Carlton will be looking to bounce back this weekend when it takes on an in-form Melbourne in a Sunday afternoon clash at the MCG.
The match will see the Blues return to the ‘G, nine days after their 43-point Round 1 loss to Richmond.
Melbourne, on the other hand, will make its first appearance at the home of footy after it kicked off its 2017 campaign with an emphatic 30-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
With the Demons heading into the match after tasting victory in Round 1, they’ll be hungry to bag the four points against the Blues who will have history on their side.
Carlton lead the overall and more recent head-to-head record with Melbourne, having won nine out of the past 10 matches to see the total sit at 118-89 in the Blues’ favour.
In Round 22, 2016 – the last encounter between the two sides – Carlton took charge to claim its final win for the year and in turn, crush Melbourne’s finals hopes.
In the lead-up to the first of two hit-outs between the teams this season, Melbourne midfielder Alex Neal-Bullen said the Demons would be out to avenge the Blues.
“The Blues have had the wood on us over the last couple of years … we’re really determined to change that,” Neal-Bullen told melbournefc.com.au.
“It’s going to be a great test.”
Following impressive Round 1 performances, experienced Demon Max Gawn and young talent Clayton Oliver will pose as crucial challenges to the Blues.
In a mammoth display against the Saints, Gawn recorded 49 hitouts to give his side every opportunity at the stoppages, while Oliver was among the best players with eight tackles, nine clearances and 36 possessions, 14 of which were contested.
The talent in the Demons' midfield doesn't stop there, however.
Four-time Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis made a brilliant start to his Melbourne career with a 32-disposal performance against St Kilda, while hard nut Nathan Jones and Bernie Vince - the latter unavailable on Sunday because of suspension - also topped 30 touches in Round 1.
Jordan Lewis has added experience to Melbourne's talented young midfield. (Photo: AFL Media)
Such is Melbourne's midfield depth that Christian Petracca has spent more time forward in the early stages of 2017, booting two goals against the Saints.
The former No.2 draft pick dominated against the Blues in the JLT Community Series, kicking a game-high four goals.
The midfield battle will be crucial to the outcome on Sunday, with in-form Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer facing a considerable challenge against Gawn.
Kreuzer will head in with confidence, however, having got the better of Gawn in recent encounters.
Ahead of the clash, fellow Blues tall Jacob Weitering anticipated the red and blue outfit to be at full force for its first home game of the season.
“Melbourne are a very good team with very good ball movement,” Weitering told the media on Thursday.
“We had a win against them last year so we’ll take a few positives out of that but they’re looking like a really good outfit especially after last week (win over St Kilda).”
Will the Blues strike a hat-trick and banish the Demons with a score of 78 for the third time in three years?
The challenge awaits.
