inaccurate kicking left them with four behinds. Sam Walsh had plenty of the ball (11 disposals) and was the main man for propelling the Blues into attack (three inside 50s), while Lochie O’Brien demonstrated some accurate kicking downfield. Club debutant Sam Durdin - in his first game at MCG - produced some impressive moments behind the ball, but a goalless Carlton entered the first change 16 points in arrears.

Quarter two 

The first half of the term was very much like the first quarter, with the ball in Richmond’s attacking territory. The Tigers slotted the first three goals of the term to make it six unanswered for the game, spending the majority of the first 10 minutes inside forward 50 on the back of their clearance game (24-14 at half time). It was George Hewett that provided the goal to put the Blues on the board, coming at the 16-minute mark of the term. It was backed up quickly by an O’Brien goal from outside 50, before Harry McKay got the Blues right back in the contest. However, a goal in the dying seconds from Tom Lynch on the counter attack meant the Blues trailed by 25 points at the main break.

Quarter three

The rain resumed over the half time break, resulting in a slippery opening to the second half. In only his sixth game of AFL football, Jordan Boyd was one who saw the Blues get right back into the contest, intercepting the ball well while typically demonstrating his classy ball use around the ground, leading to two goals for the term. Goals from Charlie Curnow, Corey Durdin and Jack Martin - plus the Blues' ability to quell the Tigers' scoreboard impact despite bulk inside 50s - meant the Blues entered the final change just 14 points in arrears.

Quarter four

After Richmond kicked out to a 27-point lead, alarm bells started ringing for Carlton, and it was Harry McKay who took the game by the scruff of the neck. Three consecutive goals to the reigning Coleman Medallist had the Blues within single digits for the first time since the opening term, but a Jack Newnes major was called back upon a score review which would've otherwise brought Carlton within a kick. From there, Richmond was able to settle, kicking out to a 15-point lead which would ultimately be the decisive margin. Sam Docherty continued to provide leadership and composure across half back, while Adam Saad fought until the final siren in another impressive individual performance. The Blues were without Jack Martin (lower leg) in the closing stages, subbed out for Lachie Fogarty.

Three things we learned

1. Sam Durdin's first night at the MCG is certainly one which the new Blue won't ever forget. While it wasn't the result the former Glenelg defender would've wished for, he held his own against Richmond's Jack Riewoldt, contributing seven intercepts and nine one percenters on a night where he didn't look out of his depth after being landed at IKON Park just a fortnight ago.

2. Thursday night's game comfortably brought about the best game in the career of another Carlton mid-season recruit. Jordan Boyd - who was selected as a rookie in the 2021 incarnation of the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft - produced the best sign yet that he belongs at the level, consistently winning the ball back for his side and using it well despite tricky conditions. He ended the night at 75 per cent efficiency and 11 intercept possessions: second for the night behind Adam Saad.

3. There's plenty of fight in these Blues. Despite falling behind quite heavily on the scoreboard in the early going, the Blues never allowed themselves to believe they were out of the contest, drawing within single digits at one stage in the final term. While the start to the contest will be heavily analysed at IKON Park in the midst of a nine-day break, their capacity to scrap their way back into the contest should be cause for heart.

RICHMOND                  3.2       7.6       8.10      11.15 (81)
CARLTON                     0.4       3.5       6.8         9.12 (66)

GOALS
Carlton: McKay 4, Curnow, Durdin, Hewett, Martin, O'Brien

BEST
Carlton: Saad, McKay, Docherty, Cripps, Boyd, Walsh