ALTHOUGH it was the result everyone expected, it was achieved by means that few would have predicted.
Carlton, with a 67-point win over Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, has moved back into the top four on the ladder.
But don't let the 15.20 (110) to 6.7 (43) margin fool you. It was the Giants' resolve rather than the Blues' win that was most admirable.
However to point only to the Blues' sloppy approach would be discrediting the fledgling club's endeavour. First-year players took on premiership hopefuls and, in many cases, held their own.
If not for some poor decision-making out of the backline and some crucial turnovers, the Giants might have gone closer to winning their first AFL game.
The Blues' sluggish start set the tone for the day. Their three first-quarter goals only came as a result of Giants' mistakes, and instead of making the play, Carlton was sweating on their less experienced opponents making errors.
In fact, the Giants led Carlton in disposals, contested possessions and marks, and had six more clearances by the first change. The 10-point margin was something of a façade.
Seven minutes into the second term Tom Scully levelled the score with a set-shot goal. The high-profile recruit's straight kick left the crowd in stunned silence, but it did sting the Blues into some form of action.
They kicked the next three goals to open a 16-point advantage. But the Giants kept coming, holding the deficit to 10 points at half-time and breaking even for the term.
With Carlton's champion captain Chris Judd missing, the Blues lacked someone to take control of the game. Marc Murphy was solid, and finished with 27 disposals (19 were contested), but couldn't find the space or run that has become crucial to his game.
With three goals to one in the third quarter the Blues established a 25-point lead at the final change, and a goal to Bret Thornton in the opening minute of the last quarter all but ended the contest.
They piled on six goals for the quarter and held the Giants to only one major for the half.
But the final margin was not indicative of the Giants' efforts. Losing ruckman Dean Brogan to a wrist injury at half-time, and then Setanta O'hAilpin in the third quarter with a knee complaint severely changed their structure.
They might have lost the game, and key mature players to injury, but GWS lost no respect in the defeat.
CARLTON 3.5 6.8 9.14 15.20 (110)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.1 5.4 6.7 6.7 (43)
GOALS
Carlton: Hampson 3, Thornton 3, Lucas 2, Simpson 2, Walker 2, Bower, Robinson, Garlett
Greater Western Sydney: Davis 2, O'hAilpin 2, Scully, Sumner
BEST
Carlton: Robinson, Murphy, Simpson, Scotland, Thornton, Walker
Greater Western Sydney: Greene, Coniglio, McDonald, Shiel, Adams, Smith
INJURIES
Carlton: Curnow replaced in selected side by Bootsma
Greater Western Sydney: Brogan (wrist), O'hAilpin (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Josh Bootsma replaced Lachie Henderson at three-quarter time
Greater Western Sydney: Sam Reid replaced Dean Brogan (wrist) at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Stevic, Foot
Official crowd: 28,201 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
