NOT again.

Carlton has pipped Melbourne by four points in the Round 22 encounter in a hard-hitting, low-scoring affair at the MCG.

Drawing comparisons to the corresponding game last year, the Blues were roped back in by the Dees in the dying stages and very nearly suffered a similar fate, only for Caleb Marchbank to get a finger to Christian Petracca's goalbound shot.

It meant the Blues celebrated their eighth straight win, doing so in Sam Docherty's 150th Carlton game, despite being subbed out in the final term with a corked calf. It was a night where Carlton's leaders stood up, with George Hewett, Patrick Cripps and Nic Newman all outstanding in the spirited win.

Quarter one

As eyes around the country were on what was happening at Stadium Australia, Carlton showed it was up for a scrap of its own from the get go. The Blues surged the ball forward consistently, overwhelming the Dees with the pressure at the source and their shape behind the ball. Carlton was relentless attacking in forward waves, beating Melbourne at its own territory game to monopolise inside 50s 24-4. The only frustration in the Blues’ game was their inability to capitalise when going forward, either letting chances go in front of goal or narrowly missing targets. It was left to who else but Charlie Curnow to open proceedings from a goals perspective, while Brodie Kemp was crucial in the Blues locking the ball inside their forward half — the young defender had 11 disposals in the first term alone. Carlton’s pressure meant the ball was either locked in or being intercepted, setting up a top where it nearly kept its opposition before a late Melbourne goal: crucially, this meant it was only a three-point lead at the first change, despite the Blues’ dominance in general play.

Quarter two

After the Blues failed to capitalise on their territorial dominance in the first quarter, things looked to be going sour for them, with the Demons rejuvenated after the quarter-time break. When Melbourne kicked the opening two goals of the quarter, giving it a nine-point lead, Carlton was under pressure to respond — just as it has done in recent months, the team did exactly that. Crisp ball movement from the back half ended with Ollie Hollands hitting up Jack Martin, breaking the Blues’ goal drought after a number of missed chances. That released the shackles for the Blues, who started to get to work around the ball once more and generate more scoring opportunities in a genuine arm wrestle. Continuing his strong form of recent months, Blake Acres showed why he’s quickly earned the respect of teammates and supporters alike with an overhead mark and goal to give the Blues the lead back heading into the major break. It was a fight, and George Hewett relished that it was, starring in the first half with 16 disposals and 10 contested possessions.

Quarter three

Just as they did in the first term, the Blues’ came out full of vigour, with captain Patrick Cripps leading the charge: on a night where he entered the top five for games played as Carlton skipper, a tackle on Clayton Oliver led to the first goal of the half. It sparked the Blues in the first half of the term, adding majors through Matthew Owies - who was assisted expertly by Charlie Curnow - and Sam Docherty in his 150th Carlton game. It opened up a game-high lead, but all that did was provide the impetus for Melbourne to fight back— as was the theme of the night. The Dees threw plenty of punches, and the Blues had to wear the hits in the second half of the term, under serious heat from a surging Melbourne unit. It was late in the quarter when the Blues relinquished the lead, with squares level at the final change.

Quarter four

The Blues had been here before against the Dees in Round 22. After opening up a three-goal lead in the final term, with Owies opportunistic, De Koning imposing and Curnow classy, the story of the third quarter once again emerged. Just as was the case in the corresponding game last year between the two sides, Melbourne surged at Carlton, who desperately had to cling on to the lead it had built up. Nic Newman - as he has been all season - was herculean over the course of the night and in the last term, collecting 12 touches, while Adam Saad aggressively pressing in the face of the opposition gave the Blues an opportunity to win the ball back. It looked like there’d be a repeat of last year’s efforts in front of an MCG crowd that had been through an emotional rollercoaster: Christian Petracca’s long shot from outside 50 looked goalbound, but the umpire deemed the slimmest of touches off Caleb Marchbank’s hand thwarted a sequel. There was no case of deja Blue this time around.

Three things we learned

1. Character. The Blues showed it in spades. Finding themselves in the exact same position as 12 months ago, Carlton’s players could’ve gone in their shells in the final term. What ended up happening, however, was as spirited a Navy Blue win in a long time. The Blues did so by keeping the Dees to just eight goals: they averaged over 100 points in their last five wins coming into Round 22.

2. Against Melbourne’s star-studded midfield, the question was who would step up. Among a number of others, there was one who stood out: George Hewett. The former Swan was simply brilliant at the home of football, throwing his weight around with reckless abandon while also winning the ball at the source. Ending the night with 33 disposals, 23 contested possessions and eight clearances, there were few - if any - better on the night.

3. He was named in the 22under22 squad this week, and Brodie Kemp did his chances of selection in the team no harm on Saturday night. One of only two Blues to record 10 intercept possessions, Kemp started the game as he meant to go on, setting up his performance with an outstanding opening term. He was a shining light the last time these two sides met earlier in the year, but this time around, he was one of the Blues’ most important contributors behind the ball.

CARLTON            1.3     3.5     6.6       9.6 (60)
MELBOURNE      1.0     3.3     6.6       8.8 (56)

GOALS
Carlton: C.Curnow 2, Owies 2, Acres, Cripps, De Koning, Docgerty, Martin

BESTS
Carlton: Hewett, Cripps, Newman, Weitering, Saad, Acres, Kemp