CARLTON has recorded its first win of the 2019 season with an emphatic victory over the Western Bulldogs. 

Despite the late withdrawal of forward Charlie Curnow, the Blues were at their very best, running out 44-point winners while scoring over 100 points for the first time since Round 11, 2016.

The Breakdown

Q1 Breakdown:

The Blues hit the ground running in the first term, able to control the play and dominating the inside 50 count. Harry McKay started positively, marking strongly and opening the scoring for the Blues. A classy roving goal from Paddy Dow followed by a goal under pressure by Marc Murphy gave the Blues the lead heading into the first break. Led by the continued efforts of McKay, the Blues combined well to finish with their best first-quarter effort this season.

Q2 Breakdown:

There was a notable lift in intensity from both sides as the siren for the second quarter sounded. McKay continued to cause headaches for the Bulldogs’ defenders, putting through his third goal for the game and extending the Blues’  lead. However, it was captain Patrick Cripps who was the standout, dominating the contest at every stage. Cripps moved to 26 disposals by the main break: Sam Petrevski-Seton wasn’t far behind his captain, holding his own with 25 disposals.

Q3 Breakdown:

Carlton fans would have been delighted to see the team come out with the same intensity as they left the ground with before the main break. Early goals to Mitch McGovern and Levi Casboult helped the Blues increase their lead to as much as 30 points during the third quarter. Carlton’s ability to move the ball cleanly and with purpose was ultimately the difference. In the middle of the ground, the ruck combination of Kreuzer and Casboult helped the Blues dominate centre clearances eleven to 7 at the final change.

Q4 Breakdown:

Carlton didn't miss a beat in the final term, able to not just hold their nerve but build on the lead to finish the game emphatically. An early goal to Levi Casboult saw the Carlton faithful erupt at Marvel Stadium, helping deliver the first victory of 2019. 

Moment of the match:

It came with barely seconds left on the clock, but Sam Walsh's snap from the boundary to deliver the Blues' first 100-point score in 1051 days. It was the icing on the cake of a long-awaited day for the Blues.

Three things we learned:

  1. Sam Petrevski-Seton is showing just how good he can be. In a career-best game, the silky midfielder finished with 35 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, as well as kicking a clutch goal in the third term.
  2. Harry McKay is a forward on the rise. The young tall moved well, marked even better and hit the scoreboard to finish with four goals against the Dogs.
  3. Matthew Kreuzer’s return couldn’t have come at a better time. In his first game of the year, the big man finished with 25 hitouts, while also providing a valuable target up forward. 

Up next:

The Blues will head into next week's game against Hawthorn hoping to build on its maiden win of the season.

WESTERN BULLDOGS      3.3     4.10    6.12    7.15 (57)
CARLTON                        5.3     8.5     11.6    15.11 (101)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dickson 2, Lloyd 2, McLean, Liberatore, Gowers
Carlton: McKay 4, Casboult 3, Dow, Murphy, Gibbons, Silvagni, McGovern, Petrevski-Seton, Fisher, Walsh

BEST
Carlton: Petrevski-Seton, Cripps, McKay, Gibbons, Casboult, Fisher

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Carlton: C.Curnow (knee soreness) replaced in selected side by Casboult

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Power, Dalgleish, Wallace

Official crowd: 35,069 at Marvel Stadium