The Blues entered half time 26 points behind and seemed destined to record their fifth loss in six games, but their midfield lifted in the second half and drove the 15.19 (109) to 11.17 (83) win.
The result leaves Carlton one game clear in eighth position on the ladder, with a further percentage advantage over ninth-placed North Melbourne, which lost narrowly to Essendon earlier in the evening.
Marc Murphy (26 possessions and six clearances), Chris Judd (26 and six) and Kade Simpson (33 and five) were new players after the main break, and their clearance work allowed the Blues to kick 11 of the last 14 goals.
With the visitors enjoying a 34-16 advantage in inside 50s after half time, small forwards Eddie Betts, Chris Yarran and Jeff Garlett also lifted and shared seven goals for the night.
As dramatic as Carlton’s improvement was West Coast’s second-half slump. The home side kicked just 3.8 after half time in a 52-point turnaround.
Carlton rookie David Ellard can take much credit for crippling the Eagles midfield, having restricted prolific ball-winner Matt Priddis to 19 possessions. Ellard was playing just his second AFL game and his first since 2008.
Shaun Grigg (29 possessions) was impressive in the first half and kept his side in the game.
The Blues were left a man down after quarter time after Dennis Armfield was collected front on by Ashton Hams and was taken to hospital for scans on a suspected neck injury.
The loss leaves West Coast one game adrift on the bottom of the ladder and they had few winners after half time.
Fresh off his 12-goal demolition of Essendon last week, Mark LeCras booted 3.3 in the first half but could only add another two behinds.
Andrew Strijk, who was taken from the ground on a stretcher after a courageous spoiling effort, was impressive with nine inside 50s, while Matt Rosa, Ashton Hams and Brad Ebert worked hard.
The Blues were wasteful with their disposal in the first half, but they were never blown out of the water.
They applied defensive pressure in the second half, hit targets through the midfield and finished their work inside 50m.
Judd, who was booed throughout his second game against West Coast at his former home, found himself in some rare space on the wing halfway through the third term and pounced, taking two quick bounces and converting a momentum-building goal on the run from 50m.
When Yarran converted a right-foot snap off one step minutes later, the Blues were two points down and launched an irresistible run to the finish.
West Coast 3.3 8.9 10.11 11.17 (83)
Carlton 2.5 4.7 11.16 15.19 (109)
GOALS
West Coast: LeCras 3, Kennedy 2, Hams 2, Ebert 2, Strijk, Embley
Carlton: Betts 3, Garlett 3, Murphy 2, Waite 2, Yarran 2, Henderson, Judd, Hampson
BEST
West Coast: Rosa, Strijk, LeCras, Embley, Ebert, Hams,
Carlton: Simpson, Judd, Murphy, Grigg, Betts, Scotland, Johnson
INJURIES
West Coast: Strijk (concussion), A Selwood (shoulder)
Carlton: Armfield (compressed vertebrae)
Reports: Ashton Hams (West Coast) for engaging in rough conduct on Dennis Armfield in the second quarter. Jarrad Waite (Carlton) for engaging in rough conduct on Adam Selwood in the fourth quarter
Umpires: Donlon, Schmitt, Pannell
Official crowd: 35,925 at Subiaco Oval
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
