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CARLTON charged late but fell short of a third straight win, going down by 35 points to Essendon at the MCG on Sunday.
The Blues were behind all day but got their noses in front 12 minutes into the final term after a streak of six unanswered goals either side of three-quarter time.
They had been down by 39 points at quarter time and were still six goals in arrears in time-on in the third term before making their run.
Carlton was down by 25 points at three-quarter time but some inspirational pieces of forward-line play got them ahead.
The Blues held the lead 16 minutes into the final term, but the Bombers steadied in the final 15 minutes to get away with a 20.16 (136) to 15.11 (101) win.
The result leaves Carlton half-a-game outside the top eight after 13 rounds with a tough run ahead.
Brendan Fevola booted seven goals in another fine display that moves him to within four goals of Coleman Medal pace-setter Buddy Franklin.
Kade Simpson, Marc Murphy, Nick Stevens and Bryce Gibbs were prominent throughout while Jarrad Waite was influential across half back.
The Blues had won three of their past four matches before Sunday with their only loss in the past month to the all-conquering Cats.
But they struggled from the outset against the Bombers, conceding the first four goals of the match, before Eddie Betts booted their first in the time-on period of the first term.
Carlton were behind by an imposing 39 points at quarter time and Setanta O’hAilpin was probably the only defensive winner, getting the better of dangerman Scott Lucas.
The Bombers also had the advantage in close, easily winning the contested possessions (40-25) and clearances (13-3).
It took first-year player Steven Browne to set the Blues in motion in the second quarter.
Browne’s long pass to Brendan Fevola set up the Blues for the opening goal of the term. It kick-started Fev’s day and started a mini revival.
The key forward, who was involved in a sickening collision with Essendon’s Henry Slattery in the first quarter, started to make his mark in the second term.
He added another goal, this time thanks to a precision pass from Bryce Gibbs, and suddenly the Blues looked back in with a chance.
Jay Neagle got one back for Essendon but it was the Bombers’ only joy for the quarter.
A classy Murphy snap followed by Fevola’s third goal for the quarter got Carlton to within 23 points at the long break and in a position to mount a strong second-half challenge.
Their main concern at the half was the condition of captain Chris Judd who was down for a minute or so after a head clash with Lloyd.
Judd, heavily tagged by Andrew Welsh, was uncharacteristically quiet after the incident.
He had just two kicks and four handpasses to half time but his vice-captain Stevens picked up the slack with 15 first-half possessions to be among the Blues’ best.
Carlton coach Brett Ratten responded to the Judd dilemma by placing his star inside the Blues forward 50m arc after the long break, however, Judd had little impact.
The second-half charge stalled before it even started when Murphy bungled what looked like a certain goal by opting for a handball from close range.
Monfries goaled from the re-start to stretch the margin out to five goals in a classic two-goal turnaround.
The Bombers soon had a six-goal lead when Lloyd and Adam McPhee took advantage of some superb Essendon field kicking.
At the other end, Fevola was playing a one-man band up forward for Carlton, adding his fourth and fifth goals for the match.
At the 25-minute mark of the third quarter, the Blues were still trailing by 36 points.
However, two late goals, one a left foot snap from Stevens and the other a Murphy shot with just seven seconds before the siren, gave the Blues a sniff.
In the final term the Blues came out and threw everything at their rivals – taking only 12 minutes to cancel out Essendon’s advantage with goals to Kade Simpson, Fevola, Stevens and Carrazzo.
Six goals straight gave Carlton a two-point advantage, but Lloyd snatched back the lead when he took a great mark and kicked his fourth from 45m.
Jason Laycock put the Bombers out by 10 points, Brad Fisher hit back for Carlton, but a flurry of goals to Lucas, Andrew Lovett (3) and Kyle Reimers killed off the brave challenge.
That was despite Fevola kicking the goal of the day, his seventh, tight on the boundary line from 50m on his non-favoured side.
CARLTON 1.2 5.4 9.6 15.11 (101)
ESSENDON 7.5 8.9 12.13 20.16 (136)
Goals
Carlton: Brendan Fevola 7, Nick Stevens 2, Andrew Carrazzo 2, Eddie Betts, Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson, Brad Fisher
Essendon: Angus Monfries 4, Matthew Lloyd 4, Andrew Lovett 3, Jay Neagle 2, Kyle Reimers 2, Mark McVeigh, Leroy Jetta, Adam McPhee, Jason Laycock, Scott Lucas
Best
Carlton: Brendan Fevola, Nick Stevens, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Kade Simpson, Jarrad Waite
Essendon: David Hille, Angus Monfries, Matthew Lloyd, Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton. Kyle Reimers
Injuries
Carlton: Chris Judd (concussion), Andrew Carrazzo (concussion)
Essendon: Henry Slattery (fractured cheekbone)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McLaren, Chamberlain, Armstrong
Official crowd: 59,177 at the MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
