THE CARLTON Reserves made it five wins from their last six games with a 36-point triumph over Port Melbourne. 

The Blues led at every change in the 15.15 (105) to 10.9 (69) victory, with the likes of Marc Pittonet, Caleb Marchbank and Lochie O’Brien producing vital showings. 

The home side went a whole half two rotations down, when the returning Corey Durdin - who started in the midfield and produced the opening assist - came from the ground early in the first quarter with a shoulder injury, while a migraine kept Jack Carroll out of the game from the second term. 

However, in their absence, the Blues were still able to lift, starring in the pressure stakes to secure a win that elevated them to eighth on the VFL ladder.

Early inaccuracy threatened to scupper the Blues’ hands, leading by six behinds at the first change, but they were well on their way to their ninth win of the campaign after tidying things up in front of goal.

It started in the middle with Pittonet, who was playing his first game back since the bye following a PCL strain. As the main ruckman, Pittonet led the way, producing 16 disposals, eight clearances and eight tackles in a physical showing from the returning big man.

In the absence of Carroll and Durdin, it was an unfamiliar midfield mix that got the job done for the Blues, with O’Brien moving inside the contest and finishing with 29 disposals and six tackles. 

That was the embodiment of Carlton’s game, finishing the day with 28 more tackles than its opposition. In attack, it was again an even spread in front of goal: 10 individual goalkickers contributed to the total of 15, with five multiple goalkickers kicking two apiece. 

Re-signed last week, Jaxon Binns (34 disposals, one goal) and Harry Lemmey (six marks, one goal) both showed further signs of why their time in the Navy Blue is continuing, while Hudson O’Keeffe contributed two majors, spending more time forward given the return of Pittonet. 

The band was back together from a VFL-listed point of view as Ned Cahill, Ben Crocker and Ben Ronke all shared in the spoils, while at the other end, the AFL trio of Sam Durdin, Caleb Marchbank and Lachie Plowman steadied the ship.

Marchbank was particularly impressive down back, amassing 29 disposals (including nine intercept possessions) and 10 marks in another promising all-round game from the defender. 

Carlton will take on Collingwood this Saturday - a day after the big Friday night clash between the AFL sides - at Victoria Park, the scene of last year’s elimination final victory.

CARLTON RESERVES      3.6     8.10     12.13     15.15 (105)
PORT MELBOURNE         3.0     5.2       6.4         10.9 (69)

GOALS
Carlton: Cahill 2, Crocker 2, McMahon 2, O’Keeffe 2, Ronke 2, Binns, Lefroy, Lemmey, Pittonet, Prout

BEST
Carlton: Pittonet, O’Brien, Marchbank, S.Durdin, Moschetti, Cahill