A dominant eight-goal second quarter set up Carlton’s first victory over the Eagles at Subiaco since May 2000, the Blues winning 17.9 (111) to 10.14 (74).
Brendan Fevola kicked four goals but may face video scrutiny during the week for a hit on West Coast tagger Adam Selwood in the final quarter.
Judd received a mixed reception from the West Coast crowd but Tyson Stenglein was quick to muscle up to his former teammate at the opening bounce before Selwood took on the role of running with the Carlton superstar.
While the crowd focus remained on Judd, it was his midfield partners Heath Scotland, Nick Stevens and Andrew Carrazzo who provided the drive in the opening quarter for the Blues.
A rare defensive error by Beau Waters gifted Carlton the first goal of the game before a downfield free presented Fevola with his first.
Missed chances cost Carlton a bigger lead and allowed the Eagles to draw closer with goals to Will Schofield and Steven Armstrong narrowing the gap to just three points at the first break.
Carlton quickly took control in the second quarter and West Coast’s frustration soon spilled over into poor discipline. The Eagles were held goalless as six of Carlton’s eight majors for the quarter came from free kicks or 50 metre penalties.
Fevola was the main beneficiary of Eagles' indiscretions, with two consecutive goals from 50 metre penalties which had placed him in the goal square.
Carlton’s runners continued to roam Subiaco picking up uncontested possessions at will, with Judd playing second fiddle to Carrazzo and Scotland who each passed the 20 possession mark as the Blues went into the long break with a handy 48-point lead.
Despite conceding the opening goal of the third term to Carlton’s Eddie Betts, West Coast began clawing its way back into the contest.
Josh Kennedy - the other part of the Judd trade – became the dominant forward with consecutive goals to spark the home crowd into life.
Dean Cox, assisted by Quinten Lynch, was giving West Coast the upper hand at stoppages and Andrew Embley continued to work hard around the ground.
When Adam Selwood broke away from Judd to goal, the Eagles drew within to 23 points at the final break.
Judd was feeling the heat of some close attention from his former teammates both on and off the ball and spent an extended period on the bench having an ankle restrapped.
The West Coast surge continued into the final quarter with goals to Matt Rosa and Lynch placing further pressure on a tiring Carlton.
A running goal against the flow of play from Kade Smpson gave the Blues some much-needed breathing space before a trademark Judd takeaway from a congested stoppage handed Bryce Gibbs his second goal.
Goals to Brad Fisher, Stevens and Betts then put the result beyond doubt late in the term.
The relentless running of Carrazzo, Scotland and Stevens was a highlight for the Blues and Judd finished with 24 influential possessions despite the constant attention of Selwood.
Embley and Cox led the way for the West Coast, Selwood battled manfully to contain Judd and Lynch, despite some poor kicking, provided a target up front.
West Coast 2.1 2.7 8.9 10.14 (74)
Carlton 2.4 10.7 12.8 17.9 (111)
GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 2, Armstrong 2, Embley, C Jones, Schofield, Selwood, Rosa, Lynch
Carlton: Fevola 4, Simpson 2, Gibbs 2, Betts 2, Murphy, Cloke, Ellard, Browne, Wiggins, Fisher, Stevens
BEST
West Coast: Embley, Cox, Selwood, B Jones, Wirrpanda, Lynch, Glass
Carlton: Carrazzo, Scotland, Stevens, Simpson, Fisher, Judd, Browne
INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Carlton: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, McLaren, Head
Official crowd: 41,254 at Subiaco.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
