ESSENDON is off to its best start to a season since it won the premiership in 2000 after the Bombers upset Carlton by 30 points at the MCG on Saturday.
The Blues were red-hot favourites to record their fourth victory of the season after demolishing Collingwood last week, but it was Essendon who remained undefeated after the final siren sounded on its 15.19 (109) to 11.13 (79) win.
Carlton suffered early blows with injuries to Andrew Carrazzo and Jeremy Laidler, but the Dons' work-rate and ferocity at the contest was superior for much of the contest.
Carrazzo was subbed out of the game after suffering a shoulder injury in the first minute and Laidler received treatment on the same knee he dislocated in the NAB Cup and appeared to struggle throughout.
The Bombers weren't without their own injury concerns with Michael Hurley subbed out of the game with a hamstring complaint early in the second half.
The injury puts into doubt Hurley's availability for Wednesday's Anzac Day clash.
Bombers Brent Stanton and Jobe Watson were outstanding at the stoppages from the outset and finished with 36 and 31 possessions respectively.
Stewart Crameri was a dangerous presence in attack for Essendon, but the full-forward robbed himself of a bigger goal haul with wasteful kicking seeing him finish with 5.6.
The Blues had few clear winners on the day, but Marc Murphy was one of their few consistent contributors with 29 disposals and a goal, while Eddie Betts finished with four goals after being largely unsighted in the first half.
Despite their injury woes, Carlton led by four points at quarter-time, but looked listless in the face of the Bombers' second-quarter blitz, which saw them kick five unanswered goals for the term to lead by 28 points at the main break.
The Blues finally started to play the type of the football that saw the club installed as premiership favourites during the week early after the restart, but spurned several gilt-edged opportunities in front of goal.
The Bombers made them pay with the last three goals of the quarter setting up an imposing 47-point lead at three-quarter time.
Carlton launched a last-ditch attempt to snatch the win with five of the first six goals of the final term, but an Angus Monfries goal with eight minutes to play secured a memorable win for the Dons.
CARLTON 4.4 4.7 5.12 11.13 (79)
ESSENDON 3.6 8.11 12.17 15.19 (109)
GOALS
Carlton: Betts 4, Robinson, Garlett, Murphy, McLean, Gibbs, Judd, Hampson
Essendon: Crameri 5, Davey 3, Melksham, Stanton, Ryder, Zaharakis, Hurley, Fletcher, Monfries
BEST
Carlton: Simpson, Murphy, Judd, Scotland, Kreuzer
Essendon: Watson, Stanton, Crameri, Hardingham, Ryder, Davey, Heppell, Hibberd, Fletcher
INJURIES
Carlton: Carrazzo (shoulder), Laidler (knee), Yarran (toe)
Essendon: Hurley (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Andrew Carrazzo (shoulder) replaced in the first quarter by Brock McLean
Essendon: Michael Hurley (hamstring) replaced in the third quarter by Cory Dell'Olio
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Rosebury, Leppard
Official crowd: 73,172 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club
