CARLTON have suffered a 32 point defeat, after a fast-starting Essendon showed their class from the opening bounce at Windy Hill.

The Blues were scoreless in the first quarter, with the Bombers pressure and contest proving difficult to overcome for the visitors.

Carlton’s strong clearance and midfield movement was nullified early, having only just two inside 50 entries in the opening quarter and little opportunity to capitalise on those.

The Blues’ struggles to hit the scoreboard continued in the second quarter, closing out the half scoreless, despite the side’s best efforts to offset the Bomber’s fast ball movement through the middle of the ground.

Abbie McKay continued her consistent season, as the Blues’ major contributor across the ground, collecting 27 disposals, five clearances and laying seven tackles throughout the day.

Amelia Velardo did her best to support McKay, with 17 disposals and six tackles of her own, accompanied by 351 metres gained.

Essendon dominated in the forward half for majority of the afternoon, making use of their forward entires with 52% inside 50 efficiency, whilst Carlton scored nine times from their 27 entires into the attacking area.

With Essendon’s constant surge forward being the story of the day, Carlton’s strong tackling game was under contract attack, laying 78 tackles and staying slightly above their season average of 76 tackles per game.

Key defender Harriet Cordner was moved up forward in the later stages of the game, and made the most of her time in attack, slotting two goals in the fourth quarter.

Despite a more promising showing by Carlton in the final quarter, the damage was done in the first half, leaving it too-little too-late for the Blues.

With the season nearing its end, the Blues with return to IKON Park On Sunday afternoon to take on St Kilda in the annual AFLW Pride Round.