The Western Bulldogs have returned to winning ways at their Etihad Stadium fortress, but their 36-point triumph over a plucky Carlton has come at a cost after a potentially serious hamstring injury to rebounding defender Jason Johannisen.
Still recovering from the loss of skipper Bob Murphy to a season-ending knee injury against Hawthorn just six days ago, Johannisen's hamstring soured the Dogs' 13.7 (85) to 7.7 (49) victory, which improved their record to 3-1.
The dashing half-back had to be helped from the field after bombing a 55m goal in the third quarter, and he looks set for an extended period on the sidelines amid fears he's sustained tendon damage.
But there was better news for big-money forward Tom Boyd, who appears to have escaped a serious shoulder injury, while superboot Matt Suckling's rolled ankle appears unlikely to keep him out of next week's clash against the Brisbane Lions.
Johannisen (19 disposals) had been among the Bulldogs' best as they bounced back from the narrow defeat to the Hawks, which cut their 11-game winning streak under the roof at Etihad.
Beveridge's men looked hungry to atone and, fortunately for them, killed the contest by half-time before their injuries hit.
The Dogs led by 18 points at the first change and extended the margin to 43 by the main break, before the mounting injury toll opened the door for the Blues to launch a spirited fightback.
GALLERY: Check out the best snaps from the Blues' clash against the Dogs
Speaking post-match, Beveridge praised his side's efforts under duress.
"Our players adapted well. I liked a lot of the things we did. We turned the ball over too easy on fast play but that's a credit to Carlton … and they probably had the better of us in that second half," he said.
"We held our nerve enough; we just squandered some turnover opportunities."
After only kicking two goals in the first half, Carlton nailed three in the third term and grew in confidence as the match wore on, whittling the margin back from 51 points to 29 late in the final term.
But a goalless stretch from the 25-minute mark of the first term until the fourth minute of the third quarter killed the Blues, as they allowed the Dogs to run away with the game thanks to seven unanswered majors.
The Blues also shot themselves in the foot with some of their goalkicking, with Levi Casboult and Bryce Gibbs botching gettable set shots in the second term as Carlton tried to hold back the tide.
In his first game for Carlton, former No.3 draft pick Lachie Plowman was a shining light as he blanketed damaging Dogs forward Jake Stringer.
Recruit Sam Kerridge tried hard for the Blues, with veteran half-back Kade Simpson and Sam Docherty other four-quarter performers on another tough night.
"I think guys like Simpson and Docherty are setting up our defence really well. Plowman showed a bit tonight, which was a really good inclusion for us," coach Brendon Bolton said.
"Roughly, I think they would've scored around 40 per cent of entries, which was fairly pleasing for our defenders. So there's steps in the right direction structurally."
The Blues were battling with one-arm behind their backs with only limited influence from sick skipper Marc Murphy (10 disposals), plus key onballers Dale Thomas (18) and Gibbs (17, one goal).
The Dogs spread the load, with Shane Biggs (32 disposals) taking another step forward. Lachie Hunter (33) starred, while Caleb Daniel (23), Jack Macrae (26) and veteran Matthew Boyd (26) were tireless.
Marcus Bontempelli (three goals) made the Blues pay for turnovers with his lethal left boot, with unheralded Koby Stevens (two goals, 25 disposals) dangerous across half-forward.
Jed Adcock came into the Dogs side to help fill the leadership void left by Murphy, and the ex-Brisbane Lions skipper was swamped by his new teammates after snapping the game's second goal.
Even 210-game defender Dale Morris tried to join the party early, but the skipper couldn't add to his three career goals when his snap hit the post from 15m out in the second term.
The Blues' woes up forward continue to be a major headache for first-year coach Bolton. In four games, Carlton has kicked just 34 goals.
MEDICAL ROOM
Carlton: Marc Murphy was physically sick at half-time and had a cut to the head in the third term after copping a knee from Jordan Roughead, but didn't suffer concussion, the club said.
Western Bulldogs: Jason Johannisen's hamstring could keep him out for an extended period, however Matt Suckling (ankle) and Tom Boyd (shoulder) should be OK to face the Brisbane Lions.
NEXT UP: The Bulldogs have seven days to recover before taking on the Lions, while the winless Blues fly west for what will still be a difficult task against Fremantle, despite the Dockers' own struggles.
CARLTON 2.1 2.3 5.5 7.7 (49)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.1 9.4 12.6 13.7 (85)
GOALS
Carlton: Sumner 2, Buckley, Lamb, Phillips, Gibbs, Cripps
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 3, Stevens 2, Adcock, Suckling, McLean, Wallis, Liberatore, Johannisen, Jong, Hunter
BEST
Carlton: Plowman, Docherty, Simpson, Weitering, Kerridge, Wright
Western Bulldogs: Hunter, Biggs, Johannisen, Macrae, Stevens, Bontempelli, Suckling
INJURIES
Carlton: Thomas (left knee and right ankle), Murphy (cut head)
Western Bulldogs: Johannisen (right hamstring), Suckling (right ankle), T. Boyd (right shoulder)
Reports: Lin Jong (Western Bulldogs) after making high contact with Patrick Cripps (Carlton) in the first quarter
Umpires: Nicholls, Kamolins, Ryan
Official crowd: TBC at Etihad Stadium
