Details: Marvel Stadium, Sunday 4 April, 3.20pm (AEST)

Broadcast: Fox Footy, AFL app, Kayo

THE GAME IN FOCUS:

In the Blues' second home game for the year, they’ll want to redeem themselves in front of their home fans on Easter Sunday. 

Last week, Carlton was unable to get the game on its terms against Collingwood, with pressure to be the name of the game for the Blues this time around.

The likes of Patrick Cripps and Ed Curnow will have to stop veteran David Mundy - who wound back the clock against GWS - as well as young on-ballers Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra.

Carlton will have to stop Fremantle’s clean ball movement through the middle, with the Dockers finding more than a few avenues to goal last weekend.

The addition of Eddie Betts to the line-up will be one that is sure to assist the Blues' forward pressure and conversion when inside 50: two areas that were lacking in the loss to Collingwood. 

LAST TIME WE MET: 

It’s hard to forget the last time the Blues faced the Dockers. 

An after-the-siren goal from Jack Newnes gave the Blues a four-point victory on a wet night at Optus Stadium. 

In a low-scoring affair, Ed Curnow topped the disposal list with 33 gathers and 10 clearances, while Levi Casboult and Harry McKay provided some much needed inside 50 intensity. 

As well as Newnes game-winning goal, he also laid a game-high eight tackles in a physical display against the Dockers. 

BLUE FOCUS:

While Carlton's intensity was up in Round 1, it was their inability to thwart Collingwood moving the ball from end-to-end a sore point in the Round 2 wash-up.

With Fremantle setting up strongly behind the ball and absorbing opposition forward entries, Carlton will have to lift its intensity right from the outset if they are to register their first win of the season. 

The inclusion of Jack Silvagni - who injured his shoulder in a desperate lunging tackle in Round 1 - will certainly help the Blues in this area of the game, as well as providing another marking target inside 50 after the loss of Jack Martin (knee).

GET EXCITED ABOUT:

Luke Parks will grace the side for the first time, after an impressive stint in the VFL practice games. 

Parks is a high-flying defender, with strong aerial work and a competitor in the one-on-one contest.

Brought into the side to assist the likes of Liam Jones, Lachie Plowman and Jacob Weitering, it will be the first glimpse that Bluebaggers will get of their 2020 draft class after Parks arrived alongside Corey Durdin and Jack Carroll in December.

BLUE VIEW:

Eddie Betts will play his 200th game for Carlton this week, with the veteran returning to the side for the first time in 2021. 

A sight for sore eyes for Bluebaggers, Betts will don the Navy Blue for the 200th time in his 15-year career in front of a Carlton home crowd. 

A CAREER-BEST haul from Harry McKay, a career-best disposal tally from Sam Walsh and a second- and third-quarter blitz has seen Carlton walk away with its first win of the season. 

The Blues were at their blistering best in the second and third terms at Marvel Stadium, piling on 10 goals to three in the middle two quarters on the way to a 45-point victory over the Dockers.

Quarter one:

It was a physical game from the centre bounce, with Ed Curnow, Patrick Cripps and Michael Gibbons all getting involved early. Jack Newnes snapped the first goal for the Blues after an impressive assist from Sam Walsh, who later set up another goal for Harry McKay in a blistering first term for the young midfielder. Gibbons was busy in the forward 50, while at the other end of the ground Lachie Plowman and Liam Jones set up a defensive wall. Fremantle's efficiency in front of goal was the difference early, opening up a 10-point lead with the Blues unable to convert their forward entries. Lachie Fogarty was busy early, providing plenty of physicality and slotting a handy goal from an intercept mark. Carlton had 13 inside 50s and eight scoring shot, but entered the first change with only a four-point lead unable to make the most of their opportunities. 

Quarter two: 

Ed Curnow opened the quarter on a good note, playing on from a set shot and kicking truly from the junction the forward 50 and boundary line. Carlton’s pressure around the ball was strong, with their shepherding and contested work shining through. Jones continued his outstanding form across half back, stopping Fremantle from getting past the centre square and collecting five intercept marks in the first half. A Harry McKay cameo on the back of his contested marking helped Carlton widen the margin, with the key forward having four goals at the final change. Marc Pittonet provided consistent ruck work and effort around the ground as the Blues dominated in the clearances, while debutant Luke Parks proved he belonged at the level by making an impact in the defensive half. Eddie Betts delivered some classic fancy footwork in his 200th Carlton game, delighting the crowd at Marvel Stadium and kicking a vintage left-foot dribble. 

Quarter three:

The Blues started the quarter strongly, with Patrick Cripps - who helped turn the game in the second term at the centre bounce - slotting a set shot to get the ball rolling. After that, neither team was able to lock the ball in their forward half, with both teams ramping up the intensity around the contest. McKay kicked two goals in a row to give Carlton a healthy lead as well as a career-best haul, as things started to get heated between the opposing teams. The Blues' delivery inside 50 was accurate, with the home side getting bang for their buck from forward entries. Sam Docherty handled things in the defensive half when it came his way, before some late goals from Fremantle saw the margin reduced to 46 points.

Quarter four:

Carlton came out with the momentum in the last term, keeping the ball in their possession before Jack Silvagni received full reward for his efforts in attack with his first of the day. The Dockers held sway in the final term, keeping it at three goals apiece as the final term turned into a scrap. McKay notched his seventh goal for the day before Michael Gibbons got in on the scoreboard act, as the Blues posted a 45-point win on Easter Sunday.

Three things from the game

1.    Carlton has found one in Lachie Fogarty. The new recruit was a highlight in the Blues win in more areas than one in his third game for the Club. He gathered 25 disposals, laid seven tackles (a team-high) and had eight score involvements, putting the pressure on the Dockers in any way he could. 
2.    Liam Jones was a force to be reckoned with in the defensive half. Gathering 15 intercept possessions, Jones was pivotal in keeping Fremantle in Carlton’s half of the ground, as well as thwarting more than his fair share of the Dockers' attacks.
3.    It was a career day for Harry McKay. The 51-gamer slotted a career-high seven goals, most of which resulted from his outstanding aerial work (10 marks). With 13 goals from three games, the key forward has never been more dangerous in Navy Blue.

Moment of the match 

Eddie Betts.

It was only fitting that in his 200th Carlton game and his first appearance for the season, Betts delivered a classic dribble goal that sent made the Bluebaggers at Marvel Stadium as vocal as they had been all day. A standing ovation for the veteran followed, while the smile on Betts and his teammates' faces said it all.  

CARLTON          3.5     9.9     13.11     16.13 (109)
FREMANTLE     3.1     4.4       6.7          9.10 (64)

GOALS
Carlton: McKay 7, Cripps 2, Newnes, Fogarty, Curnow, Betts, Murphy, Silvagni, Gibbons

BEST
Carlton: McKay, Cripps, Walsh, Jones, Fogarty, Docherty, Curnow

INJURIES:
Carlton: Setterfield (illness) replaced in selected side by Cottrell

SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: McDonald (Unused)
Fremantle: Henry (replaced Young)