CARLTON has fallen painfully short against Melbourne, losing by one point on Saturday afternoon at Marvel Stadium. 

After a disappointing start, which saw the Demons lead by as much as 42 points, the Blues were able to regain composure and work themselves back into the contest to lose by the narrowest of margins. 

The Blues backline led by co-captain Sam Docherty and Jacob Weitering helped drive the resurgence, while Marc Pittonet's efforts on debut gave the team a fighting chance. 

Q1 breakdown:

It was all Melbourne in the first quarter, as it piled on five goals to none in the opening half of the first term on the way to a 32-point lead at the first change. The quarter was further soured with an injury to Nic Newman seeing the defender stretchered from the field. 

00:47

R2 | Newman stretchered off

Nic Newman comes off the ground after injuring himself during the first quarter.

Q2 breakdown:

The Blues worked hard to tame the pressure of the rampaging Demons. A more methodical approach saw the Blues claim early ascendency in clearances, tackles and inside 50s. Jacob Weitering patrolled the half-back line with great intent and provided the hosts with some important stability. The hard work would pay off late in the term as David Cuningham and Darcy Lang slotted quick goals to cut Melbourne's lead to 29 points at the main break.

00:41

R2 | Brooding Blues back on the Boil

Carlton keep their hopes alive by bagging two late goals in the 2nd quarter.

 

Q3 breakdown:

It was a more certain start from the Blues, as they looked to pick up from where they left off at the end of the second term. A stunning rove from Jack Martin set up Levi Casboult for his first goal of the day, and brought the Blues to within 24 points. Momentum stayed with the Blues as they wrestled back control in the midfield, winning the clearances and controlling the backline. A goal to Mitch McGovern saw the Blues come within 17 points, as they began to put together their most consistent football for the evening. However, a late Christian Petracca goal saw the margin pushed back out to 23 points.

Q4 breakdown:

The Blues played with nothing to lose as the final term started. Eddie Betts' quick toe-poke to Michael Gibbons, who finished truly, gave the Blues an early spark. Betts and Martin were lively early in the fourth quarter, and the former's first goal back in Navy Blue was just the spark Carlton needed. A late captain's goal from Patrick Cripps brought the Blues within a point, but he and Martin were both denied by the goal post to give the Blues the lead. A late point to Bayley Fritsch was ultimately the decisive one as Carlton proved to be its own worst enemy.

00:45

R2 | Eddie's first goal back for the Blues

Eddie Betts kicks his first goal since returning to the Blues.

Moment of the match:

Cometh the moment, cometh the Eddie Betts. 

After looking dangerous early in the final quarter, Betts rose to the occasion winding back the clock to kick his first goal back in the Navy Blue. 

The veteran used his experience to his advantage, as he patiently waited at the back of the back collecting the ball as it spilled out the back, running into an empty goal.

 

Three things from the game:

  1. It was a baptism of fire coming up against the league’s best ruck in Max Gawn, but Marc Pittonet didn’t give up the fight in Navy Blue debut. The former Hawk was able to claw back some of the impact of Gawn as the game transpired. Shouldering the majority of the ruck load, Pittonet would finish with 23 hitouts and 14 disposals, playing a big part in the Blues’ midfield resurgence.
  2. When the game needed a hero, there was only one man to put his hand up. Patrick Cripps took the Blues, put them on his back and willed them forward. Aside from a dominant second-half display in the midfield, the co-captain moved forward to kick a clutch goal when the game was in the balance. 
  3. The combination of Jacob Weitering and Sam Docherty across the backline is one that Blues' fans will be able to look forward to watching for years to come. The dominant aerial performances of Weitering worked well with Docherty's elite ball use and smarts to help the Blues combat the Demon's fast forward entries. 

Match summary:

CARLTON            0.0    2.5    4.6    7.11 (53)
MELBOURNE       5.2    7.4    8.5     8.6 (54)

GOALS
Carlton: Cuningham, Lang, Casboult, McGovern, Gibbons, Betts, Cripps
Melbourne: Hunt 3, Neal-Bullen 2, Petracca 2, Fritsch

BEST
Carlton: Murphy, Docherty, Weitering, Petrevski-Seton, McGovern, Curnow

INJURIES
Carlton: Newman (knee)