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CARLTON has spoiled Richmond’s party with a blistering seven-goal final term, running over the Tigers to win by 30 points in front of 73,503 fans at the MCG on Saturday.

There was a big build-up for the Tigers, who celebrated their 100th year in the VFL/AFL this week, but they had no answer to the fast-finishing Blues, who won 17.16 (118) to 12.16 (88).

Richmond held a slender one-point lead at the final change, but Carlton swiftly ran away with it, scoring the first five goals of the final stanza.

The Tigers’ cause wasn’t helped by a hamstring injury to star Matthew Richardson, which saw him play no further part after three-quarter time.

Nick Stevens provided inspirational leadership in the absence of Chris Judd, with 26 touches and 10 tackles, while Heath Scotland (24 possessions), Andrew Carrazzo (29) and Adam Bentick (25) were also important.

Brendan Fevola battled Kelvin Moore all day after Will Thursfield was a late withdrawal, and finished with four goals.

Joel Bowden was again prominent with a game-high 32 touches for the Tigers, as were Brett Deledio (30) and Nathan Foley (26), while Mitch Morton and Cleve Hughes each booted three goals.

With both teams making good progress this season, the match had been hyped all week, but the first quarter certainly wasn’t worthy of the blockbuster tag.

Not a single contested mark was registered by either side in an opening stanza that lacked intensity despite the big build and the huge crowd in attendance.

Neither team was able to find a reliable avenue to goal as the ball bounced from one end of the ‘G to the other, but when the goal drought finally broke with 14:48 on the game clock it was the Blues that hit the front.

Brad Fisher converted a set shot after Scotland had broken up a kick-in from a point, but that was to be his side’s only major for the term as late goals to Morton and Deledio gave the Tigers an eight-point lead at the first change.

The intensity lifted in the second, but it was Richmond that benefited. Hughes, matched up by Setanta O’hAilpin, was the major threat up forward and booted three goals as the Tigers got away to an 18-point lead.

However, just as the situation was starting to look grim, the Blues battled back with a three-goal burst to take the lead.

But despite Fevola breaking free for his opening two goals, the Tigers finished strongly, with Hughes’ third on the siren seeing Carlton trail by 12 points.

The contest came to life in the second half, with the Blues charging back into the lead with the first three goals of the third quarter.

Stevens, Scotland, Bentick and Carrazzo all lifted around the stoppages, with forward pressure now a feature.

Richmond fired back through Richardson and Morton, but when Cameron Cloke scored his only goal – having been moved to full-forward while Fevola had a spell – it was Carlton by a point.

The contest was evenly poised, but after two rushed behinds to the Tigers to start the last quarter, the Blues fired off a withering salvo that clinched the points.

Richmond        2.7   7.9   10.13   12.16  (88)
Carlton            1.5   5.9   10.12   17.16  (118)

GOALS
Richmond: Hughes 3, Morton 3, Richardson, Johnson, Deledio, Riewoldt, Simmonds, Polak.
Carlton: Fevola 4, Gibbs 3, Fisher 2, Betts 2, Murphy, Wiggins, Edwards, Cloke, Stevens, Grigg.

BEST
Richmond: Deledio, Bowden, Polo, Foley, Moore, Simmonds, McMahon.
Carlton: Stevens, Carrazzo, Waite, Scotland, Bentick, Gibbs, Thornton.

INJURIES
Richmond: Richardson (hamstring), Thursfield (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Jake King.
Carlton: Judd (concussion) replaced in selected side by Joe Anderson.

REPORTS
Richmond: Jake King reported for wrestling Bret Thornton by emergency umpire Matt Stevic in the third quarter
Carlton: Bret Thornton reported for wrestling Jake King by emergency umpire Matt Stevic in the third quarter

Umpires: Rosebury, Kamolins, Wenn

Official crowd: 73,503 at MCG

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club.