CARLTON has fallen by 42 points to Melbourne in Round 5 AFLW action.

After a one-point win and successive draws in the last three weeks, the Blues suffered their first defeat since Round 1 on the back of a dominant first half by the Dees.

Mimi Hill was again outstanding in the middle of the ground, amassing a career-high 33 disposals, but the visitors had too many contributors all over the ground.

The Dees dominated forward territory all night, finishing with 33 more inside 50s on the night while the Blues were unable to make the most of their half chances.

With a wealth of experience missing for the Game Changers, the team battled strongly all night to finish with 60 tackles for the game.

Continuing her recent form in front of goal, Brea Moody conjured a moment of magic to give the Blues a second-quarter spark: three of her four goals this season have come directly from inside-50 ruck contests.

As the Dees surged the ball inside 50 in wet conditions, Mua Laloifi continued her solid form of recent weeks, shaking off the effects of a big hit in the second term to end the game with 14 intercept possessions.

In a whirlwind personal week, Christina Bernardi adapted well given the circumstances, collecting seven disposals and laying four tackles despite limited opportunities in attack.

Despite holding the rampaging Demons to just a goal apiece in the final two terms, the damage was well and truly done on the scoreboard as the away side emerged with a seven-goal victory.

The Game Changers head north next week to take on Greater Western Sydney on Saturday afternoon.

CARLTON             0.1     1.1      1.2        1.2 (8)
MELBOURNE        2.1     5.4     6.7       7.8 (50)

GOALS
Carlton: Moody

BESTS
Carlton: Hill, Laloifi, Moody, McKay