WHAT was the best bit about Carlton’s come-from-behind win over St Kilda?

According to their leaders, it was the Blues’ ability to ground out a result on the back of the game not being on their teams. 

In the last six games, the Blues have been ahead - relatively comfortably, too - at the main break. They’ve been setting up their wins early, leading by 44, 50, 25, 31, 82 and 17 points at half time since Round 14.

However, come Round 21, the Blues were 22 points in arrears, with the Saints well on top on the back of some brilliant pressure from the home side.

Coming out after the major interval, Carlton ramped things up, embracing the fight and ultimately breaking open the game in the final term.

“They had 50 tackles at half time, which is super — and we felt it,” captain Patrick Cripps told Channel 7 post-match.

“In the last six weeks, we’ve been up at half time, and things have been going our way. We spoke about how this one was going to take some character and we had to dig in.

“We built some energy off the back of our contest. It was huge win.”

Cripps’ vice-captain in Jacob Weitering agreed, on the back of an individual performance where he did his burgeoning All-Australian chances no harm.

Once again a wall in the defensive half with seven intercept marks (an equal career-high), Weitering saw his back-line unit stand up under increasing St Kilda heat in the first half, before the team reaped the rewards in the second.

There were no surprises what the focuses were for the team leading into the Round 21 bout.

“Pressure and contest,” Weitering said with a smile, a typical answer for the Blues in recent weeks.

“We were probably a bit flat with our efforts [at half time]. You’ve got to give credit to St Kilda, they’re a good side and they certainly brought the pressure.

“I’m proud of the boys: we haven’t been in that position in the last six weeks and we got it done.”