CARLTON'S final dress rehearsal before its 2021 AFL season opener has ended in a high-scoring affair against St Kilda. 

Drawing within a kick in the final term, a late flurry from the Saints saw the Blues fall by 26 points in an end-to-end contest at Marvel Stadium. The Blues will be buoyed by the performances of Zac Fisher, Jack Silvagni and recruit Zac Williams as all eyes now turn towards Round 1. 

Quarter one:

It was a fast start from the Saints, whose fast work in the middle yielded two early goals. Strong marking from Liam Jones gave the Blues their first forward 50 foray, while Sam Docherty and Adam Saad were busy in the defensive half. The youngsters went straight to work, with Carlton’s first goal coming from the boot of Zac Fisher, while Sam Walsh’s work rate through the middle was strong. St Kilda’s pace from the centre bounces hurt Carlton on the scoreboard, along with their accurate kicking in front of goal. New recruit Zac Williams gave Blues fans a glimpse of ability as an inside midfielder, snapping a goal from a forward stoppage, with Marc Pittonet following suit shortly after.  The Blues had a fair bit of possession in their forward half but struggled to peg back a three-goal Saints lead throughout the first term.

Quarter two:

The Blues' defence were under pressure early with Docherty, Jones and Jacob Weitering doing their best to hold the Saints out and rebound from defensive 50. Train-on player Oscar McDonald slotted his second for the game after a handy assist from Jack Silvagni as the Blues looked to shift some momentum back their way. St Kilda’s run and carry in transition was too fast for Carlton, with the Saints' speed and ball movement isolating the Blues' defenders. Will Setterfield was important in transitioning the ball from defence to offence on the wing, while Sam Petrevski-Seton provided pace and pressure across half-back. Veteran Marc Murphy was a shining light for the Blues down forward, setting up a goal for Silvagni and kicking one of his own, but turnovers in the forward half cost the Blues a few scoring opportunities. 

Quarter three: 

The Blues had the possession early, with Silvagni setting up opportunities in the forward half as well as slotting a handy goal. Walsh’s decision-making helped move the ball down the field but kicking inaccuracy saw scoring shots go begging. The Saints' forward delivery was clean and precise, putting the pressure on the Blues' defensive group. Paddy Dow played his role well through the centre, best demonstrated in his clearance assist for Saad who slammed one home from outside 50. Fisher had plenty of highlights in this quarter, with his sidestep and fast pace making him a difficult target to catch. Carlton played the back-end of the quarter in their half, but weren’t able to make any damaging impact on the scoreboard heading into the last term. 

Quarter four:

The Blues buckled down in the defensive half trying to keep the Saints from running away with the game. Jones was a strong force in contested situations while Saad's work rate was tireless, chasing down the opposition's forwards at any chance he could get. The former Bomber turned provider for Murphy's second, setting up a string of three consecutive goals for the Blues to draw within a kick. Jack Silvagni was Carlton's most dominant forward on the night, taking an impressive pack mark and finishing with three goals, while David Cuningham injected some life with a classy running goal. However, it was the Saints who ultimately ran away with it, kicking three straight goals of their own to finish with a 26-point win.

Three things from the game

1. The Blues new-look forward line has some kick to it. Whether they were kicking goals themselves or dishing it off to teammates, the likes of Zac Fisher, Marc Murphy and Jack Silvagni were all crucial in Carlton making an impact on the scoreboard in kicking multiple goals. Silvagni was Carlton's main attacking outlet with three goals (eight score involvements), while Fisher (two goals, eight score involvements) and Murphy (two goals, seven score involvements) both providing some spark among the forward mix.

2. Carlton's pace in attack was a clear feature on the night, even though the Blues couldn't quite convert it to as many scoring opportunities as they would have liked. Whether it was a prolific Walsh, a combative Williams or a clean Dow on the inside or outside of the contest, the Blues were able to turn a stationary ball into offence quickly on a night where the ball bounced from end to end at Marvel Stadium.

3. Having spent his pre-season working on his forward craft, the proof was there for all to see when it came to Marc Pittonet's performance on Thursday night. The solo ruckman had a stand-out game for the Blues, hitting the scoreboard with two goals for the second straight practice match while also having more clearances than any other Blue.

CARLTON 5.1 9.2 12.8 15.9 (99)
ST. KILDA 8.1 13.5 15.8 19.11 (125)

GOALS
Carlton: Silvagni 3, Fisher 2, McDonald 2, Murphy 2, Pittonet 2, Williams 2, Cuningham, Saad

BESTS
Carlton: Fisher, Williams, Silvagni, Pittonet, Jones, Murphy

Injuries: Harry McKay (rolled ankle), Jack Newnes (rolled ankle), Jacob Weitering (knock to the hip)