IT WASN'T pretty, but it was the result Carlton needed. 

The Blues broke through for the first time against North Melbourne since 2014, and in doing so won their first game at the Gabba in eight attempts since 2013.

So, how did it all happen?

Just what the cockroach ordered

In Friday’s pre-match press conference, Senior Coach David Teague mentioned his desire to lock the ball in the front half and turn that into scoreboard impact.

His team delivered that aspect on the weekend.

Despite entering the game No.1 in the competition for turnovers, the Blues focused on winning the ball back in their forward half and they did exactly that.

Carlton recorded 10 scoring shots for a return of 5.5 on the scoreboard: its best return for the season so far.

Setting up the win

In the first quarter, the No.5 and No.6 picks from the 2016 NAB AFL Draft - Will Setterfield and Sam Petrevski-Seton - were arguably the two key contributors to Carlton’s four-goal lead.

While Petrevski-Seton wasn’t as prevalent in the ensuing three quarters, Setterfield was one Carlton’s best - if not the best - over four quarters.

He was the No.1 pressure player on the ground (24 pressure acts), had the most score involvements and clearances of any player and also had six tackles.

It was a complete midfield performance from the 22-year-old, who has just played 27 games of football.

His last month has been a glimpse of what’s to come.

Loch-ing down perfectly

There’s an argument that Carlton may not have hung on in the final term if not for Lachie Plowman.

As a persistent North Melbourne took the game to the Blues, Plowman stood up defensively on the way to nine intercepts: more than anyone else on the ground.

Tellingly, he was able to negate his direct opponent while also getting involved in offence (18 disposals).

After five goals against Carlton the last time the sides met, the dangerous Cameron Zurhaar was held to just eight disposals and one behind

Same old Ed

Ed Curnow has slipped under the radar in 2020: not that he isn’t used to it.

After being pipped by his co-captain in the 2019 John Nicholls Medal, Curnow has picked up where he left off from a career-best year.

He could add Jy Simpkin to his list of scalps, with North Melbourne’s danger man restricted to just 11 disposals. Entering the game as seventh in the AFL for score involvements, Simpkin didn’t produce one for the afternoon.

On the other hand, Curnow did what Curnow does. With 19 disposals (13 contested), 10 tackles and six clearances, his last quarter was classic wet weather football.

Strength in numbers

While there’s been plenty of attention coming Patrick Cripps’ way, the co-captain is paving the way for his younger counterparts to step up.

We’ve already mentioned Setterfield, while his housemates Matthew Kennedy and Sam Walsh were just as good.

Kennedy’s ability to add spread from the contest has been key to his recent form: from just 65 per cent game time, he recorded 13 uncontested possessions.

Then there’s Walsh, who David Teague said last week was growing greater understanding of his role on the wing each week. His numbers over the last month say it all.

And while he may have been held to just four disposals in the second half, Cripps still has seven more centre clearances than the next best in the competition.

Your weekly Jacob Weitering stat

This is becoming a permanent fixture of this series, but it’d be rude not to.

He faced another three one-on-one contests and didn’t lose any of them, with Ben Brown’s one goal for the game coming from a turnover further afield.

His 11 spoils were his most of the season, and the most of anyone this weekend, while he also recorded three intercept marks.

He and teammate Liam Jones are two of only four players in the competition to have 45 intercept possessions and 50 spoils after eight rounds.

But arguably most tellingly, Weitering is beating his opponent every single week: he has conceded five goals from eight games.