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CARLTON squared its win-loss ledger at five apiece at Docklands on Friday night, downing a disappointing West Coast by 41 points.
Led by six goals to Brendan Fevola in a welcome return to form and a bevy of ball winners headed by Nick Stevens, Marc Murphy, Chris Judd and Brendan Fevola, the Blues burst the game wide open with a four-goal to nil second term, before cruising to the wire to win 16.15 (111) to 10.10 (70).
In front of 39,611 fans, the Blues got the points but they were less than impressive after half time against a side that was ripe for the picking at the long break.
The game started in sensational fashion after a middle of the ground dust-up left Murphy writhing in pain after a Daniel Kerr forearm caught him unawares.
While the Eagles landed the first punch, it was the Blues who scored the first scoreboard blow when Brad Fisher, playing his first game for the year, streamed into an open goal three minutes in.
Goals to Judd and Ryan Houlihan followed as the Blues, in stark contrast to last week, flew out of the blocks to lead by 18 points after seven minutes.
However, the Eagles settled and with Andrew Embley, Adam Selwood and Kerr providing a calming influence in the middle, West Coast worked their way into the contest.
Former Blue Josh Kennedy got the scoreboard rolling for the Eagles after winning a free kick directly in front, before Fevola responded in true showman style after a dribbling reverse banana from deep in the left forward pocket found its way through the big sticks - much to the delight of the out of form Blue.
By quarter time, it was the Blues by a deserved 11 points in a spirited battle.
With the memory of last week’s AAMI Stadium debacle fresh in the memory bank, Carlton wasn’t about to take its foot off the pedal.
Despite a West Coast flood for much of the second term, the Blues managed four goals to nil in game-winning stanza that burst the lead out to 41 points.
Fevola kicked one for the term but could have had three if not for inaccuracy, while the midfield showed poise and patience with the ball in their hands.
In stark contrast the Eagles, courtesy of the full-field press, lacked structure and looked decidedly toothless inside the forward 50 arc.
Their key forwards managed just seven marks in the opening 60 minutes, while the Blues’ defensive quartet of Stevens, Paul Bower, Bret Thornton and Dennis Armfield gathered 56 possessions between them to half time.
The second half unfolded predictably given the half time margin, save for a Mark LeCras cameo that netted four goals in the third term, including a brilliant right foot over-the-shoulder snap from deep in the forward pocket that oozed class.
On the back of LeCras, and to a lesser extent Selwood and Embley, the Eagles outscored the Blues four goals to two, cutting the margin to 29 points and giving Carlton coach Brett Ratten something to think about at the final change.
Jefferey Garlett answered the call with an early soccer-style goal to start the final term, and despite the best efforts of the Eagles, the margin proved insurmountable.
While it was less than impressive, the Blues got the job done.
Fevola kicked three of his six goals in the final term and ended with 6.4 for the night, while Judd broke a Tyson Stenglein tag to be decisive in the midfield.
Others, including Stevens, Kade Simpson, Bower and Murphy helped keep West Coast at bay.
LeCras ended with six goals in a solo effort of note for West Coast. Selwood, Embley and Kerr worked hard, while Dean Cox lowered his colours to youngster Matthew Kreuzer.
Carlton 5.2 9.10 11.12 16.15 (111)
West Coast 3.3 3.5 7.7 10.10 (70)
GOALS
Carlton: Fevola 6, Fisher 3, Houlihan 2, Garlett 2, Judd, Betts, Browne
West Coast: LeCras 6, Kennedy 2, Hunter, Wirrpanda
BEST
Carlton: Murphy, Stevens, Judd, Kreuzer, Fevola, Thornton
West Coast: LeCras, A Selwood, Embley, Kerr, Hurn
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
West Coast: Nil
Reports: Mitch Robinson (Carlton) reported by emergency umpire Shane Stewart for engaging in rough conduct against Adam Selwood (West Coast) in the third quarter
Umpires: Vozzo, Rosebury, Avon
Official crowd: 39,611 at Docklands
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
